05/27/2010 - Daily Prayer

Saint Francis de Sales understood the importance of ongoing self-reflection for the advancement of the human spirit. He taught:
“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew.”
By wrestling with the parts of ourselves that still need to grow or be refined, we do more than merely cover up our mistakes or weaknesses. What ultimately is accomplished by the act of wrestling with ourselves is the ennobling of the human spirit.
Saint Francis reminds us that the process of self-examination is as important as the goal of bettering oneself. By each day examining ourselves anew, we are given the opportunity to see areas in which we can not only better ourselves, but also to be able to take pride in our development and growth as human beings.
May it be the will of the Creator that we shall always have the courage to look at ourselves with honesty, the humility to know that there is always room for improvement, and the capacity to find joy in even the most modest of our achievements. May this be God’s will. Amen.