Embracing New Beginnings: A Sunday Reflection
7/19/20262 min read
Today is Sunday morning, and I have my children with me this weekend.
There is something special about Sundays. It’s a chance to slow down, reflect, and reset. My oldest is finally back from her second vacation in a row. She has been gone for two weeks, and I’m excited to pick her up before Mass tonight at 8:15.
One thing I love about this city is that there is always an opportunity to go to Mass. There are churches with Mass throughout the day, pretty much every day. Having that ability to reconnect with God whenever I need it is something I don’t take for granted.
Last night I struggled. I fell into a sin that I have battled before. I won’t share what it is because some things are between me and God. But I share this because tonight there is confession before Mass, and that timing feels like exactly what I need.
This is something I have repeated, but today I am making a commitment. At almost 43 years old, I am choosing to stop. Completely.
Sometimes admitting our struggles helps us overcome them. Writing about it, sharing that I’m fighting to become better, reminds me in the moment to make the right choice. It keeps me accountable.
I am also trying hard to pray four rosaries a day. I have only accomplished that once in the past week, but that one day was incredible. My worries felt lighter. My mind felt calmer. I felt closer to God.
My goal is to become a saint. Not because I think I am perfect, but because I want to continue becoming better. The greatest saints were not people who never struggled. Many of them were people who made mistakes, fell down, and completely changed their lives.
That gives me hope.
Today is Sunday, though, so it’s also a day of responsibility. I’ve learned that writing down everything I need to do helps me stay focused.
My list is long.
I recently had a lot of landscaping done, and now I have to water all the new flowers every day. I need to push mow my large lawn today. I need to clean the animals’ area and take care of them. I need to do the dishes every night. I have multiple loads of laundry every day with six kids.
I need to get back to work as an Uber driver. I need time for prayer and reading the Bible. I need to go through the mountains of clothes in my house, pick out four outfits for each child, and donate everything else that is no longer needed.
And that is just the beginning.
Sometimes, doing everything on my own feels overwhelming. There are moments where I look at everything in front of me and wonder how I’m going to get it all done.
But then I remember something important.
I am lucky.
I am lucky to be alive. I am lucky to have my children. I am lucky to have another day to try. After everything I have been through, I know life is a gift.
My struggles have changed me. They have made me appreciate the small moments, the ordinary days, and the blessings that are easy to overlook.
So today I’m going to keep moving forward. I’m going to pray, work, take care of my family, and continue becoming the person God is calling me to be.
God bless everyone.
Tomorrow is a new day, and I look forward to sharing more of this journey.