"Peace is better than a fortune.
You must do what you see can be done with love."
-St. Francis de Sales
Love Is A Cornerstone
By Evelyn Waddick '21
Peace, in my experience, is a result of simply opening one's heart to God. In order for Him to take root in our souls and direct us, for Him to draw us nearer to Himself, we must surrender our worries, hopes, fears, and uncertainties. Through entrusting our worldly worries and spiritual shortcomings to Him, we allow God to step into our hearts. We allow God to transform us, gifting us with a deeper, more meaningful understanding of Him and His plan for us.
What have we to ever fear in this world, when our Creator loves us so dearly? He loves us, despite our faults, regardless of our worries, and never stops pulling us to Him in His infinite love and mercy. The world is ever-changing and God alone is steadfast. He is always near us, waiting for us to turn to Him. Yearning for us to recognize His presence and to ask Him to help us.
Love is a cornerstone of our existence. Without being loved by our family, friends, and God, there would be a gaping hole in our lives. The simple acts of being cheerful and supportive towards those around you is important for that reason. Being kind and doing what can be done with love comes through in even the smallest parts of life.
I myself am surprised by what a difference it makes to walk into school and be greeted with a smile from a girl I barely know, or to find my friends laughing together while waving me over. That is perhaps one of the most comforting things about my Visitation experience so far: the fact that everyone is patient, joyful, and loves their role as a member of the community. I have seen that everyone encourages each other to come closer to God, whether through a welcoming invitation to afternoon prayer or a heartening exchange with one of the Sisters. In these ways, the Visitation community and Salesian atmosphere cultivate an environment in which we are all able to grow in the love of God and progress in our journey to find peace. We are given the chance to become closer to God every day, so why not take that chance?
With God, who is love, we gain peace. God is far better than a fortune; indeed, He is all we ever need.
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(St. Margaret Mary Alacoque)
O Heart of Love, I put all my trust in you.
For I fear all things from my own weakness,
but I hope for all things from your goodness.
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Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
1524 Thirty-fifth Street NW • Washington, DC 20007 • 202.337.3350
Special thanks to Cecilia Kane '16 for the banner photo.