All You Need is a Smile

Each morning after waking up, I always thank God for giving me another day to love and to serve Him. It helps to give me a positive and optimistic attitude, but most importantly to remind myself to keep God in the center of my life. With this in mind, I have an entirely new outlook on life. It's important for us to let God use us as His instruments, no matter what that may entail. Lately, I've found that just reflecting His love upon others is what I have been called to do. Usually it only includes a simple smile. Most of the time I don't think about, it comes naturally.

I was at the mall earlier today trying to get my Christmas shopping done. Everyone knows the chaos that will be encountered there, but you do it anyway. I was walking around in circles, squeezing past people, and attempting to figure out gifts when I saw a janitor walking by. I smiled at him, as I usually do, and for a few seconds his entire attitude changed. He had a smile grow across his face and he turned to finish his work a little happier. God truly uses us in the simplest of ways, but always to show His glory.

Good News About Sex and Marriage

In my spare time and often when I am procrastinating from homework, I read about Catholicism and how to fully bring God into my life. Ever since a Theology of the Body conference that I attended, I have been reading many books about courtship and understanding the human body the way that has God intended. Nathan recently read "Good News About Sex and Marriage" by Christopher West and insisted that I read it. Although I had already heard alot of what I read, it opened my eyes and my heart. I was truly able to understand the marital embrace in its true form and beauty. Although I am not married, I am so glad that I am gaining a foundation in which to help myself and most importantly help my husband get to heaven. I strongly encourage everyone whether you are married, single, discerning the priesthood, religious life, or married life to read this book and anything else by Christopher West or Pope John Paul II.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Many people associate Thanksgiving with turkey, pies, and the Macy's parade. This year, I decided to spend my day praying to God and thanking Him for everything that He has blessed me with. I realized that the most important things in life are truly the people that God has placed in my life. It doesn't matter if I have a huge feast or whether or not the dessert includes chocolate (although I am quite thankful if it does), but spending time with my family and realizing how I have grown closer to God through those around me is all that really matters.

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving and may God continue to bless you abundantly.

Pray for the Addicted

I arrived home last night for Thanksgiving, so my sister and I decided to go out to the mall this afternoon. While wandering the stores searching aimlessly for a Christmas present for our brother, we walked into FYE (a dvd and music store). As I was walking up and down the aisles, I saw a man looking through DVD's, but he almost seemed to be hiding something. I looked closer and realized that he was in the porn section. My first reaction did not include disgust, but instead I felt bad that he had an obvious addiction. I immediately prayed for him, that he will overcome what society has told him is acceptible. Just the way he was flipping through the videos, you could tell that he knew something about it was wrong, yet he couldn't keep himself from doing it. How can a store willingly want to help support such an addiction? It's horrible to watch these men be turned into something that they are not. Our men deserve so much better! They need to be taught at a young age how beautiful the human body is and it needs to be nurtured in a nonsexual way. I pray that these men will overcome the addictions that society has placed upon them and that future generations will learn to embrace the human body the way that God has intended.

Happy Feast of St. Cecilia

St. Cecilia has always been a Saint that I have loved and found a connection with as she is the patroness of music. Her story is quite unique and also extremely inspiring. She had given her life to God but her parents forced her to marry. Upon returning from the wedding with her Pagan husband, she asked him not to take her virginity as an angel was with her. He asked to see the angel, but was told that until he was baptized and became Christian, he could not. He did as he was told and came back fully converted. His love for the Church became so radiant that he started working with his brother to bury those who had been martyred and were later martyred themselves. St. Cecilia was also to be martyred when she was found burying her husband and his brother. She was first placed in her bath and expected to die from the steam. For three days she sat there singing psalms to God, while not being affected. Finally, she was to be beheaded. With three swings of the axe, her head was still intact, but she laid there for three days while suffering from a loss of blood. Her body was later exhumed for examination (during her canonization) and was found to be incorrupt.Today, her body is in St. Cecilia's Church in Rome. Last summer I was so blessed and was able to visit. Although I could not see her tomb (it was not open at the time), the church was absolutely beautiful! Upon walking in, there is a statue under the altar that depicts what St. Cecilia looked like when her body was first exhumed. Being in the same area that a martyr is buried is so prayerful and contemplative, I only wish that I could have stayed longer.

St. Cecilia, ora pro nobis!

Patience is a Virtue?

I have been struggling lately with patience. It tends to be extremely hard to be patient for something that you so desperately want, especially knowing that it is not currently part of God's plan. I have tried many ways to overcome this obstacle, yet I have not found the solution or if there even is supposed to be one.

You hear it constantly, "Be patient," but what exactly is meant by this? Is it alright to still hope and dream for that time to come? Or is it best to refocus your energy on something else? Praying for patience has proved to be the most helpful and beneficial, yet I continue to struggle. I have also been trying to offer it all up to the Lord. He knows what is best for me, yet I continuously hope that perhaps there is a short cut along my path.

How do you accept patience into your life and embrace the beauty that God has intended for it?

A Prayer For Couples

Lord, give us the patience that we need in order to do Your will. Grant us the strength to listen to You and what You ask of us. Help us in our relationship, and guide us closer to you, so that no matter what happens, You will always be the center of our lives, and that Your will is always done by us.

Amen.

A New Beginning

I have had a tendency to keep online journals in the past, but I never felt as though I was able to state my thoughts on an intellectual level rather than just listing my events of the day. In this blog, I hope to share my insights and all of the beautiful ways that God brings me towards Him. I pray that you will be able to gain from the knowledge that is bestowed upon me, while at the same time that I may grow even stronger in my faith.

As far as the title of my blog is concerned, my name is Danielle which is hebrew for "God is my Judge." I thank my parents for choosing so wisely when they gave me such a fitting name.