Advent and Birthing Christ are most appropriate reflections as we wait for the celebration of  Christ’s birth.  Aspects of Advent/Christmas and “Birthing Christ Within” are as follows: silence/prayer, patient waiting, surrendering self to God, generosity, humility, and LOVE.  They are hallmarks of the season.

Everyday and every season is a new step in becoming all that God asks of us.  Some days are difficult  and some are joyous, yet as we unite our day to God we can anticipate God’s presence to us at every moment.  So we need to rely on Him for patience and hope, love and joy.  In doing so, we are daily birthing Christ and bearing Him in our heart.

Sr. La Donna Pinkelman, OSF

St. Paul(in one of his letters) told his friends, “Never worry about anything, but tell God your desires of every kind in prayer and petition filled with gratitude and the peace which is beyond every understanding will guard your heart.”

In November, we celebrate Thanksgiving, a time to remember the many gifts given to us by a gracious God who cares for us endlessly. The Scripture passage, above, says so plainly what can happen when we depend and thank God for the many gifts of our life. Can you imagine how different this world and our lives could be if we all had a heart filled with praise and gratitude?

Let’s take a look at the very ordinary gifts of life that we so often take for granted–the ability to breath (our life source); for gift of sight to see God’s beauty all around, to see the needs of others and do something about it (whenever possible), to see with an inner sight God’s life and light within and let it shine out to all we meet; the ability to smile and spread joy and more joy by our friendliness; for our ears to hear what is good and not so good (helping us make proper choices) to hear God’s Word spoken in prayer and Scripture, in and around us; to speak and talk in kindly ways and not harsh ways; our tongue to taste/savor the gift of food and drink; for the gift of hands to touch tenderly, to grasp and hold (for they are always handy); our fingers to move and put things together, screw and unscrew, to hold a pen and pencil (WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT THEM?); FOR the gift of our feet–to walk, run, move from place to place; our mind/intelligence, to think, to ponder and learn for our good and the good of others (allowing us to work carefully for others); for faith, spirituality and religion that brings meaning and life to us and all God’s People; for our families, relationships and co-workers who give purpose and meaning to love, living out our daily ordinary lives. These are only a few of ordinary gifts. We could go on and on.

When we can readily think of things we are grateful for, we more than likely have a grateful heart and healthy spirituality. Let us make it a practice to praise and thank God with a heart filled with gratitude and love (even when it is difficult). And yes, the peace beyond understanding will be an added gift from God for our life.

Sr. La Donna Pinkelman, OSF

As the leaves come tumbling down,
As winds hasten their fall to ground,
It reminds me of Christ’s three falls
And my fumbling as I follow His calls

As I hurt with my many falls in life,
I reach up and out to God in strife,
So He can teach me patience and virtue,
As I grow in acceptance and reconciliation.

Yes Lord, like the leaves, I fall and then rise.
You never give up on me. What an ungoing surprise!
You let me fail at times so on You I’ll rely.
You pick me up, loving me, helping me comply.

As the leaves come tumbling down
Their Beauty in color is their crown.
In spring they take on new beauty.
My beauty comes as I grow closer to You.

Sr. La Donna M. Pinkelman, OSF

Image by Lawrence OP via Flickr

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Lead me to Your Heart.
NEVER LEAVE ME. May I always rest in Your Loving Embrace. My strength today is very weak. Give me energy,

O Healer of body and spirit. Keep me close. Give me a grateful heart. Help me rejoice in good and difficult times of my life.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, this is a new day. Help me accomplish what You want me to do. I surrender into Your Hands. You are my joy and my life, my strength and my courage.

O LOVE OF MY LIFE, MY COMPANION, MY FRIEND, MY ALL.

ALL PRAISE TO YOU!!

Sr. La Donna Pinkelman, OSF

Image via Wikipedia

O God, show us how to have a grateful heart.
There is so much for which we can be grateful. Instead of looking at our limitations, what we cannot do any more, be thankful for what you can do.
Letting go of worrying and trust that God is with us in the hard times but is also there, at the same time with the other gifts He has given us. So often we forget the many gifts we still have. BE THANKFUL!!! Hold tight to the Hand of God, who desires a grateful heart.
When we become thankful our attitude and life radiates our whole being and a Christ-like radiance.

Sr. La Donna M. Pinkelman, OSF

Gazing on a plant above my Computer, I see a resemblance of life in general. One leave is starting to die. The rest of the plant is healthy. The pattern of our life is similar. In the sense that one part of our life may be weakening, but the rest of us is still fairly healthy. The nutrients needed—water, food, light, support of loving hands, keep us living and growing.
The beauty of a well rounded plant, a healthy person shows forth it’s loving Maker—God. With God being the source of life, may our thanksgiving be realized more and more. May our “Maker” keep us—plant and us, filled with ever-growing love and appreciation.

Sr. La Donna Pinkelman, OSF

What a difference it makes
To live for His sake
To remember to give no matter the cost
To be lifted up when seemingly lost
To let go in His arms when fearful
To reach out especially when tearful
He always provides what we need.

What a difference it makes
Keep walking hand-in-hand as He leads
Trust and God will help you plant seeds
For His Kingdom here on earth
Lighting the way for others re-birth
Life with God gives so much peace.

What a difference it makes
To contemplate His Great Love
To stand in awe, praising Him here and above
To keep giving your longing heart
To the ONE who longs to impart.

Sr. La Donna M. Pinkelman, OSF

Dear Christ Jesus,
My heart overflows with love.
Deep love for You, Beloved of my heart.
Deep gratitude for my golden years, devoted to You.
Deep gratitude for the generous hearts in my life.
Deep love for the holy mentors of my life.
Deep and humble gratitude for their generosity to me.
Deep, deep, joyous CALL to live, walking hand-in-hand with Christ.
Christ Jesus, how unworthy I feel  to be so generously chosen for you. 
To be assured that Your undying love will always be with me.
May You be praised forever and ever, oh, Beloved of my heart.
 

Sr. La Donna M. Pinkelman, OSF

 

 

Life is living gratefully
No matter the dying to old self
The sometime wrenching to “Let Go”.
Peace, My dear friends.  I am with You.
Thank you for trusting Me
Gratefully, come to Me
And together you can grow through thick and thin.
My life in you will radiate to others,
As you walk hand-in-hand with me.
Yes, Peace My sister and brother.
It is “Love” who speaks to you.

Sr. La Donna M. Pinkelman, OSF

Sun and Rain, joy and suffering, ups and downs—
All is part of growth and light, compassion and conversion.
Peace and serenity, acceptance and surrender, God’s gifts,
When we can take in stride and keep moving on.
All beautiful but it is easier said than done in day-to-day life.
How can we rise  above?  How can we rise above?
The hard and rough times try and dampen our good endeavors.
Our prayer and trust in Christ will carry us through.
Look up and claim the “Grasping Hand” of our out-reaching God
Who longs to heal our questioning and struggling heart.
O Risen Christ we need Your constant lifting up and care
In our fragile lives in all facets of life.  May You be praised.

Sr. La Donna M. Pinkelman, OSF