Note: On Fridays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
They are gifts, those precious moments when you know you are doing exactly what the Lord desires. Maybe it comes when you’re snuggling with your toddlers before bedtime, or when you get compliments for a particularly soul-stirring homily, or when the face of the woman at the food pantry lights up because you remember her name.
We are sure of His love, confident of fulfilling His desire for us, having no doubt about our value and purpose.
And then there are the other moments. You know them too: When the kids are overtired and don’t fall asleep no matter how many times you read their favorite book, or someone in the congregation takes great umbrage at your homily and tells a well-connected friend who works for the diocese, or when you work like a dog on a volunteer 
project and everyone has “helpful” ideas on how it might be done better.
And in those moments, we listen. The kids can’t help being that tired. Your homily was the best it could be in that particular moment. Those other folks really do mean well with their ideas; it just doesn’t seem that way in the moment.
Even if we aren’t able to be that charitable to others or ourselves in moments of conflict, it’s always helpful to step back and remember even when we feel the most like failures, we are loved beyond all understanding by the Father.
If you don’t believe that, check out what Jesus told us in Luke 12:6-7:
“Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”
Yes, believe you are loved at the very least more than many sparrows. That’s a start.
