It seems the older I get, the more mercy the Lord reveals to me. Most of us never think about actually committing the Seven Deadly Sins. The truth of the matter is that we do these things every single day. We just don’t recognize them for what they are.
Pride- All I have to do to recall God’s mercies in this area of my life is to look at my few extra lines. They just keep growing; deeper and deeper, more and more. Oh, and my hair! A little more gray grows in every day. If I am tempted to feel a little prideful about my appearance or my attitude, If we could just imagine that a camera crew follows us around for a day. Would a secret movie of your life would reveal you at your best or worst. Would you have any pride left?
Greed -I probably would be a very greedy person without God’s mercy. I could easily imagine myself wanting more. God’s cure for this ill? I am so busy that I don’t have time to want anything besides a hot shower and a warm bed. Just like most women, I am trying to split myself between my duties as a good daughter, great Godmother, church work and other jobs that comeup. In this way the Lord covers another one of the sins.
Sloth- Some days I feel like one of those toaster pastries. I pop up and down all day. “Mom, can you do this or that.” “Babe, where’s my driver’s license?” “Emails to write and return”. Yikes! I would actually love the chance to be lazy, but most days it’s just not going to happen. I feel like I have on a built on super-woman cape!
Lust- “He’s so cute!” “ I just gotta get with him”, “I just gotta have that car”. I think we all have something we lust after from time to time. It’s simply an ongoing struggle to always be pure of heart. But, we can always try.
Gluttony – I love food. There are times when are arms are barely long enough for us to grab a first helping, let alone a second. Sometimes I we are either too tired or too busy to eat. God is so good.
Envy- I drive past a beautiful, big house and my only thought is: “Glad I don’t have to clean it.” As you mature you begin to realize that everything comes with some strings attached, this knowledge makes it fairly easy to not want what you don’t have.
Anger – Okay, truth time, I still struggle with this one every day. I do realize, though, that life is short and the time I waste being angry is time I could have spent showing love. I am learning everyday not to let just the everyday matters of life get to me!
I pray that God will continue to work on me – I am definitely a work in progress. Even though the serious temptations are reduced in some way, I am even more aware of the many ways I do sin, everyday. I trust in the continued mercy of God. If we could all just admit this we would be so much better off. Cheers to honesty!