✝ For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We [...] take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete (2 Corinthians 10: 3-6). ✝

In the final singular hour of a long day, I give a grand effort to not simply scroll away on my too-smart-for-me phone. For a mother of littles, this hour of free time is hard-won and often not available at all between big toddler feelings and tummy-aches.

But when I have that hour, I get to thinking. Or reading. Or journaling. And it’s glorious. Recently, I’ve been pondering how Saint Paul’s words in his letter to the Corinthians apply to me and my resistance to doing God’s will.

Last night, I was blessed with a quiet hour. 🌙

I put on a talk by Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, and actually watched it. Her beauty and her smile absolutely RADIATE the joy of Christ and her love of Him. She spoke of healing and of Jesus and how He knows the desires of our hearts. He SENDS desires to our hearts. And Jesus doesn’t forget about them or shrug them off as we so often do.

At the end of her talk, we prayed. She encouraged us to allow God into our wounds and offer our desires to Him. She encouraged listeners to allow whatever comes up to come up…and oh! Something I’ve struggled with for SEVEN years came up:

One of my greatest desires is to bring joy and Christ’s light to the world through music. I’ve spent years blogging and social media-ing and researching how to post and when to post and all the things. But it wasn’t until the beginning of 2025 that I even ASKED Our Lord how He wanted me to spread the Good News. Fortunately for me, the Holy Spirit kept returning to me again and again with the idea to write an album of songs about saints in the style of Disney songs!

🎵So, diving headfirst into songwriting and recording an album was the answer (go big or go home when you ask the Holy Spirit, people!)

But why? As I’ve created these seven songs, I have pondered why He asked me to do this. And how I should even share them since that is always a huge block in my brain?

I’ve learned through asking “why” the answer boils down to: because it is God’s good will and part of my family’s journey to sanctity. That’s great for me…I love God’s will! ✨

When asking how, my gut always clenches with resistance. Should I post an Instagram reel? Or a YouTube video? Or simply tell my Catholic moms’ groups in person? I am a classic and creative overthinker. My working geniuses are “wonder” and “invention,” so if you need ideas, I’m your girl! ⚙

But truth be told, Satan, the Deceiver, convinces me that I cannot share this album “right” so why try at all? Logically, I know this to be untrue. Even one child or parent whose devotion to the saints is nourished by my songs is an absolute WIN for the Kingdom of Heaven. Thanks be to God, I am FINALLY in a place in my life where my spiritual cup is filled so Christ’s light and love can actually overflow from it. Spiritual warfare is real, and if we don’t put on the armor of Christ (Ephesians 6: 10-18, we’re vulnerable from all sides, exteriorly, and interiorly.

The saints in my album are all COURAGEOUS women who didn’t allow the attacks and temptations of Satan to keep them from doing God’s glorious will in their lives. Some of my favorite lines that reflect this are:

⚔“I rely upon God my creator, I love Him with all of my heart” (adapted from an actual quote from Saint Joan of Arc).

💙 “You’re enthroned in my heart, and you are enough” (song inspired by Saint Teresa of Avila). Adoration and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass are EXCELLENT reminders of this interior reality: as baptized Christians, the Holy Spirit dwells within us.

✝ “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7: 7-8).✝

I wrote one line for Saint Therese of Lisieux’s song that deeply resonates with me when I’m in these places of desolation and resistance: “If I can’t go, God, why did you fan this flame?” All she wants to do is devote her life to Christ as a religious sister.

My similarly damaging thoughts are: ‘If nobody hears these, what’s the point? If I can’t make a side income off of these, will it ever actually be valuable?’

But then, I silence the noise.

I stop the scroll.

I simply sing of Saint Joan to my girls as they fall asleep.

And God quietly reminds me in the heart of my motherhood: ‘I adore you just for you. Doing my will means raising the girls to get to heaven.’

So here I am. Writing my thoughts out on my Chromebook with the intention of sharing. Which feels vulnerable. And a bit scary (especially now that I’m going cold turkey on Chat GPT editing!)

When you’re in resistance, turn to the Lord. Get to Adoration or an image of Jesus and gaze upon Him. He desires you. The Holy Spirit places transcendental desires in your heart to share the Good News with the world (starting in your own heart and home).

Please pray for me and for this project the Lord placed on my heart. Thank you for being here on Locals to support me on this journey.

Godspeed, friend,
Grace