Selecting menu items
In a restaurant, when we take a seat, we are presented with a menu from which we are invited to select our own menu: we then choose what we want to have as a starter, main course and dessert. Sometimes, we even have the possibility of formulating additional requirements (meals without salt, absence or addition of this and/or that). Only in life, only restaurants allow us to satisfy such fantasies.
When the time comes for a man to choose a woman to conquer, he has in mind a perfect model, in terms of moral (and Christian for some) virtues, in terms of beauty (height, face, morphology), in relation to romantic feelings. proven, concerning the intellectual level, ... these criteria which can go as far as tribal origins. However, a woman is not comparable to an A La Carte menu, No! No way ! In practice, we should make a choice according to our priorities and settle for what is acceptable, and sometimes what is bearable in other aspects.
When we look for a job, and especially just after graduating, we dream of a perfect job: one that fits perfectly with our training, that has excellent pay, that we will work in a developed city, with comfortable hours, ... This only happens in rare exceptions. Most often, we are called upon to make a certain number of concessions.
Life itself never gives us the possibility of having everything, at least not all at once, we must choose our priorities: are they Christian or at least moral? Are they family-oriented (moral and intellectual education of children, permanent construction and maintenance of a climate of love and harmony)? Are they community-based (solidarity, political [in the noble sense of the term])? Do they relate to the image that we want to send back to society (luxury, wealth)?
With the exception of our meals in restaurants, practically nothing in life is done A La Carte anymore. We must choose our priorities and make concessions on the rest, according to the opportunities that present themselves to us. Let's make sure we adopt the right priorities, those for which we will be happy and proud in the evening of our lives.
An unsolicited menu item, but added by the Restaurateur
In the first part of this article, we tried to explain how important it is to learn to be content with the gifts that God gives us, such as they are: a spouse, a job, etc. When even these gifts would not have all the “virtues” that we would have hoped for or dreamed of. The converse to this hypothesis would consist of considering the case where our menu had enriching items but which we had not requested because we were not particularly interested in them.
The main source of ingratitude is not omission, but the absence of real rejoicing. In general, when we receive a gift that amazes us or benefit from a service that greatly relieves us, it is most often with spontaneity that we express our gratitude, without needing to be reminded. Also our lack of gratitude towards God frequently comes from the fact that we do not fully grasp the extent of his Grace towards us. For example, it is only after experiencing illness that we most often remember all the wealth of health that we have benefited from until then.
To return to the subject of the article, it often happens that God gives us gifts which do not meet our "often immature" expectations, but which otherwise have "virtues" which do not particularly interest us, and therefore do not unfortunately arouse in us the appropriate recognition. In this regard, it is fundamental for us to constantly pray to God to renew our mind so that we can grasp all the beauty, the quality of his gifts and thus show him all the gratitude that is due to him.
In our relationships with people, the same pattern is reproduced so often. You have a partner who has qualities that don't particularly excite you; but which he/she nevertheless strives to put at your service. But your ingratitude almost inevitably causes frustration in your spouse. We would also benefit from understanding what is valuable in others in their own eyes (and even in the eyes of God) and knowing how to honor them for that.
A final example would be in a professional environment. You may not have the job you dreamed of or the appointment you had hoped for. And without realizing how bad it is, you do not show enough recognition to your manager for the professional benefits you have benefited from, or these promotions granted to you because they do not simply make you happy. And yet these superiors are trying their best to do you right. But with your indelicate attitude, you could not only embarrass your manager but also give him the image of a capricious and ungrateful employee.
Thus, in our communion with God, but also in our relationship with our neighbor, we must pray to God to help us appreciate the good that is done to us at its true value, even when initially it was not what we had the most desired, what we had dreamed of.
The Absolute Selection of the Menu for our table
In reality, the “meals” that are served to us throughout our lives are indeed intended to conform to a very precise selection. Only, this must not be done by us, but by God the Father.
Indeed, for our marriage, our family, our professional career but above all our life of Faith, God does indeed have a very specific will for us. His will certainly will not always correspond to ours, but only his must always prevail, even more so it will happen that he forces us to do so for our own salvation.
Perhaps since you reached the age of conscience, you have built an ideal for yourself in various areas, concerning the partner to find, the family to build, the professional career to pursue, the Christian religion to adhere to,... My dear brother, my dear sister, it is high time for you to lay all your burdens at the Lord's feet and carry his, which is easy and light (Matthew 11: 28-30). Not only is it light but it leads you towards life. Because as the Lord warns us, even if we realize our selfish fantasies, who assures us that we would have time to enjoy them? (Luke 12:15-31)
Eternal God, for all those times when I made plans and especially insisted on their realization, without consulting you either before or while I encountered obstacles, I sincerely ask your forgiveness. Thank you because in your grace, you yourself began to chart my professional career, you yourself chose my wife. But here is Eternal God, the vocation of my life, I would never want to lose sight of it. Also, I pray to you who alone knows how and according to what trajectory you call me to serve you, please grant me to do it according to your only plan; knowing each time to wait for you for the right time, knowing tirelessly to seek your face so as not to lose myself in an apparently religious but iniquitous glory.
Lord God, please grant to my brothers, sisters and me the grace to never lose sight of the fact that our sole purpose here on earth is to serve you and that ultimately only you permanently know the order of things, the stages and their respective durations; but may your Holy Spirit each time find willing hearts in us as he undertakes to prepare us for one stage or another.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
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