I was young, naïve, a little too overconfident in my virtue. One night, I’m ashamed to admit, I was tempted to have a one-night stand. This was wildly out of character for me. I was always known as the prudent one, the strong one. But I met a man at a party, and the attraction I felt for him was unlike anything I’d encountered before.
We ended up at my house, and even, in my bedroom.
But there, in the corner, stood a statue of Our Lady. A friend had brought it home for me from Medjugorje. I would say my prayers before her every morning, and there she was, innocent and pure, and so beautiful.
I sent the young man home, and, thankfully, he left without too much resistance. Then I fell on my knees in gratitude. Not only would that have been an unholy encounter, it could have been dangerous.
I had an overwhelming new knowledge that the law of the Lord doesn’t exist to punish me, but to protect me and bless me.
Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it” (Luke 11:28). Believe me, I know, sometimes that is mightily challenging. I have teetered on the edge of temptation and fallen over it far too often, but Jesus always takes me back. That doesn’t mean that I presume His forgiveness or don’t have to fight against hell and its lies and idols with all my strength. But it does mean I choose to believe in the blessing that awaits in following the Lord’s word.
My husband and I, I am very humbled and grateful to say, waited for our wedding night before having sex, and sister, it was so worth it. To belong to just one man, body and soul, is a grace whose depth I could never have anticipated or even explain. God’s Word blesses.
Where are you struggling to be “an observer”? Can you ask for grace to choose the Lord, to choose blessing?
The Blessed Mother and I are holding you in prayer as you do.
LOVING GOD, LOVING OTHERS
A NEW WORKSHOP
COME BACK TO FIRST LOVE
