saint of the week

Last Saturday Evening my family and I were in Lowe's.  Our trip was a result of one of those"honey,I've been thinking. . ." moments that strike fear in heart of every husband.

Actually I was inspired by the Lowe's gift card that we had just received from some promotional thing.  It would expire in a short time, so of course it was my duty to find a way to use it!

I had decided that it was time to paint the entrance hall.  Unfortunately we have one of those very tall, space wasting things. So before you know it, we found ourselves in Lowe's knee deep in paint swatches.  My two loving, adorable, sweet, sensitive and charming children are directing traffic through the aisles with corner protectors that they felt looked more like directional arrows.  After 20 or so, are you done yet's and can we go now's, a shopping cart race through the aisles and a swordfight with paint sticks, we were finally ready to check out.  Paint, rollers and brushes in hand.  As the kind cashier began to ring up our purchases, I searched my pockets for the gift car d.  Nothing.  Scott searched, nothing.  I knew I had it.  I had put it in the top of the cart with our other papers.  Nothing.  It must have fallen during the shopping cart race that my children sponsored before we caught up with them.  Seeing my despairing look, the cashier smiled, turned off her light and moved over to the next check out.  "Go and look for it, it will be ok."  I'm glad that she was so sure.  After searching the store, customer service and harassing customers, we were still empty handed.  I tried to pray to St. Anthony, but truthfully, I was boiling!  My kids were absolutely on my last nerve.  I was gritting my teeth so hard I could feel them cracking as Scott paid our bill.  As soon as we closed the van doors, the kids, sensing that the apocalypse was approaching began to blame each other.  "Silence!" I blurted. "Not another word, until we get home."  "but, I. ." a little voice from the back said.  "Silence".

 

I realized as we drove, that part of this was my fault; My fault for putting the card in the cart.  For trying to pick out paint despite my kids objections to go to Lowe's in the first place.  Yet, I was deeply disappointed in them.  The same kids that have been on 3 Mission trips and more retreats that I can tally without so much as a whimper, could destroy Lowe's and my sanity in 30 minutes.  Sigh.

Ironically, this coming Sunday, is Divine Mercy Sunday.  It was initiated by a vision of Blessed Faustina.  The above picture is what she saw.  Many, many blessings are attributed to this feast for those who take it seriously.  Especially for those who display the painting of Jesus with streams of light shining through his heart with the words, "Jesus, I  trust in you."  The problem is, many Catholics are unaware of this high feast.  It is our version of the Day of Atonement.

Maybe sometimes God looks at us the way that I looked at my kids in Lowe's.  How can you be so good one minute and so disappointing the next? But God is divine, and I am certainly not even in the ballpark.  His mercy is greater than we can comprehend, because, we are not divine.  God is a God of forgiveness and second chances, BUT it is up to us, to want them.  It is up to us, to strive to be better than we are.  Mother Theresa said that everyday we must work to conquer ourselves.  I wonder if she ever shopped at Lowe's.