Among The Pots And Pans

"Come now, my daughters, don't be sad when obedience draws you to involvement in exterior matters. Know that if it is in the kitchen, the Lord walks among the pots and pans helping you both exteriorly and interiorly" - St. Teresa of Avila

I am not a natural when it comes to my vocation. I hadn't planned on a life married with children.  My days were supposed to be spent in quiet contemplation, adoring God perpetually, veil, wimple and all. Even after discerning that monasticism isn't my vocation, I still dreamed my days in perfect solitude forever and ever. 

Clearly my plans were not God's plans. I found myself "forced" to be an extrovert working jobs that require me to actually speak to people and get out of my comfort zone.  Then I met my husband.  He wasn't planning to marry either LOL.  We were the perfect match.  Both in love with God and both seeking Him in religious vocations. I began to like God's plan for my life ;-) 

Then the children came.  Nothing prepares you for children.  Not even babysitting LOL. It finally hit me my life is no longer my own.  And I loved it.  I didn't love the hard parts but I loved how my life is turning out so much better than if I had insisted on my own will. So this was what obedience meant. Even a reluctant "yes" is rewarded generously. My life is full of those reluctant "yes" stories.  It is also full of stories of God's faithfulness. 

I still have trouble obeying LOL.  But maybe one day grace will truly perfect my nature. The above quote by St. Teresa is so dear to me because I truly believe God walks with me through all the paths that I have said and will say "yes" to. 

And I know He is with my husband while he is scrubbing the pots and pans ;-)