A week has flown by already! It is now the beginning of the Second Week of Advent. In the First Week, we reflected on finding hope in our lives. This week, we strive to use that hope and a spirit of repentance in order to produce good fruit – to use what is given to us for the benefit of others.
This idea of producing good fruit has really hit me in this season of life. I feel the call to raise Peter with Claire in a way that bears good fruit, to always do my best for him, and to set a good example for him. In mid-November we went on our first family retreat with the priest that married us. It was a short time with a few workshops, but it was perfect for us and for Peter. He is always so patient with us! In the first workshop, we were led in a reflection of some key points in our life:
- Think of a time, and what it felt like in your early years where you knew in your heart that Jesus is real.
- Think of a time, and what it felt like in your young adult life in which you were discerning your vocation.
- Think of a time during your engagement or early married life, and reflect on the feelings of preparing to be, or of being a spouse.
- Think of a time during the birth of Peter or right after he was born, and what it felt like to be a parent.
After holding these meaningful moments in our minds, we dwelled on what it would be like to sit with Jesus, watching these moments play out together. We then shared our thoughts and feelings, and we realized that we have had much to hope for, much to be thankful for, and still much more to look forward to in our lives! There is so much good that has come before, bringing us to where we are now, and there is so much good ahead! We pray that in the week ahead (and thereafter), that we are able to produce good fruit in our lives and in the lives of others.
– M
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