This weekend we celebrated both Memorial Day and Trinity Sunday. During Mass, the priest reminded us that God is a relationship. A Trinitarian relationship. Of complete love. And that love is so massive that it pours outward. It is a creating love. Through this love, all things were created. It is a sacrificial love. Through this love, we all have the ability to live in eternal unity, relationship, with God. It is a powerful, forceful, energizing love. Through this love, we are able to be in relationship with others, to care for other people and things, and to desire to sacrifice for others.
'Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary.'—St. Teresa of Calcutta
I really am very blessed. Growing up I was blinded to the amount of love and support I received from my family and friends. I feel like I am still unwrapping all of the amazing blessings I received.
But, I am not sure if I would really understand how much I had growing up, and still have, without the love of my close friends now. My best friends really are an unexplainable blessing to me. None of this is to discount the unfathomable amount of things my parents, and family, has done and the intense blessings I have been given through them…but it has helped me to recognize it more.
Let me explain.
Wanting to “be independent” my friends have spent the last 10 years making multiple sacrifices for me. Allowing me to live with them, helping me dress, visiting me in the hospital, helping me clean my house, helping me move, listening to me, helping me through situations, allowing me to be me, encouraging me to be me especially when I don’t want to, teaching me to not stress things too much, helping me enjoy life, and just all around teaching me the true meaning of love. There are countless things I have learned from my best friends, and the children of the ones that have children, but I hope and pray that they know just how much I appreciate them and hope that I am even ½ as great of a friend to them as they are to me.
Through these friends I’ve been able to become friends with a number of other people. Families, priests, young adults. It has been so amazing getting to witness the love these people have for one another, for me, and how much joy they bring to my life. It has been a great gift to surround myself with amazing people that are willing to open up their heart to me as well, and allow me to be a witness to them as they are to me. But, it also makes me very happy getting to see my best friends developing amazing relationships with others. It is so beautiful to see Christian friendships blossom.
Growing up, and often still today, I took for granted all of the sacrifices my parents have made for us. From the physical, financial, emotional, and social…my parents listened to their vocation and allowed countless lives to be touched. They have never walked away from any of us. It reminds me of a quote of St. Maria Goretti on the love of God: “He loves, He hopes, He waits. Our Lord prefers to wait Himself for the sinner for years rather than keep us waiting an instant.” My parents’ love is a great reflection on the love of God.
When my parents are presented with an opportunity to support us, they seem to jump on it so fast it is like they already had it planned. Even with their grand kids, and even though they are getting more exhausted in general, they sacrifice so much. They have given us a model on how to find and choose joy no matter what. And, they have given us a model on how to sacrifice for others. Seeing these attributes in my friends and myself, I have been able to see how they have always been part of my life.
The example of my parents, I believe, is what led me to offer myself to God when I was younger as an offering for others that suffer. It is their sacrifice, and support they give to their children to love others, that continues to help me to offer myself for the suffering of others.
'If you really want to love Jesus, first learn to suffer, because suffering teaches you to love.'—St. Gemma Galgani
It is the joy of my family and friends that help me to choose joy, deep down true joy. To be a faithful witness of the love God. To find ways to be supportive of my family and friends through their struggles, and to try to be a witness to my nieces, nephews, and the children of my friends on how to grow in Christian holiness. I have countless stories of how the relationships I've been blessed with, from my family, friends, coworkers, students, and strangers have shaped and helped me to become who I am.
There are so many times I find it hard to accept the life and vocation I am currently called to. But, God has given me people throughout my life to encourage me to grow closer to Him, and closer to others, so that I can give thanks in all circumstances.
It is hard, but it is worth it.
'If I should become sick and unable to work, then I shall be like the Lord on the cross. He will have mercy on me and help me, I am sure.'—St. Kateri Tekakwitha
I have been blessed with beautiful relationships, but the greatest relationship I have is with my Lord and God. The relationships I have with my family and friends are tiny compared to the love God has for me and the desire he has to spend eternity with me. Through His creative, powerful, sacrificial love, He allows me to love myself and others and find ways to share His love with the world.
I really am very blessed.
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