We are so blessed to have Mary as our Mother, our Queen Mother, whose joy it is to intercede for God’s people.  She’s a Mother who understands us – Mary knows us, our history, our situation, and what our deepest needs are.  She knows what God poured into us at our conception, and with what excitement the Trinity beheld each one of us and wondered, “What will she do with this?  How will she live these gifts out?”  

It reminds me of how the other day I was so thrilled to pick a little fig off of our fig tree.  What a joy!  It makes me think of how God sees us: The whole tree can be full of figs, but He picks one and is so joyful over it.  Each one is a joy when you pick it.  Each one is a joy when you see it.  And you, too, are a joy for God.  You, too, have a “yes”.  You, too, have gifts poured into you; so acknowledge them, and then run to Christ and say, “Thank you.”  Because then not only will Mary intercede for us, but she will also be able to tell God of our gratitude.

The Loving Heart of my God thought of my soul, loved it, and prepared endless means to promote its salvation, even as though there were no other soul on earth of which He thought; just as the sun shines on each spot of earth as brightly as though it shone nowhere else, but reserved all its brightness for that alone. So Our Dear Lord thought and cared for every one of His children as though none other existed. “Who loved me, and gave Himself for me,” St. Paul says, as though he meant, “for me alone, as if there were none but me He cared for.”

Saint Francis de Sales

“At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, ‘Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.’”

Matthew 18:1-5

We know what it means to be a child: a child can’t provide for itself.  A child is watched after.  A child is fed.  A child is wrapped in light as in a robe.  A child is kept warm.  A child is cared for.  A child is loved.  Or it should be.  That’s what is means to be a child.

Unfortunately we live in an age of entitlement, in an age of “I deserve…”.  And if that’s the approach, nothing will be gift, because “I’ve deserved it, it’s just mine.”  Instead we should try to practice gratitude, because everything is gift.  Nothing is yours to keep, but for you to use for the glory of God.  When we live this way, there is a real freedom of detachment.  We are so cared for as God’s children, and in return we have One who deserves all our love.  Thank Him! Never stop answering His call to be His child.  How fully are you giving yourself to Him who has given you everything?