Color your life Magnificat

We can learn a lot about our Blessed Mother, and we can apply her words of The Magnificat to our lives today. She gives credit to God for everything that happens to her and calls these "great things". She even speaks to a positive and blessed future. She praises and glorifies God, rejoicing, filled with faith in God's providence and protection and provision. She speaks of God's mercy for those who have a high regard and reverence for our Lord. And she recounts how God keeps His promises.

Stress, uncertainty, fear, disappointments, wicked ordeals may indeed be a part of your life. I know I have much to deal with on a daily basis. Sometimes we can get stuck focusing on the negative pieces and not see the positive side of the whole scenario. Think about it--we also have unexpected resolved difficulties, various talents to make use of, joyful experiences, and many freedoms to be grateful for.

We may not be able to avoid dealing with the bad things in life, but we certainly can make the decision to trust in Jesus, to be thankful to God for all of the good, and reflect on the better things. Remember the bottom line--God loves you! Roses are beautiful and soft and fragrant. And they have thorns. Can you imagine not noticing the glorious flowers and only seeing the smaller thorns?

I like the idea of making The Magnificat my own, as if I had composed this beautiful prayer about my own life. Try it. Pray the words spoken by the Virgin Mary, making them your own:


The Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour,
Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid:
for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
Because He that is mighty, 
has done great things to me; and Holy is His Name.
And His mercy is from generation unto generations, 
to them that fear Him.
He has shewed might in His Arm: 
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has cast down the mighty from their seat, 
and has exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things, 
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has received Israel, 
His servant, mindful of His mercy.
As He spoke to our fathers, 
to Abraham and to his seed, for ever.