Following Him for the Long Haul and Today

My preschooler asks how many minutes remain in his quiet time for the fifth time today, and the baby woke up early from her nap.

It’s almost four o’clock and I still need to decide exactly what I will make our family for dinner. I concoct an idea, nurse the baby, read the preschooler a book. I love my children beyond measure, but sometimes my heart starts aching for an extended period of peace and quiet to pray in solace. Sip a cup of tea while it’s still hot. Make a regular Holy Hour in the adoration chapel. To pursue some interests which I perceive I have to set aside for the foreseeable future.

“Follow me" (Mark 2:14).

It’s a line of Scripture I have heard many times. Yes, Lord. Of course I will always follow You. You know I try to be a faithful Catholic woman, striving to witness to You in the way You call me to live the Christian life.

When the Lord calls me to follow Him, He means for the long haul, yes. But today the Holy Spirit inspires a new realization: I can only do that by following Him now. Moment to moment. So often I miss the immediacy of His call on my life.

Where is Jesus asking you to follow Him today? How will you respond? I find solace when I recognize what a blessing it is to have a Lord Who calls each of us to a vocation that will allow us to grow in holiness. A Lord Who desires for us different seasons and opportunities to stretch and love and serve Him. A Lord Whose mercy knows no bounds, Who longs to dine with us, and Who invites us to the table of the Eucharist.

How blessed we are to be called, sisters. To be chosen. To have the opportunity each day to follow Him.

When the Lord calls me to follow Him, He means for the long haul. // @inendlesssongClick to tweet

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Elise Howe is a wife, mother, vocal artist, teacher, and writer. A lover of authentic beauty, Elise is most joyful when creating with the inspiration of the Divine Artist. A born-and-raised Midwestern gal, she happily resides in Michigan after several years "living the dream" in New York City. Elise has a heart for ministry, dark chocolate (but not too dark) and coffee with a generous amount of cream + sugar. She is a contributing author to our Works of Mercy Study: Misericordia. Find out more about her here.