I have been thinking about Brian’s article about Bl. Maria Celine and pondering that the only way she could have endured so many major crosses in her life was by first enduring the little crosses of her life. That got me thinking about how I am doing in comparison. There are so many times throughout the day when little things just bug me – plans have to be changed, Andrew makes yet another mess, something breaks down, ants are all over the kitchen, etc.
Sometime I am able to take a deep breath and offer up the inconvenience to Our Lord but too often, I get aggravated and upset. I remember one time I was sharing this with a priest in confession and I’ll never forget his response, “What makes you so special that you think you shouldn’t have inconveniences in your life?” He was very kind and sincere in how he said it, but the question delivered the swift kick in the rear I needed. Oh yeah, I guess that little pride thing has been getting in the way again.
So I’ve been trying to see all the little crosses in daily life as my opportunity to practice humility and self-surrender. Sometimes it’s a hit and sometimes it’s a miss but I’m working on it. (Ah, Andrew just tipped over the trash can onto the floor. I didn’t know I was going to have to practice quite so soon! Later.)