St. Therese and Roses

I was thinking today, as I have many times lately, about how my room is going to be crowded when I am dying. It's not because I have a ton of kids and someday grandkids, and adoring crowds to fill that room, it's that I envision all my very favorite angels and saints gathered around me, waiting to take me to heaven.

One of my favorites is celebrating her feast day today. That is St. Therese. I have loved Therese from the time I was a little girl. I used to read this huge saint book in our Catholic Elementary school library all the time. The librarian used to tease me because I was the only one who took it out. And I did that a lot. I just loved to read about the saints. And I never was afraid of the martyr's stories or anything. I just thought the saints were so fascinating. And so I began to know them so well, I just thought of them as friends, and one of my closest was Therese.

Please tell me that I am not the only one out there who can really see the saints as friends we can count on. It's weird because I always felt that I knew saints like Therese, personally. Like when I do finally see her when she comes to take me home, it will be like we always knew each other. Know what I mean? I am looking forward to spending a lot of time with her in eternity, just talking and catching up on lost time.

Therese is so interesting and when I see pictures of her, I just know I would have loved being her friend. She is so pretty and she has such a sweetness about her. When I drive by the Carmelites, down the road from my house, and see one of the Sisters working in the garden, still dressed as Therese dressed, I smile and get teary eyed. I always say, "Thank you Therese, I feel even closer to you now." I can just see how she must have looked working in her garden, such innocence and purity. How can I not love her?

I love being Catholic. We have such great friends in the saints. Sometimes I make myself crazy, thinking I have to be just like this one, or just like that one. But God always lets me know that I am making my own way, my own life as a saint. I don't have to live like anyone else, He just wants me to be who I am. Yes, we should study the example they set, and even take on some of their ways, but each of us is unique and wonderful. Just the way God made us.

So sometimes I take a little from Therese, a little from Faustina, a little from Teresa, a little from Claire, and on and on. But then I take on Michelle, me, and I try my best to become who God wants me to be. He has a plan for my life. I just wish sometimes He would take out a billboard and let me know if I am headed in the right direction!

So Happy Feast Day my dear, dear friend Therese. When you get a chance, send me a rose that lets me know I am living in God's plan. A white one will do.