Piety Begins At Home

I am finally getting over the week-long respiratory ordeal.  All that's left of the scourge is a dry cough, a bit of sinus congestion with some lingering fatigue. I don't remember being so ill to the point of "uselessness" for such a prolonged period.  I slept and prayed a lot, read more than usual, got caught up with my peeps on Facebook (gave me a headache! it's such a busy place over there),  ate little and performed zero chores.  I should also add I reached new levels on my favorite games, the Kindle nearly burst from overheating LOL. My old me would have stressed out about the state of my home with it's attached chore list but the new me relished in the rest and enjoyed seeing the kids step up. I'm pretty sure my husband needs a break from the dishes and cooking.

But the one thing I productively did was pray the novena to the Holy Spirit.  What a revelation that novena was. It made me realize that all my bravado at being bff's with the Holy Spirit is laughable, I actually do not possess or at least do not exercise many of the Seven Gifts. It was very humbling

What stood out the most to me was this line from the prayer - "Grant us the Spirit of Piety that we may find peace and fulfillment in the service of God while serving others".  The gift of piety is fundamentally directed towards God as a loving Father. Manifest in that filial affection is serving Him as we serve another.  Laying there on my sick bed, pondering the immediate "another" (family) in my life, I thought of the many instances where the burden of serving grated at my nerves and tried my patience.  If the act of homemaking is a form of piety, I have certainly squandered that gift countless times.  

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Today, as we celebrate that joyful feast of Pentecost, I pray that I no longer take for granted that freely given gift. May I truly find peace and fulfillment in the serving of God while serving another.

What gift of the Holy Spirit are you pondering?

Happy Pentecost!
Veni, Creator Spiritus!