Thursday
SUBMISSION
As soon as you awake in the morning, try to realize God stretching forth His Hand towards you, and saying, Dost thou really desire that I should watch over thee this day? and you lift up your hands towards this kind Father, and say to Him, "Yes, yes, lead me, guide me, love me; I will be very submissive!"
Beneath God's protecting Hand, is it possible that you can be sorrowful, fearful, unhappy?
No; God will allow no suffering, no trial, above what you are able to bear.
Then pass through the day, quietly and calmly, even as when a little child you had your mother always beside you.
You need only be careful about one thing, never to displease God, and you will see how lovingly God will direct all that concerns you—material interests, sympathies, worldly cares; you will be astonished at the sudden enlightenment that will come to you, and the wondrous peace that will result from your labor and your toil.
Then, welcome trial, sickness, ennui, privations, injustice ... all of it can only come directed by God's Hand, and will wound the soul only in order to cleanse some spot within.
Would your mother have given you a bitter dose merely for the sake of causing you suffering?
If your duty is hard, owing either to its difficulty or the distaste you feel towards it, lift your heart to God and say, "Lord, help me," ... then go on with it, even though you seem to do it imperfectly.