For now, I find myself wrapped up in a quilt, snuggled quite cozily next to my Husband, with a large box of tissues at mere arm's length. I also find myself having dark thoughts concerning diabetic cough medicine. It is my grave opinion that the creators of this lovely product ought to be shot, hanged, drawn, and quartered. The great Mary Poppins certainly never would have approved, for even she believed that a spoon full of sugar would help the medicine go down. Indeed, a teaspoon of Splenda would have helped tremendously. Or perhaps a chaser of hard liquor. *sigh* Really, when a product is sugar-free, alcohol-free, sodium-free, sorbitol-free, dye-free, etc., etc., it begs the question, what exactly is in it? My personal belief is that the syrup is nothing more than sludge of the worst variety. However, I must admit that it has helped some. The frog in my throat has leapt a few lilly pads further away, and the fever-induced fog is fading. Several souls ought to be out of Purgatory by now. Best of all, I am finding that it is one more opportunity to obey the loving authority of my Husband, and that is something I am grateful for with all of my heart.
Putting all silliness aside, I have had a few random thoughts lately which I think God desires for me to share. There just may be some soul out there for whom they are intended.
I am convinced that, while the chief end of life is to secure the salvation of our immortal souls, the whole point of "living" is in our journey-- how we choose to arrive at our final destination. Allow me to illustrate what I mean. Both the Good Thief and the Blessed Mother became saints. This is a bit ironic, is it not? The former lived a life of evil until mere moments before his own execution, and the latter, by a singular grace from God, was preserved from the stain of original sin from the very moment of her conception. Yet, they both enjoy the Beatific Vision and will continue to do so for all eternity. Their chief end is Heaven, but their lives were very different. And yet, I wonder, how many people have converted because of the story of the Good Thief? How many souls, after a lifetime spent in selfishness and debauchery, also faced their most bitter moments and cried out to Our Lord for salvation? His life, too, is a testament to grace. After all, the Good Thief would not be the "Good Thief" if he had not first been, well, a thief.
My point is this: Life is a gift. What we choose to do with it is our gift back to God.
We have the opportunity to be a tremendous source of grace in this world and to bring souls with us toward Heaven, or, we can choose to turn away from His call. It does not matter where your gifts and talents might lay, it does not matter what your past may have been, or even where you find yourself currently. Our God is a God of both justice and mercy, and He delights in writing straight with crooked lines. Remember the Good Thief, and know that He can work through your unique story, too. Only, you must trust Him and obey.
And so, I must ask you, what will you choose?
God bless you,
Traditional Wife