By ZOE CANNON
GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF FAITH
“Let your roots grow deep in Him, draw nourishment from Him, so that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong in the truth you were taught” (Col. 2:7).
In the Letter to the Colossians, Paul reminded the people of Colossae to beware of false teachings. He told them to grow in the Lord and become strong in the truth they were taught. I take these words very seriously because people are lost and separated from the real source of nourishment … the love of God!
A question we should consider while engaging in conversation or witnessing behavior that is contrary to our beliefs; does this person know the truth in the teachings of Christ? Many people reject the blessing of the gift of faith, are deceived by misinformation, or have never bonded with genuine, honest, love in their upbringing.
I am concerned that people have forgotten how to be civil to one another. We have come to believe that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or dislike them; or think that to love someone means you must agree with everything they believe or do. Neither concept is true. You do not have to compromise your personal convictions to be compassionate. But please remember you will never look into the eyes of someone God doesn’t love!
Outbursts of anger create a hostile environment. Validating one another’s opinions can ease the tension. The healing needs to begin soon. I am not sure how we got here, but we cannot sustain this level of instability in our society. In every relationship - family, friend, or even the stranger who happens to be in the grocery store with us - all could benefit from more thoughtfulness and smiles.
We survived nearly three years of mandates and isolation to once again have choices and large gatherings, but there are times when people still seem less than joyful. I witness moments of goodness in all the chaos as I watch children enjoying life amid all the negative attitudes and calumny.
Unfortunately, the innocence of a child is disappearing at a very early age in this culture. We need to be intentional about helping children grow in the Lord because they are being raised in very confusing times. I genuinely believe people are inherently good, but we seem to fail at times. The way we prioritize life can make the world a better place. Life lessons are about making choices!
We just finished a little league baseball season with our grandsons. There is so much to learn about life in the game of baseball. I observed some amazing growth from April to July on the field with the athletic abilities of these young kids. I also witnessed some behavior that needed a little work, but it wasn’t always from the children. You can learn a lot about life from the fans in the stands and the coaches on the field.
What we teach our children about winning and losing is a big deal to their development, not only as a family member or team player, but also as a good citizen. Growing up in the Lord becomes a real benefit in all aspects of life, but it must be a priority. Scheduling baseball tournaments with games through Saturday evening and resuming early on Sunday morning makes it very difficult to attend a church service or Holy Mass. What does this say to children? We always look for a Catholic church wherever the game schedule takes us in travel baseball. Our grandson sat on the bench for an inning for missing a 9 a.m. pregame practice before an 11 a.m. game. It was a small price to pay for making time for Jesus. Be strong in the truth and let your roots grow deep! Amen!