Claire Couche on Ecclesiastes 3
She Speaks is a conversation series that launches with each Ruah book.
For each She Speaks, we ask five women to answer the same three reflective questions about one meaningful theme. It's an honor for us to share the heartfelt words of these women.
You will see several videos in the blog post below. Following each video, there is a short transcription of what Claire says, so you can either watch the video OR read her wise words.
Grab a cup of coffee or tea, cozy up, and enjoy!
Wisdom from Claire Couche
On Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
Can you share a little about yourself?
Hi, beautiful! My name is Claire Couche and I am a Catholic wife and mother. I went to Franciscan University of Steubenville to study history and theology, and then I decided to become an oncology nurse, and I worked on a bone marrow transplant floor. I then met my husband, Mike, and we had our son, Peter, and I decided to become a stay at home mother, which I love so much.
This past year, I became a beekeeper and also started my own business, Moscati Scrubs. It is a medical scrubs, ethically made medical scrubs line, under the patronage of St. Giuseppe Moscati. I love to embroider and I love to make candles out of everything that comes out of our hives. I love to read and write. I blog on Finding Philothea, our blog, and I just love to live life abundantly. I love learning about the saints in our church and I’m so happy to be talking with you today.
Which verse from the Ecclesiastes passage best describes your current season of life? Why?
The verse that really touches my heart in this season of life is “a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.” Just this past year, I would sit with my husband and we would talk about what we are called to do in this vocation of marriage, this vocation of being a parent, and the things that have been distracting us from those vocations and what we really need to embrace in this vocation of marriage and parenthood. We talked about praying and bringing what our duties are in our vocation to God and taking time to ask Him, “What are we called to embrace in life and what are we called to set aside?”
My husband is starting his doctorate and I’m starting a business, and we really feel called to take the time to present to God what we’re called to be embracing and what we need to set aside so we can focus on those things that Christ is leading us to do.
How do you strive to embrace each season of your life? Can you share an example from this season or a previous season?
One of my all time favorite quotes is by the Little Flower, St. Therese of Lisieux, and she says “the time for grace is now.” That short little quote has carried my heart through each season of life. Every season is so different, every year is different, and just to realize that God’s grace is found in the present moment, that the past we have to give to him, the future we don’t know yet, but grace is found in that present moment, right now, right here. We’re meant to give that to God and to accept all that He has for us in that present moment. So that’s really helped me and strengthened me to focus on today’s tasks, what I’m called to do today.
A morning offering really helps, and a night offering reflecting on the day. To say “what could I have done better? And God forgive me for what I could have done better, but I present it to you.” When we give Christ our day, all our shortcomings, our failures, all the joys, everything we did beautifully, we’re able to rest at peace. That has helped me in each of season of life, to fully embrace each season. Just to live in that present moment because that is where grace is found.
If you could offer yourself wisdom on this subject what would it be? What does your heart need to hear today?
I think if I could give myself one piece of advice, it would be to fully and completely trust in God’s merciful love for us. This past year, I read the book 33 Days to Merciful Love. It’s a small retreat through Therese of Lisieux culminating in Christ’s divine mercy message and how much He loves us.
One thing that really struck my heart was reading about how we comfort Jesus’ heart by asking for all the graces that the world has rejected. That gives Christ’s merciful heart comfort and joy. He is yearning to give us His mercy. He is yearning to show us that love that our hearts were made for and that we desire so deeply. Our hearts were made to love and honor our Savior. In each season of life, with its turmoil, with its joy, with its hardship, the one constant in life is God’s merciful love.
About Claire Couche
Claire Couche is a wife, mother, blogger, and beekeeper. She graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville where she studied history and theology. She later received her B.S.N. and worked as an oncology nurse. Combining her love of the faith, the medical field, and ethical fashion, Claire is the creator of Moscati Scrubs, an ethical medical scrubs company inspired by the life and miracles of Saint Giuseppe Moscati.
Blog Website: www.findingphilothea.com
Business Website: www.moscatiscrubs.com
Instagram: @findingphilothea and @moscatiscrubs