While doing some spiritual reading during my most recent retreat, I came across this powerful and insightful quote from St. Augustine:
“God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them.”
Wow! Talk about getting hit over the head with a 2 x 4! There’s a whole lot to unpack with that quote.
As we meander through this life, we carry many things, like our jobs, families, social life, hobbies, and all the responsibilities that come with all of those things, and so much more. We are carrying so many things – all the time. And yet, God is patiently standing by, waiting to give us the good things in life – the things that truly matter: love, peace, unity, and friendship. All this can be ours, but we need to let go of some of those non-important things – the things that often weigh us down. Letting go arouses surrender within us. And letting go leads to letting be, which opens us to surrendering our surrender.
Let’s not leave Jesus standing there waiting for the opportunity to give us what we need. It’s time to stop what we’re doing and put down our burdens and troubles. May we find the ability to open our hands to receive the generous gifts that God wants to give us. Amen!
For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. ~Jeremiah 29:11
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