Give it to God!

When I was a young girl I was fascinated with stories of people, mostly girls and women, who overcame the horrors of World War II. Edith Stein, also known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, was a woman who overcame the horrors of WWII by her death in Auschwitz in 1942 just 7 years after professing her vows as a Discalced Carmelite. We just celebrated her feast day on August 9. Each time I read a little bit about her life, her work, her conversion to Catholicism I want to know more. Sadly, I have not made the time to study her as I would like. A few years ago, a friend and I chose her as our saint for a small group we were facilitating and I learned about her. I also found some of her quotes that really resonate.

I think this one will speak to most of us, no matter what station or circumstance in life we are in now.

“And when night comes, and you look back over the day and see how fragmentary everything has been, and how much you planned that has gone undone and all the reasons you have to be embarrassed and ashamed; just take everything exactly as it is, put it in God’s hands and leave it with him.”

How many days have we been all over the place, starting many tasks, finishing a few; chasing children or deadlines; planning to accomplish it all yourself when there would need to be three of you? St. Teresa says, give it all to God. Leave it with him. He can fix it if you let it go.

What do you need to give to God?