I, 100%, believe that if I am acting with good intentions to help someone and it doesn’t work out, it is still better than not trying to help at all.  I have a longtime friend who is struggling with alcohol dependence.  I’ve been trying to intervene and get her the help that she needs, but I’ve been facing an uphill battle.  Having an alcoholic dad and father-in-law brought many challenges into my life growing up and into my early marriage.  I knew that when I was a mom, I never wanted my children to experience the pain that I experienced from too much alcohol.  My 3 children are now almost 30, 31 and 32 years old and they’ve never seen me with a drink.  That was my gift to them. 
 
My past made me strong.  It shaped my life.  And I know that I needed the struggles in my past to make me a better mom, wife, friend, youth minister and person.  Advent is a time for preparing our hearts.  It’s a time for repentance and forgiveness.  My sins from my past have already been forgiven.  Yet, each day I must be reminded of the “good that I fail to do” when I get caught up in my own busy-ness.  Like you, I have the gift of 24 hours in each day.  I also have the gift of “free will” to do what I want with my time.  “Life is a great balancing act.”
 
I keep a list of people I need to reach out to, call, visit, and those who I should send a nice card to; for the Lord has done great things for me.  I’ve chosen not to use any social media.  For me, staying that connected to everyone would certainly consume me.  I use my phone to connect with those I need to connect with and to take photos of special moments that I want to remember.  That’s enough for me. 
 
My house is clean and decorated for Christmas.  The gifts are bought and wrapped.  But still my life is gearing up for a whirlwind of excitement and much planning!  My son, Willy, my Philadelphia firefighter, is getting married in 12 days to his girlfriend of 13 years!  And…praise the Lord, for they are receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony in a Catholic church!  I am so proud!  I am praying that working hard and staying focused in my advanced preparations are enough to keep me in balance, with good spirits, ready to celebrate and still able to focus on the Christ-born miracle!