“I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace; “ // Ephesians 4:2
I’ve been pondering the different seasons of conversion God has so gently led me through over the years. From understanding God was real, but feeling that He was simply some distant being. To hearing for the first time in middle school that I could have a personal relationship with Him. To choosing to go my own way and eventually being led back by His grace in college. To consistently making prayer a priority in my early adult years. And all of the seasons that have followed since: every season has led, in some way, to this truth: I was created by Love, for Love, with intention and purpose.
As are you.
You were created with intention and purpose. In His mind’s eye, He sees you always and walks with you always too. You were brought forth by the Creator of all creation, and He invites you today to enter into the call for which you were created.
But let us not become lofty in our thoughts or ideas pertaining to this call. Because perhaps, today, your call is lived out in the little things.
While you’re at work from 9-5. While you tend to your littles underfoot. While you’re running errands or stuck in traffic. While you make the difficult phone call. While you stand again at the kitchen sink with a mountain of dishes piled high once more. While you put your phone down, look into the eyes of a stranger, and smile. While you pause what you’re doing and hug your spouse as he walks in the door. While you grab your rosary instead of that other distraction. While you run another load of wash and make another list of groceries. While you study. While you apologize. While you listen. While you slow down. While you allow yourself a moment of grace . . .
Perhaps your call today is to simply love—with humility and gentleness, with patience and perseverance, with a heart filled with peace that pours forth into the world that surrounds you.
Sweet Jesus, I love You. Reveal to me today the moments in which You call me to love more deeply. Give me the grace to surrender my way for Your own. Remind me to actively receive it. Take my to-dos and infuse Your love into each one. I give You permission to surprise me with Your love today too. Come be with me, Jesus. I give You my all—love me into being more like You.
Shalini Blubaugh is a Minnesota transplant living in Coppell, Texas. She served with NET Ministries and went on to graduate with her J.D., though happily left all things law behind. Along with her roles as wife and mom, she now runs her own company, Pray. Train. Grow., as a Certified Fitness Trainer and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. Her mission is to help Catholic women grow STRONG in mind, body, and heart through the integration of Faith, fitness and food.
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