“I Can Only Give Away What I Have”

Believe it or not, at times I can find myself being critical. It can range from the trivial to the significant…… “ why is that guy driving so slowly, speed it up Bub, ……. can you imagine anyone painting a house that color, they must be color-blind, bla,bla,bla.”  Even if the critical thought doesn’t escape my lips, it can still cause me to have a “sappy face”.

How does this happen ? Well I find that this poor attitude usually begins when I’m unhappy with myself….  I’m unhappy with my own behavior, my own lack of discipline, and  it then begins to spill over to everyone else on the planet. It’s not good. It certainly doesn’t help me and I’m not very much fun to be with….. “ Oh me – oh my…what to do, what to do.”

As always the solution to our problems lie with the Lord. The Magnificat is an excellent prayer book that often helps me. Listen to today’s readings. “So wide is God’s mercy that no sin is too great or too small for forgiveness. So much narrower is our charity that we often find the small annoyances the hardest to forgive. The more often we turn in prayer to the all-forgiving God, the more we will become like him in extending the hand of pardon to others in every daily circumstance.” (Magnificat: Aug. 18, 2023)

It really is true that the more we turn to prayer and experience God’s love, the more we become like him, and the more we can extend his love to others. When I experience God’s mercy, it’s amazing how much more merciful I become with others. I become less critical of myself and of others. 

So when we find  ourself being “critical”, let’s turn to the Lord in prayer. Let’s ask the Lord for help. “Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer for I am poor and needy.….give joy to your servant, O Lord, for to you I lift up my soul. O Lord, you are good and forgiving, full of love to all who call. Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my voice. In the day of distress I will call and surely you will reply…… (Psalm 86: 1-10)

We can only give away what we have. If we experience God’s love and mercy, his patience and forgiveness, then we can extend it to others. It can transform us and then overflow to others.  New Jersey is a lot happier place with “Dave the Encourager” rather than “Chuck the Critic”. It’s always good news to turn to the Lord in prayer.