Obedience and Redemption

Rule #10 The Rule of St. Francis

United themselves to the redemptive obedience of Jesus, who placed His will into the Father's hands, let them faithfully fulfill the duties proper to their various circumstances of life. Let them also follow the poor and crucified Christ, witness to Him even in difficulties and persecutions.

I believe with all my heart that God loves us with a parent's heart, knows us and our ways to the core, and is delighted when we unite our will with his, or in humility, completely hand over our will to him, as we learn to trust Him, through circumstances, experiences, or faith.

He wants to work with us. He delights in our simple acts of love. Jesus, in the garden, had his own will. but in loving and redemptive obedience, handed his will to the Father. 

My circumstances in my life are as a wife, mother, writer, volunteer, lover of Christ, and witness to His mercy. I struggle when I have to follow him into dark places — which present difficulties and persecutions, but know that the more I trust him in those times, the more peace I find, even in the darkness.

My Lord has given me much these days. I have fullness of purpose, every morning to evening.  Checking email, and finding work, dealing with clients and potential ones, social media posting, writing, photoshopping, finding inspiration, and carrying on.  Sometimes two phones on the go with various freelance projects on the hook.  He supplies me with my daily bread. I only have to obey, and be the best example of the work that I do.

And then there's the people I love and mentor. Two women who have exited darkness, and are struggling at times to walk in light. I am not journeying with them to be their judge, mother or jury. Just give them a bit of haven, when there's a haven of peace to be found. If I am to emulate the Blessed Mother in her wonderful actions of charity, it's what I choose to do, in her footsteps, and the footsteps of St. Clare. I love them and their strength, and in their vulnerability. It might just be sitting and watching some television like a couple of old folks, or sitting beside them at Mass. Praying for them while they are in confession.

My family, and being available and loving to them in whatever way leads me closer to Him. I am full of expectant joy at the realization that there is a grandson on the way, soon to be a part of a family that already loves him. I'm also so grateful that the Lord has heard my cry, and in his love and mercy and surprising way, gave Tara and Darren a whole new occupation — parent.

I'm grateful for my husband and the things that we share together, whether it's cooking a meal, watching a tender movie (he likes chick flicks) and housework. We do housework together. He's better at it than I am. I get distracted, where he has his mother's Pennsylvania Dutch sense of purpose, cleaning every corner, and dusting every ledge.

Obedience to God's will takes me into interesting places. Today it was helping chop onions and carrots with my husband for tomorrow's urban mission. It was an inspiration of the Holy Spirit to ask my husband to help, and I'm very grateful. Tomorrow it's the Mission, where I will seek the face of the Almighty in every face I serve.

And then, tonight, just a simple obedience to the rule of St. Francis. This is, for me, a delicious obedience of just following in the path of others who have gone before me. Every two weeks I meet with beautiful people from all walks of life. The thing we share is the desire to follow in the Footsteps of a Saint who knew abandonment to the Holy Will was the best way to find peace, joy and freedom.