give

God is telling you this:

give me all.
i don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: i want YOU.
i have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. no half-measure are any good, i don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, i want to have the whole tree down. i don't want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked--the whole outfit.
i will give you a new self instead.
in fact i will give you Myself: My own Will shall become yours.

[cs lewis]

rose

i do not fear trials sent by jesus, for even in the most bitter suffering we can see that it is His loving hand which causes it.

when we are expecting nothing but suffering, we are quite surprised at the least joy; but then suffering itself becomes the greatest of joys when we seek it as a precious treasure.

far from resembling those beautiful saints who practiced all sorts of austerities from childhood, my penance consisted in breaking my self-will, in keeping back a sharp reply, in doing little kindnesses to those about me, but considering these deeds as nothing.

[st therese]

wonder-ful

i thank You God for most this amazing day:
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky
and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;
this is the birthday of life and love and wings:
and of the gay great happening illimitably earth

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-- lifted from the no
of all nothing-- human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened

[e.e. cummings]

higher

i figure we could complain about the situation
because sometimes it really is difficult
or we could offer it up
and become saints faster
and here, joy in suffering
is the greater beauty