This morning our family went to Mass at a little Catholic Church in Pigeon Forge, TN.  My parents and I have been attending Mass there all week on our vacation, but this morning the entire family was finally together and we all went. Holy Cross is a parish of about 400 families, tucked up on a side street off the main parkway in Pigeon Forge.

One of the greatest things about Mass today, aside from receiving the body of Christ while being surrounded by those I love most in this world, was the opening statement by the Deacon.  He reminded us all that this is Thanksgiving Day, in the greatest country in the world and that we cannot forget what makes us great.  It was wonderful to hear him speak this morning and I have no doubt that he is not only a faith-filled man, but a true patriot.

I love Thanksgiving Day Mass in this country!

I realize I mention removing hate in my post title and we’ll get to that now.

During the Mass today, I was overcome with emotion.  That happens often enough during the consecration and after communion but today it happened shortly after the start of Mass.  My heart was filled with an immense feeling of love, forgiveness, and healing.  I realized that to be filled with God’s love, I had to empty myself of any feeling that didn’t lead to or include love.  I had to forgive my enemies (real and imagined), I needed to pray for them with true love in my heart and I need to pray for my own soul to remain free of hate and enmity.

It isn’t easy in this day and age to be filled with love all the time.  Many times hate creeps in;  hate at people’s behavior, at their words, at their belief system, sometimes at the people themselves.

But we are called to love.  Jesus loved those who hated Him, scorned Him, persecuted Him, murdered Him.  He loves saints and sinners alike.  He entreats us to love one another and while I like to believe I do, I have realized that I often fall short of His commandment.

I cannot promise that hate won’t creep back into my head and heart.  I can’t promise that I will look at everyone with the love God asks me to.  I can, however, remember to pray, both for those I find difficult to love and for myself.  Prayers to find the light of God within each person.  It is there.  We are all made by Him and in His image and within us all is a spark of goodness; the love our creator placed in creating us.

On this Thanksgiving Day, I pray for each of you, those who know me personally and those who only know this blog.  I pray for the light of God’s love to fill your hearts.  I pray that His grace fills your life and the lives of those around you.  I pray that we stay faithful to God’s will in our lives and that we continue to live to glorify Him.

In Christ’s Love,

Mrs. Summitt

I spent the better part of Saturday morning attempting to record my first podcast.

Well, not exactly my first.  I had done a series several years ago of the Rosary when there weren’t any available to download.  That was a long time ago though and I knew exactly what to say.

I find myself at an interesting crossroads with the podcasting.  I feel that I should be speaking about matters related to faith but I am so frustrated by the recent election that everything I speak about ends up being related to politics and law.  Perhaps that is intentional.  We cannot be authentically Catholic and not have our beliefs wrap into our day to day existence and the politics surrounding this nation.

I am going to try and speak mainly about our faith but expect the relation to politics to show up.  We can no longer be a ‘live and let live’ society and expect to keep our religious freedoms intact.  Morality and faith are not compatible with current society.  It is very Old Testament.  The golden calf is being trotted around and the people are bowing to it while we look away sickened by the willingness of the masses to engage in sinful behavior that darkens their souls and leads them away from God.

As usual, I digress from my topic but I’ll leave you with the thought that my first podcast is coming soon.  Hopefully with limited politics 🙂

Yours in Christ,

Mrs. Summitt

Hello Dear Reader!

You may be stumbling here to see if I have words of wisdom in the aftermath of a highly disappointing November 6th.  I do not.

I’m not much on wisdom today having felt like pulling an Atlas Shrugs moment and vacating from all responsibilities that would require my hard earned dollars to be given to the government rather than to where I choose to give it.  Luckily, God called this morning (figuratively) and for the first time in a long time, I had my ringer turned on my soul-phone and I answered.

What did God have to say?  Well it wasn’t to agree with my perspective this morning on going to Galt’s Gulch.  No, it was more of a marching orders call.  As a soldier in God’s Spiritual Army, He provided me with the next step on my journey.  I am still in a bit of shock but I have faith.  If you’re wondering what exactly this next step is, keep reading.

This website is just the beginning.  It is a way to get me thinking and writing on paper (or pc), to get used to putting out my thoughts, feelings, life lessons for the world to see, to become comfortable with it.   Keep reading…the good stuff is in the next part 🙂

Hears how my soul-phone conversation with God went this morning after I realized what I’m supposed to be doing with my life in service to Him:

Me  – Whoa!  Are you kidding me?  I’ve barely blogged since that realization that this was part of your path for me.

God’s response – It isn’t as though I haven’t tried to get you to blog.  (a voice that sounds like mine chimes in “I’m too tired.” “I’m too busy.”  “I don’t feel good.” “I have work to do.” “I have school work to do.” “Mom’s in town.”)

Me – It can’t be time though, right?  You’re just giving me a heads up and then in a few months when life is a little more quiet after the holidays…….that’s when I should start, right?

God’s response – Nice try, but no.  I know you don’t feel ready.  Why is that?

Me – Well, because I’m not.  I have bills to pay, work to get done, a husband and child to take care of, charities to raise money for, family to love, Christmas cards to write, a house to clean….. When am I going to do THIS?  HOW am I going to do THIS?  I don’t KNOW HOW to do any of THIS!  HOW can I do THIS and still pay the bills?

God’s response – Do you trust in ME?  Believe in ME?  Love ME?

Me – Of course I do!

God’s response – Then…….

Me – Humph!  Fine.  I will start but I need help.

God’s response – Help is always there when you’re doing My will.  If you do what I ask, the help will arrive just when you need it most.

Me – *sigh* Ok.

So, here I am… announcing… that mrssummitt.com is going to be growing to include a podcast and eventually video-casts and other downloadable mp3’s with favorite prayers and devotions.

More to come…first I need to go buy a microphone and figure out what I’m supposed to say and to whom.  Of course, first part of that first is I need some sleep.  As with most folks who think as I do, last night was a very long night and today was just as long.  The light is there though……within each of us.  Just pray and God will help that light shine as a beacon to others.  We can make a difference, we will make a difference.

I’ll leave you with this, A Prayer for Daily Neglects:

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with all its love, all its sufferings and all its merits.

 First – To expiate all the sins I have committed this day and during all my life.(Glory be to the Father…)

 Second – To purify the good I have done badly this day and during all my life.(Glory Be to the Father…)

 Third – To minister for the good I ought to have done, and that I have neglected this day and during all my life.(Glory Be to the Father…)

Amen.

(If you are not familiar with the Glory Be…

Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.)

In Christ’s Love,

Mrs. Summitt