One day, my mother asked me to do a few thing at home for she's going out to do shopping. I promised her that I would do all that she asked me to do, so she went out happily.

First, I swept the floor clean. Then I mopped the kitchen and dusted the furniture. All went very well until the telephone rang. My friend Susan rang up.

"Hi, Maggy, want to go out. Today's Sunday and the sun is so glorious ?"

Why not? All the rest of that work could wait. Moreover I had not seen Susan for a long time so I said yes.

Off we went to do shopping and sight-seeing. We had a lot of fun as it was Sunday, a holy day.

Somehow, when I was out there enjoying myself, something kept nagging me in my mind. My unfinished list of work. It was like a background music that kept on humming in my mind. I didn't quite enjoy myself as I am quite a dutiful person. Knowing that my mother would expect me to do all that I promised her.

Many times I can finish the list by the time my mother gets home. But this time I jumped at the chance of an enjoyment I could not miss. I would be lucky if I could finish doing what she wanted me to do later when I went back.

Having a half-done list at the end of the day doesn't make me feel very good. I have the feeling that I didn't accomplish what I should have accomplished that day. I feel guilty to go out to enjoy myself before I finish my work my mother asked me to do.

Then I started thinking to myself.

We should feel happy God does not expect us to finish a spiritual list before He accepts us. He accepts us as we are; the lukewarm Christians, neglectful parents disobedient children, lazy students, or the harden criminals. The list can go on and on ..

God overlooks our weaknesses. He searches for the lost lamb. He welcomes home the prodigal son. He forgives sinners. There are so many other cases when Jesus show He is compassionate. Jesus does not expect us to be 100 percent perfect.

That doesn't mean we must not try to be perfect, or near perfect in our love for him.

We can pray to our Lady for favor that we can always finish our spiritual list before the end of the day.

By Agatha Lai