March 2010
Lighttomylamp@live.com
I PONDER THE PATH OF MY FEET
by
Margaret A. Marshall

Catherine of Siena (1300’s) wrote:   “First I want you to consider how much you are loved by God, who
for love created you in his own blood.  The Second thing we consider is how greatly obligated we are
to love God.”
When I think about the Father, I look around to see the wonders of the world: sun, moon, sky, trees,
flowers, oceans, lakes, rivers, mountains, hills and all that surround us.  I think about the love we
should strive to return to Him for all He has given us, not only to pray with words and meditate, but to
take care of our environment and the gifts He has presented.
As I reflect on these wonders, I contemplate God the Son, who was made man and died for our sins.  
He, not only lived on earth, but taught us how to be with Him in Heaven.  He said, “Love your Lord and
love your neighbor.” The big question arises, how can I love my neighbor who I don’t really care for?  
As I read my morning meditation in DIVINE INTIMACY, by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene, O. C. D.,
I discovered my problem.  “Judge not, that you may not be judged” (Mat. 7:1). “Charity to our neighbor
begins with our thoughts, as many of our failings in charity are basically caused by our judgments…:  
Because in judging others, we almost always base our opinion on their faults, especially on those
which wound our feelings or which conflict with our own way of thinking and acting, while we give little
or not consideration to their good points.”  
God the Son made it possible for the Holy Spirit to live in us. Envision God living in your Soul.  Do you
not want to make that home a home of love?  As I consider these words, I think about what the Holy
Spirit enables me to do with the strength He provides.  I couldn’t write these words without Him.
I feel I do not love the Lord as I ought to and pray that my love increases.  I strive to be a better person.  
I think about my children, who are grown and have families of their own, when I read and meditate on
the words of Jesus Christ.  He lived on the earth teaching, rebuking and loving just as I tried to do with
my children.  I truly love my children, even when they upset me, just as the Lord loves us.  I know I will
never love anyone as the Lord loves us, but I can keep striving to perfect my love.
Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his article “William of Saint-Thierry,” “Learning to love is a long and
demanding process…..In a meditation, [William] says ‘that the object of this love is “Love” with a
capital “L”, namely God.  It is He who pours out into the hearts of those who love Him and prepares
them to receive Him.”
I recall, about twenty years, ago my daughter calling from a college in Chicago telling me she needed to
come home because she failed to have enough tuition for the following semester.  I couldn’t help her
because of my sad finances.  I had previously recommended that she study to be an architect in our
own state, Wisconsin, but she insisted on the Chicago Institute.  I thought about the previous year
when I cried the entire trip home after leaving my “baby” behind.     
Now again, even though I wanted my daughter to be with me, I knew her coming home would lead to
her unhappiness.  I told her to stay there and try to work with the school.  She did and she became an
architect.  Yes, she had student loans and became indebted to financial institutions just as we are
beholden to the Lord for all He has done for us.
We can prove our love for others by holding true to the love of the Lord.  We want the best for those we
love which sometimes means sacrifice. Can you see where the Lord was coming from?   
Dorothy Day (1900’s) reflected: “Love requires constant struggle.  The less we work at love, the colder
we become and the harder it is to receive the warmth of God’s love.”  Working in a correctional center, I
can identify with the reflection.  I sometimes make judgments, forget about kindness and patience and
just move on.  
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, in the Book, Mornings with Fulton Sheen, interprets Proverbs 25, 21-22:  “If
you enemies are hungry, feed them, if thirsty, give them a drink.  This will make them feel ashamed and
the Lord will reward you.”  Has that ever happened to you?  Were you ever upset when someone
spoke softly and tenderly to you, leading you to feel ashamed of your behavior?  The love of God
shines through.  We can prove we love our Lord only by choosing Him in preference to anything else.”  
The following are words from one of my favorite prayers:  “Lord, you invite all who are burdened to
come to you.  Touch my soul with compassion for others.  Touch my heart with courage and infinite
love for all.  Touch my mind with wisdom so my mouth will proclaim your praises.  Teach me to reach
out to you and lead others to you by my example….”
I asked myself, what does courage have to do with my heart?  “Courage is the ability to face danger,
difficulty, uncertainty, or pain without being overcome by fear or being deflected from a chosen
action.”  Why do our hearts need courage?  We need courage to go on when our heart is broken; we
need courage to face a difficult situation in a positive manner; we need courage to make the right
decision—choosing LOVE (God) instead of looking away.  
I must reflect on how much I am loved by God, which I know is intense, and how obligated I am to love
Him.  I realize that the best way to show Him how much I love Him is to love others.
I pray for the Holy Spirit’s help:  “Breathe into me Holy Spirit that my thoughts are holy.  Act in me Holy
Spirit that my work may be holy.  Draw my heart Holy Spirit that I love but what is holy.  Strengthen me
Holy Spirit to defend what is holy.  Protect me Holy Spirit that I may be holy.  Amen.”