And Now a Word from Our Patron

Feeling under the weather, grappling with all sorts of personal issues this week, and up against the usual monthly deadline for a major website I edit for, which necessitates the usual flurry of editing, last minute questions and problems from the writers, and the typical onslaught of submissions.  I want to play with model horse crafts, order seeds for the garden, and spend a week sitting in my plant room doing nothing but watch the African violets grow, but I've got a list of articles and a book proposal due this week, and my hands are actually aching from typing.  My dear husband keeps slipping novels under the office door to remind me to nurture my creative writing projects; don't give up your dreams, these little gifts tell me, to work exclusively on nonfiction.  In between sips of coffee and another aspirin to chase away the migraine that comes and goes these days, I stumble across a quote from one of my favorite saints, St. Francis de Sales, whose little icon is perched in the margin of this blog. He's the patron saint of writers and I count him among my personal group of spiritual teachers. He may have been dead for 400 years, but his spirit lives on in his writing, and his words, quotes by "The Anchoress" on Patheos yesterday in honor of his feast day, are perfect for me today.

So I leave you with these thoughts from my dear "Saint Frank" and writers lovingly nickname him -

"Do not look forward in fear
to the changes of life;
rather look to them with full hope
as they arise.
God, whose very own you are,
will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it,
God will carry you in His arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cared for you today
will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering,
Or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace
And put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations."

Which reminds me of the words of St. Theresa of Avilla -

"Let nothing upset you
Let nothing frighten you
Everything is changing
God alone is changeless
Patience attains the goal.
He who has God lacks nothing;
God alone fills every need."

I'm off to edit.  Catch you later!