Sweet Little Flower

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Happy feast day of Sweet St. Therese of the Little Flower! This sweet saint has been such a blessing to me! Such a blessing to me as a woman, a wife, and now as a mother. Her little ways have taught me so much. From this beautiful young woman I have gained so much perspective on things such as: goodness, kindness, my vocation, letting go, and most especially about love.

I had wondered for a long time why God had preferences and why all souls did not receive an equal amount of grace [...] Jesus saw fit to enlighten me about this mystery. He set the book of nature before me and I saw that all the flowers He has created are lovely. The splendour of the rose and whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. I realised that if every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness and there would be no wild flowers to make the meadows gay.

It is just the same in the world of souls — which is the garden of Jesus. He has created the great saints who are like the lilies and the roses, but He has also created much lesser saints and they must be content to be the daisies or the violets which rejoice His eyes whenever He glances down. Holiness consists in doing His will, in being that which He wants us to be.

― St. Thérèse de Lisieux

The last line of the above quote means so much to my mama heart. When I first decided I would stay home to be a wife and mother, in my heart I knew this is what I was being asked. I had a beautiful conviction that may  not make sense to the world but made every bit of sense to my soul. For me, my little domestic monastery made sense and was a gift. Sweet Therese affirmed for me that my Lord wants me to love the seeds that the Holy Spirit planted in my heart many years ago. She made my decision to stay home beautiful and good. Because of her, I see a road lined with beautiful flowers of opportunity to love. My road that, God-willingly, will bring me and my family Home with His grace.

Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.

― St. Thérèse de Lisieux

Living in my domestic monastery with three beautiful souls, it's easy to get caught up in the craziness of the present moment. And even easier to not see the greater good in a huge pile of laundry or the ridiculous number of stinkies you've changed in one day. Sweet Therese reminds me of how beautiful even the smallest of to-do's in our day-to-day truly are if done for love of Him. So many opportunities to love, to serve, to know these sweet little souls and in turn know my God. So many joys. So many smiles. So many laughs. So much love. Her childlike goodness helped me see that - even on my worst days - beauty and blessing overflow.

What a comfort it is, this way of love! You may stumble on it, you may fail to correspond with grace given, but always love knows how to make the best of everything; whatever offends our Lord is burnt up in its fire, and nothing is left but a humble, absorbing peace deep down in the heart.

― St. Thérèse de Lisieux

The peace she speaks of is so true! I have been blessed to know it. Not always to remember it, but the times I do, I'm forever thankful. In today's world, where motherhood is a burden and our maternal gifts are optional. Where the self is first and sacrifice is unnecessary and should be avoided. Where life is measured by the standards of our society and what the world deems good and not by the virtues that call us home. Sweet Therese shared with me that in spite of whether I please all or none, if I strive to live the life He has called me to as a wife and mother, there is hope that I too can join her up above. That I too can someday be a little saint.

God would never inspire me with desires which cannot be realized; so in spite of my littleness, I can hope to be a saint.

― St. Thérèse de Lisieux

And lastly, I am mostly grateful for her little ways of love.

Oh! it is LOVE! To love, to be loved, and to come back to earth to make LOVE loved.

― St. Thérèse de Lisieux

She's beautiful. She's one of my favorite saints. These little morsels of goodness that I've shared don't even scratch the surface of the gifts that she has left us all. The little trail of petals that she laid down for us, gently and beautifully lead us to heaven. Her trail is attractive. It is enticing. Alluring. It is good. And, it draws us closer to each other in love as it also, and more importantly, draws us closer to He who is love.

So, thank you dear St. Therese of the Little Flower, for showing me the beautiful roses that await me every day.

And, in closing, enjoy this beautiful morning prayer from the Little Flower herself:

A Morning Prayer

O my God! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to Its infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of Its Merciful Love.

O my God! I ask of Thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfill perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in heaven for all Eternity.

Amen.

St. Therese of the Little Flower, pray for us. Amen.

~~~

(Head over to The Pitter Patter Diaries to get to know other wonderful saints!)