“Life is like a puzzle. Each of us has a picture in our minds of how our lives will turn out. We keep adding pieces, one at a time, attempting to create that beautiful picture. If one piece does not fit, we replace it with another. We never get all the pieces in the right place on the first try. It’s all about experimenting until each piece fits together with the next. Though our futures may not be clear or turn out exactly as we expected, each of us has the strength inside to put the puzzle together. We just have to look for the right pieces. It may seem impossible, but keep striving. Life‘s pieces have a way of falling into place when you least expect it.” Renee M. Brtalik

This is why it is so important to take time to reflect and make time for God in our lives.

Let me sing of the Lord, “He has been good to me.” Psalm 13:6

“Sometimes when I am on retreat, I write at the top of a paper, ‘25 ways God has been good to me this past year.’ Then I begin to list some of the ways: good health, a new friend, opportunities for Mass, ample food, orchids in the hallway where I live, time for prayer, the retreatants I’ve come to know, the frequent laughter in my life, regular challenges to my generosity and patience, the variety of birds at the bird feeders, old favorite songs and a few new ones, good books I’ve read, the persistent call to work for greater

justice, my love for learning, freedoms I often take for granted, living and working with hope filled individuals.

Perhaps that’s why this line above from Psalm 13 stood out for me today. The truth is, at the end of some of my letters, I often write these words: ‘God has been good to Melannie!’

How has God been good to you lately?” Sr. Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.

Even if we haven’t gone on retreat this is a great exercise to do throughout the year. It helps each one of us to focus on the positive gifts in our lives. In another book that I have been reading it talks about the cup of suffering holding a hidden gift for us. I remember working with a sister when I first entered the Sisters of Mercy, she was blind and she told me that being blind was a gift. Wow!

“I am convinced that attitude is the key to success or failure in almost any of life’s endeavors. Your attitude – your perspective, your outlook, how you feel about yourself, how you feel about other people – determines your priorities, your actions, your values. Your attitude determines how you interact with other people and how you interact with yourself.” Caroline Warner

Let us pray for a positive attitude in our life

“Think about the good things in life, like sunshine, holidays, feeling loved, special friendships, and laughter. Think about rainbows, blue skies, and beautiful sunsets and feeling loved, cared about, and accepted. Remember that in life although there is some bad stuff, good things really do happen, too.” Maria Mullins

We need to remember that God is always present with us in good times and in difficult times.

“To be in the moment means to sit in reflection, in silence, allowing for thoughts and emotions to flow freely. It means to take a breather from your every day schedule to enjoy the simple things in life.

To be in the moment means not letting life pass you by. It allows you to experience each moment for what it is and then let it go like a feather floating in the wind.

To be in the moment allows us to see the many blessings we have – the wonderful gifts that we so quickly look past in our day-to-day lives. It means truly an entirely living.” Lamisha Serf

God is with us in each moment.