Today marks the end of my 45th trip around the sun. I think maybe that makes me almost a real grownup. Today was ALSO the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I can’t believe this special day fell on my birthday. What a gift! I feel so special. I went to sunrise mass this morning (which was followed by an hour of adoration…most peaceful thing of my whole life) and I received my first ever birthday blessing. What a moment. So, I might be sharing too much but I’m going to do it anyhow.

I lit a candle for myself this morning (not sure if that’s okay to do…I’m still learning) and prayed this prayer. “Lord, please take my bitter and angry heart and replace it with the sacred heart of Jesus.”

I don’t even know where that came from. It was just there so I spoke and as the words came out of my mouth, I felt the truth in them. I don’t think of myself as an angry but in that moment, I felt all of the anger and little hidden corners of bitterness that had crept in over the years. I think most of us see a lot in our years on earth - too much sometimes. The world has a way of hardening our hearts, even when we fight so hard to hold onto love. It just is. I don’t know if there’s anyone out there who might be feeling beat up by this world right now. If so, this is my prayer for you today, that we will all find the grace to hold onto the sacred heart of Christ in this crazy world that works so hard to take it from us.

With all my love,

Brooke Hampton