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Writer's pictureSarah Raad

Ball

I allow all my children to participate in their little talents – despite the inconvenience – because I love them. And this is very much like God.

Ansidei Madonna (Raphael)

My eldest son is an expert rollerblader. Every free moment he has he spends outside on his rollerblades skating around the back yard. Because he is great at rollerblading, he also happens to be a great ice skater. Because he is good at one thing he also seems to be good at another.


My second son is an expert ball kicker. Every free moment he has he spends kicking a ball either in the backyard or inside the house. Because he is great at kicking balls, he also happens to be a great ball-thrower as well.


My daughter is an expert slime maker. Every free moment she gets she spends mixing up slime and adding beads and sparkles to it either at her desk or in front of the television in the lounge room. Because she is great at mixing slime she is also an expert with playdough.


Now, each of these talents of my children come with interesting – and rather annoying – side effects. My rollerblading son is hard to catch (figuratively speaking) because he is out and about and unable to come inside quickly for dinner or a shower or to get his homework done. My ball-kicking son drives the family mad by kicking or throwing his ball around the house constantly. My daughter’s slime leaves beads and sparkles on everything it touches and is a headache to clean up.


And I have been thinking about this today, because I allow all of my children to participate in their little talents – despite the inconvenience – because I love them. And this is very much like God.


You see, God allows me my own little foibles. He allows me to rollerblade (and come inside late) or kick the ball inside the house (and annoy everyone to the point of madness) and he allows me to make my slime (even though I leave beads and glitter). And He allows this because He knows that though it does no real good, it does no real harm to me. And He allows it despite the inconvenience to Himself when I do these other things.

Because for me, I do not rollerblade, or kick balls or make slime. But I work and run a household and I shop, and I see my friends. And that – I suppose – is the difference between my vocation and the vocation of a religious… You see a religious – a priest or a nun or a brother – is able to participate in the worship of God with less distractions than me, which is surely more pleasing to God (as there are no rollerblades or balls or slime in their life). And yet, my Beloved loves me enough to allow me the freedom to play around with all sorts of things – provided that they do not really get in my way.


After all, the Creator of the Universe is able to factor a ball into His plans for me without becoming overwhelmed with annoyance. And when that ball starts getting in my way, He will simply throw it out the door for a while to get it out of the house and out from under everyone’s feet.


And I have been thinking about that today…


For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.


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