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Whenever my husband is mentoring younger military guys, he usually gets around to asking them what they want to do with their life. What are the goals they are reaching for professionally and personally? Most have no answer. They hem and haw around and usually offer something that sounds like a beauty pageant answer: "I just want to make the world better." My husband always presses in and says, "That's not an answer. How are you going to know what to do with an answer as vague as that?" Then it usually comes out that they have no idea what they want to do. They are just floating along and don't really have any kind of vision for their lives. If my husband has learned that they have a wife, he always tells them, "Go home tonight and ask your wife what she sees you doing. Ask her what potential she sees." They always give my husband a curious look, but Dustin will tell you that nine times out of ten, they call back the next day to tell him that was the best conversation they've had in a long time. Dustin will also tell you, that after that conversation, their careers usually take off. I asked him in the car recently what made him start telling these guys to talk to their wives. He said, "Well, women hold the key. A good woman has an incredible ability to unlock a man's potential. If he can see his potential through her eyes, he will be unstoppable." "Too many men lack confidence in themselves. They think they aren't worthy of going for a certain dream, so they don't try. But, when they ask their wives or girlfriends what they see in them, most likely, she will explain to them the potential she sees. It's like a magical gift women have--if you raise the bar for us and show us what we can be, we want to strive for that." "When these guys go home and hear what their wives see in them, all of a sudden they have a purpose and mission, because she gives them confidence. If a woman thinks you are worthy of something or if you are good enough to do something worthwhile, noble, or challenging, listen to her. She often sees what you can't." Ladies, what a beautiful gift we can give to our husbands and, men, go ask your wives. Have a blessed Wednesday.
Continue ReadingWhen leaving California for Colorado last Friday, my plane was on the runway next in line for takeoff when the captain came on and said, "Well, folks, Denver just went on a ground stop for at least an hour, so we are on hold until we hear back from them." Immediately, everyone gave audible groans. The lady next to me got very upset. She snagged a flight attendant walking by and asked if she could get off the plane and go get another flight. The agent told her not at this time as we were sitting on the runway. The lady was ticked and quickly dialed a family member and started cussing up a storm about the situation. We taxied back to the gate and they allowed us to get off for 30 minutes if we wanted. I chose to get off and stretch my legs. When it was time to board again, I got to my seat, saw my grumpy row partner sitting there, and, smiling, I said, "How are you doing?" "Oh, I'm okay, I guess." We preceded to have a conversation and soon she was showing me pictures of her grandkids. When the other row partner sat down, he joined our conversation and soon all three of us were joking and laughing. As we took off, the lady who had once been grumpy grabbed her pillow and said, "Yep, I just try to take things as they come." Then she fell asleep. On my way back from Colorado, I was talking to a gate agent about something and she was clearly irritated. She wasn't super helpful and wasn't listening that well. As I was waiting to get on the flight, I stood right near her counter and could hear her conversations with each person coming up for help. Her responses were snippy and a bit strained with irritation. Once the line was gone, I turned and looked at her. She looked about to burst. I smiled and said, "Deep breaths. You got them all through the line." She actually took that deep breath, relaxed a bit, and said, "It's just been a bit overwhelming." Then she smiled for the first time. I smiled back, "I'm sure, but you've got this." It is so easy to get wrapped up in our own world and our own problems, Catholic Pilgrims. Sometimes all it takes to help someone is just to notice them. As Christians, our eyes should be looking for opportunities to connect with people and offer them charity even in the smallest of ways. Have a blessed Tuesday.
Continue ReadingI think a big reason that we struggle with going to Christ and receiving His mercy is because we struggle to give it to others ourselves. Don't get me wrong, I loathe false compassion and false mercy because neither one of those ever help anyone or anything. In fact, they only make things worse. But, when we have a true prudent moment to offer mercy, many of us find it hard to offer it. When we haven't asked Christ for mercy and felt the love that flows from His mercy, it's hard to understand how beneficial that can be for another. I don't remember all the words in St. Faustina's Diary when I read it for Season One of my podcast "Journeying with the Saints," but I do remember the overwhelming message of Christ's mercy. He wants us to come and receive it and be healed by it--all of us. Have a beautiful Divine Mercy Sunday, Catholic Pilgrims.
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