Uniformity with God's Will, by St. Alphonsus de Liguori
My daughter Emily gave each of us in the family a copy of this short pamphlet in our stockings at Christmas.  I was really touched by this, and thought I should read it soon.  This is one of those works I'll have to read and re-read, chew on, meditate over.  It challenges my usual way of thinking, the way I normally operate.  I read it and think, of course, this is all true, but how do I put it into practice?  Here's an example, bracing in its directness:  "He who gives his goods in alms, his blood in scourgings, his food in fasting, gives God what he has.  But he who gives God his will, gives himself, gives everything he is."
Much of this book reminds me of the First Principle and Foundation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, in which he says that we should not care if we are rich or poor, in good health or bad, living in the East or the West.  We should only care about doing God's will.  But how do we know what God's will is for us?  This question puts me in mind of Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Cassaude.  He pretty much says that where you are now is where God wants you.  He talks about the sacrament of the present moment.  Is it all as simple as "Bloom where you are planted"?  I always chastise myself for not doing more with my life, something BIG.  I think I need to read Story of a Soul again, and ponder Mother Teresa's dictum, "We are not called to do great things, but small things with great love."  As I said earlier, this challenges my usual way of thinking.  What a greatest present, Em!