The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie

by Rachel Linden

But following your bliss, that’s entirely different. It means facing your present reality with honesty and courage and, in the midst of it all, continuing to pursue each spark of joy, even if it is a tiny pinpoint in the darkness of your life. Do not give up. Continue to look for the light in your life—it is always present somewhere, some small thing to be grateful for, something to celebrate, a way to give joy to others, a new way to grow. Move toward the light in life; seek it out no matter what. This is the essence of what it means to follow your bliss.

As the great Saint Augustine once said, ‘Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.’

“To quote the Little Flower, dear Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, ‘Only God can see what is in the bottom of our hearts; we are half-blind.’

It was all normal and slightly boring, and yet I was captivated by the girls. Every word, every second, I fell more in love with them. I couldn’t get enough. Was this what motherhood felt like? I wondered, glancing at their heads bent low over a game of Chutes and Ladders as Sophia helped Freya move forward five spaces. Was it this sweet ache lodged in the center of your breastbone, a powerful feeling of protection and adoration of these little people in equal parts that eclipsed all exhaustion, all inconvenience? It was boredom and panic and satisfaction and heart-melting sweetness all rolled into one. It was its own kind of bliss.

for one perfect moment, the world stood still. I let myself stay there in the moment, listening to his heartbeat, curled up against him, the two girls so close I could reach out and smooth their wet hair. I had never felt so utterly content. I wanted it to last forever.