Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Do you ever stop to recognize the small joys that happen in our lives on a day to day basis? Today was not an extraordinary day for me, but it was all of the little things that added up to it being a good day. I found cheap books at a book sale, was able to eat lunch and catch up with a friend, was told I was doing good work at my job, and was able to go shopping at one of my favorite little places: the dollar store.

I was never a fan of the dollar store, until I came to college and became a resident adviser. I never knew that it had so many cute and CHEAP decorations. They are just perfect for a dorm room and a dorm bathroom shared by many girls. On this particular trip tonight, my friend and I decided to browse through the entire store. I remembered that I needed some more votive candle that I'm not supposed to light on my prayer corner. That led to me wondering if they had any cute placemats. I use placemats on my prayer corner table because they are often cheap and are the perfect size. I wanted a gold one and a white one, but my expectations weren't high, I mean, this is the dollar store we are talking about, right? Well I got to the aisle and began thumbing through they collection. I actually found exactly what I was looking for. A satiny white one and a lovely gold one. To make matters better, the white one (which I will put on for the Paschal season) was only .25 cents!

Just as I thought my shopping trip could not get any better we went down the arts and craft aisle. I've been looking at Hobby Lobby and Michael's (two local craft shops) for a plain wooden cross that I can decorate and paint to put in my prayer corner with no luck whatsoever. Once again, I found exactly want I wanted! I couldn't believe it! I brought it home and painted the cross you see above on it. It took about two hours of work altogether, but it was worth it! I can't wait to get it blessed.

I don't mean for this to be a pointless post filled with me gushing about how cool my day was or how I am a great shopper. I am just trying to encourage everyone to look for the little joys in life. Not only the little joys you find in your own life, but the ones you can provide in another's life. I can't think of how many times my bad day has gotten better because a friend stopped to say "hello" or even just smiled at me. Mother Teresa once said "Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."

I also found a little joy in one of today's readings from Proverbs 13:19-14:6. In this passage we find the famous line "he who spares the rod hates his child." Don't worry, I'm not some sort of violent person who waits for the day when she can use this quote against her future children. This quote brings back memories of a beloved teacher I had throughout my junior high years at St Patrick's School in Joliet. Mr. Paul would always bring this quote up as a sort of joke. I'm sad to say that he passed away a few years ago, but it's memories like this that remind me that we carry those we've lost in our hearts.

Before I close out my post, I want to inform everyone of a great event that is happening next week at my parish of Annunciation of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer Glen, Illinois. On Thursday March 18th at 7pm we will be celebrating the service of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. This is a lovely (albeit long!) penitential service and it will likely last upwards of three hours. We are encouraging people to come for any part of it. You don't have to stay the whole time, but we would love to have people come and experience what it is like. Confessions will also be heard throughout the service. For more information, please visit www.byzantinecatholic.com