SIMPLE40 - DAY 18 - Wonder in Your Heart

Katie Donahue
2 days ago
5 min read

The world around you is God's wondrous creation, filled with beauty and complexity that never ceases to amaze. From the towering mountains to the delicate flowers, from the intricate workings of a cell to the vastness of the universe, there is so much to explore and appreciate. There is also much to take for granted. Yet, in the midst of all this, it is important to cultivate simplicity and wonder in your heart. Approach God and the created world with a childlike sense of curiosity and wonder, unencumbered by the distractions, complexities and worries that can burden your mind and heart.

It is only when you are able to see God in the world with these fresh eyes that you can truly appreciate His wonder. Set aside your preconceptions and biases and open yourself up to the beauty and mystery that surrounds you. God desires you to gaze upon Him with awe and wonder because fully comprehending Him, His works and His presence is impossible. Wonder is not a lack of understanding or knowledge. Rather, it is a willingness to be humble and receptive, to approach the world with a sense of simplicity, awe and reverence, and to be open to the possibility that there is more to this world than you can ever comprehend. There is beauty in the world that transcends your understanding, and that it is only by cultivating a sense of wonder and awe that you can fully appreciate it with joy and gratitude. Create space for wonder in your heart. A place where you encounter God and His creation for the sheer joy of it with no strings attached. This cultivates simplicity and imagination, giving you permission to wander, stretch and grow.

May We Never Lose our Wonder with Amanda Cook

spiritual

Do you feel like you are falling short of your Lenten promises?

Do not be discouraged.

Bring God your failings, your disappointments and the many ways you fall short day after day. This is the heart of Lent: growing in relationship with God by giving Him everything, even the parts of your life that feel messy or unfinished.

When you place these before Him, you make room for His mercy.

St. Faustina once told Jesus that she had offered Him her entire life and all she possessed. His response surprised her:

“You have not offered me the thing that is truly yours. My daughter, give me your failings.” ~Diary, October 10, 1937

Have you given your failings to God? Or are you still holding on to something?

A sin. A regret. A wound.

He is waiting for you to place these into His hands so that He can pour out His mercy upon you. And when you do, you may discover something beautiful: the deeper you encounter God’s mercy, the more your heart fills with wonder at a love that meets you exactly where you are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m92oWIcPZE

self

Fill yourself today with two kinds of Living Water:

Jesus
Water

Begin your morning with a simple act of care for your body. When you wake up, drink at least 16 oz of water. One easy way to do this is to fill a glass the night before and place it on your bedside table so it is ready when you wake.

Many of us do not realize how dehydrated we are in the morning. Starting the day with water helps replenish your body after a night of rest and prepares you to enter the day with greater clarity and energy.

Some benefits of drinking water first thing:

helps rehydrate your cells
kickstarts metabolism
supports healthy digestion
increases energy
reduces brain fog

As you drink, pause for a moment of gratitude and wonder. The same God who created oceans, rivers, and rain also designed your body to be sustained by something so simple.

Let this small act remind you that God often nourishes you through the ordinary.

Don’t stop there. Refill your cup throughout the day and remain attentive to the needs of your body.

Practice of Wonder: Each time you drink water today, pause for a moment and thank God for the simple gifts that sustain both your body and your soul.

Another beautiful option for intentional movement is SoulCore, an invitation to integrate body and soul in prayer while meditating on the rosary and orienting your heart and mind toward Christ.

SoulCore

service

Jesus shows us that love often appears in the simplest ways:

being present,

speaking truth with kindness,

offering a helping hand,

lifting someone up in prayer.

These small acts become powerful when they are offered with love. They are the ways we become Christ for someone who may be:

sick, suffering, or lonely.

When you begin to look with the eyes of wonder, you start to see that God places opportunities for love all around you. A conversation, a visit, a meal, or a sincere prayer can become a moment of grace for someone who needs it.

Take a moment today to intentionally plan one simple act of kindness for someone who may need encouragement...a helping hand, a smile, a meal, or a prayer. Then follow through sometime this week.

If you are unsure who might need help, consider calling your parish office and asking where a need exists. You might even invite a friend to join you.

When you serve with love, you may discover something beautiful: God often allows you to witness the quiet wonder of His presence in the very act of serving others.

simple recipe

CHICKEN ENCHILADA SOUP I cook my chicken thighs in batches, keeping them in the fridge or freezer for things like this. If you are vegan or making this on a Friday in Lent, simply omit the chicken and add some black beans or chickpeas. You can also add more of the veggies to make it more like a stew. 1 tablespoon avocado olive oil 4 carrots, sliced 4-5 celery stalks, sliced 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced 1 yellow onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons taco seasoning 2 teaspoons sea salt 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper 1can (14-18oz) diced tomatoes 5 cups chicken or veg stock 1 1/2 - 2 pounds boneless chicken thighs, cooked and chopped 2 teaspoons lime juice lime wedges cilantro tortilla chips Directions Crock Pot: place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Pressure cooker: Set to sauté mode and add the avocado oil, carrot, celery, onion, garlic, taco seasoning, salt and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Cancel sauté mode, put the lid in place. Select "Soup" mode and set the timer to 5 minutes. When the timer goes off, manually release the pressure. Carefully remove the lid and stir to combine (use two forks to shred the chicken if necessary). Ladle the soup into bowls and serve with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and tortilla chips. ENJOY!!