Emotional Contagion: A light for your path, or a snare for your soul?

By Michelle Lee

The store proprietor opened her business. I sat in my vehicle and looked at her serene and focused demeanour. She exuded a quiet competence. A customer entered the store before I did. In the process of finding my item, what stood out was her remarkable blend of soft kindness and gentle patience, which she paired with an extensive knowledge of the customer’s request.

I thought, “She is truly proficient.” She handled the customer interactions with such skill rather than just a basic exchange. To me, her peaceful demeanour reflected her inner state. Luke 6:45: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

We grew up hearing, “Actions speak louder than words,” which is the general truth or rule of conduct. Here is an experience I had.I saiah 60:1: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you”.

That light was bright! (Have you ever heard, “Something about that person..”
God elevates us only when we are ready, so others can see Him in us and draw men unto Him.

James 1:4, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” The woman’s peace just deposited and filled her place of business. It was so infectious and obvious. The gentleman said, “Your customer service is excellent!”
It was more than that. It was the love of God in her heart that spilled over the counters. It was life giving, like the water, the woman at the well received. Becoming Christlike is the ultimate state of being. (That is the real flex!) The fruits of the Spirit were on display!

Matthew 7:16-20, “You will know them by their fruits.”

This experience served as a powerful reminder of how readily we mimic actions; whether they be virtuous or damaging; behaviour is certainly transferrable. Hence mercy is critical. Did we always know what we were doing? Matthew 18:21-22, “Forgive, seventy times seven.”
We are guided by a perfect standard: Our loving Father, who knows what is best for our highest good (Jeremiah 29:11). “He is the rubric!”

Drawing nearer to Him has illuminated the ultimate concern: The salvation of souls. Love conquers all evil; while the evil one seeks to divide, God works to gather. The true measure of maturity is found in love, as it is the sole agent of lasting transformation. Like the impact this store proprietor had over my life, that I needed to write about it and share. To win a battle with love is to secure a person’s heart eternally. Think about what Jesus did for us.
John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
It was immediately clear that details like her qualifications, connections, residence, or faith were entirely superfluous. Her grace provided the only answer necessary. She embodied the spirit of our Lady, the Queen of Peace with no need to prove a point, engage in ‘tit for tat,’ or elevate herself by diminishing another. The depth of her internal work was undeniable. She came to serve!

True peace and contentment are found not in self-assertion, but in dying to self and allowing the Holy Spirit to fully guide us. When our focus shifts to the heavenly court, our interests align with God’s. The deepest pain in life often stems from the gap between our will and the acceptance of our Lord’s perfect plan. Give Him the chance; choose Him and watch His work unfold.

Remember the profound lessons of patience demonstrated by those who waited on God’s timing:
* Saint Monica patiently waited for the conversion of her son, who became Saint Augustine ( approx 17 years)
* Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for the fulfilment of the promise, Isaac.
* Joseph endured over 13 years of slavery and imprisonment before rising to power.
* David spent approximately 15-20 years in hiding before ascending to the throne.
* Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness and was 80 before leading Israel.
* Hannah endured years of barrenness before being blessed with Samuel.
* Even Jesus lived 30 years before beginning His public ministry.

These lives powerfully demonstrate that faith often requires prolonged hardship and patient waiting for promised fulfilment, deliverance, and ultimate purpose. I pray that we pick up our cross and don’t drop it. For another one will come and it may very well be more difficult to carry. Our destination is Heaven, and our training ground is here.

Remember this: Gradualism is a key concept in Catholicism. That is to say that the Catholic Church believes that growing closer to God happens step by step, not all at once. It means it’s okay to make mistakes; what matters is that you keep trying to be better each day. A prime example is seen is the story of the prodigal son.

Stand firm because there is no escape from God’s love. Reject the instability of emotions. Practice discipline, resist temptation, and through constant self-refinement, achieve the self-respect that comes from recognising your worth as a child of the Almighty and shine.