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When I was a teenager and got my first job, I went SHOPPING! At any point you could go through my closet and see labels that were common to most teenagers of that time; Jordache, Levi’s, Lacoste and Nike. But if you took time to peruse my abundance of clothing you would also find a few treasured pieces that had no labels. They were made by my mom. I remember looking through magazines and pointing to a top and saying can you please make me that. We would go pick out the fabric and I would have a custom piece in no time. Those were always my favorite pieces. A few years ago, I went to NYC to see a play and remember stopping somewhere in Time Square and just gazing at all the lights. There were so many names in lights! The bigger the company the bigger the lights. I felt as if everywhere I went, someone wanted to catch my attention and visually shout – Sony, Samsung, Disney… I thought to myself of how we walked around surrounding ourselves with names and logos. This building shouts I belong to… another shouts I belong to… I remembered my mother’s beautiful creations and how they did not have a tag with a fancy name. The best things usually do not have fancy labels or need to shout. I kept thinking to myself that I also have an invisible tag with a beautiful name.
Made with love by God.
How would our lives be different if we acknowledged that each of us carries this invisible tag? The other day I was speaking to my Confirmation students about how we can sometimes physically see and feel the presence of God. A big one for me was when each of my kids were born. I was so blown away and humbled to know that I helped create this tiny person. I thought of how much I loved them and how much joy I felt at just holding them and knowing them. Then I heard that small voice inside my heart say- “that’s how I felt when I created you.” I got choked up just thinking that God also felt love, pride, and immense joy when He created me.
How could my life be different if I remembered daily that I was MADE WITH LOVE BY GOD? Would I doubt myself at every turn? Would I be impatient with my weakness? Would it be easier for me to always trust Him? How would I treat others if I could see their label; MADE WITH LOVE BY GOD? Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta was known to bow before a person upon greeting them. When asked why she did this – her simple answer was; I do not bow to the person but to God I know is in each one of us. I acknowledge the dignity of each person. She always saw the invisible label.
During this busy Advent Season I pray that we can refocus our hearts and remember that we are MADE WITH LOVE BY GOD.