Papa Ben.

Words spoken to my heart.

love people.

Big Books.

a force of BEAUTY.

love > weakness

"Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness." -Mother Teresa

True Love.

‎"Do not forget that true love sets no conditions; it does not calculate or complain, but simply loves." 
Blessed John Paul II

Glow.

At the end of my first week of teaching I had a friend comment that I was glowing.
Well that was not what I was expecting!
After a week of lack of sleep, scrambling, and, quite honestly, a decent amount of B.S.ing (pardon my French abbreviation!) I was expecting something quite different than a heavenly glow to be surrounding me. Palpable anxiety-- possiblely. Visible exhaustion-- most definitely. So where was this glow coming from?

I think it came from being quite certain that, no matter how inadequate I felt in my new job, I was exatly where God wanted me to be. Even though I was making mistakes left and right, I knew that He doesn't make mistakes, ever.

Now that's a reason to glow!


Unfortunately, the glow has begun to fade.

Sigh.

For some reason it's so easy to forget that I ever felt so very cetain that I am exatly where I'm suppsed to be. I so often let the uncertainty of life take over the certainty I should have in God and His plan.
I'm realizing now that this isn't an invluntary circumstance but a choice I have to make. Will I choose to be dismayed, overwelmed and de-glowified by the uncertainty Satan tries to throw in my face, or will I choose to stand firm, glow intact, on the certainty that only God can offer?

Today, I'm choosing to glow.

Thankful.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to contribute to Radiant Magazine!

It is a publication with a beautiful mission and it is an honor to be involved with it.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to write for the glory of God-- this is one of my most precious dreams.

Thank you to Radiant Magazine, but most of all, Thank you, God! I can't wait to see what You have planned for me next!

Check out Radiant Magazine's Fall Issue!

tomorrow.

life is going to change tomorrow.
i feel like i should know what to expect, im moving to a familiar house,but yet the thought of moving there, of living there instead of visiting makes it unfamiliar.
i know i'll be seeing my family again soon, but knowing i will be living somewhere different makes the thought of saying goodbye so hard.

im usually not a fan of change. but i don't know how to feel about this one.
i'm thrilled to be starting the next step of my life, but terrified at the same time.

how strange.

mindfulness.

Be happy in the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.
-Mother Teresa

Marriage Blog Post

I love this blog post about marriage! It makes me even more excited to get married!

You be You and I'll be me

Dear God,

I'm realizing that things are going to be radically different starting 7 days from now.

I'll be moving to a new state and starting a new job.

Shortly after that, I'll be marrying the love of my life, my best friend.

I'm super excited for all these changes, I know it's all part of the great adventure you have planned for my life, but that doesn't mean I'm not scared, terrified, even for it all to begin.

I just keep trying to remember that, no matter what, You're still You and I'm still me; that's never going to change. You will always be there for me, loving me into existence. And I just pray that I continue to grow into the person you've intended me to be.

Love,

me

What's a girl to do?

I want so badly to be like Mary.

She's beautiful. She's pure. She's the epitome of holiness.

She's everything I want to be.

There's just one problem, I don't know how to be like her (and trust me I've tried). I've prayed for the grace to emulate her. I've prayed that I grow in each of the ten Marian virtues. But no matter what, I don't feel like I'm getting closer. She still seems so far out of my league. 

The one aspect of Mary that particularly alludes me is her purity. How do I even begin to mirror her purity; she's called "Virgin Most Pure" for crying out loud! I, on the other hand, am so easily tempted. How do I love as she loves, purely, patiently, giving completely of herself?

I guess I have to remember first of all that Mary was human, just like I am. She was flesh and blood, not some angelic being. Therefore, it is safe to say that she was tempted, although she never gave into temptation and sinned. She is Queen of Virgins, not because she was never tempted, but because she overcame those temptations (by God's grace, of course) and remained pure. 

I can do the same. Yes, it will not be easy, but it is possibly. Mary ought to represent not an unattainable goal but the proof that victory is possible.

What I'm still wondering is: how does one practically live out a love like Mary's, especiallyin a romantic relationship?

Thoughts?

A Much Needed Reminder

Good Question.

"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?" Corrie Ten Boom

"Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life; rather look to them with full hope that as they arise, God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today, will take care of you then and every day. He will either shield you from suffering, or will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings." -St. Francis de Sales

So needed in the face of a busy part-time job, preparing for my first full-time teaching job, and planning my wedding .

True Love Hurts

"It is not enough to say, 'I love you.' Not enough; do something. And that something should be something that hurts you. Because true love hurts. When you look at the Cross, you know how Jesus loved us. He died on the Cross because He loved you and He loved me. And he wants us to love like that."

Bl. Mother Teresa

Know.

"Only if there is love, if hearts are opened, can one person truly know the other."
  Pope Benedict XVI