 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 8th, 2008 10:30 pm |
|
We speak often, as Catholics, of Colossians 1:24 for we don't want to waste our suffering, preferring to have it work toward the salvation of others.
Obviously, we need a submissive spirit which acknowledges that God has a right to do with us as He pleases; and obviously, much about suffering is and will remain, in this life, a great mystery.
Still--- are you willing to share with others in this thread your best insights, troublesome questions, or helpful reading on what is behind suffering, why children have to suffer, why some seem to suffer more than others, why suffering is linked to salvation and to increasing holiness.
Anyone here a fan of The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis?
That should get us started.
Last edited on Sun Mar 9th, 2008 01:52 am by Intercessor
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
|
|
|
Didi
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 207 |
| First Name: | Didi | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic; almost left; Now an On-Fire Catholic! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 8th, 2008 10:45 pm |
|
I've been learning about redemptive suffering for the last eight years. Here's something I wrote a couple years ago that others may relate to:
PAINS AND SUFFERINGS
Awhile ago during Eucharistic Adoration, I was reading from a book provided at the Adoration Chapel and came across a passage that really touched me. So, I jotted it down on whatever scrap of paper was in my purse and tucked it away with every intention of meditating on it later.
As I was cleaning out my purse a couple of days ago, I came across one of these scraps with the following written on it: “My pains and sufferings would be a paradise to me if I suffered with God, and the greatest pleasure would be a hell if I enjoyed them without Him.” -- Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, “The Practice of the Presence of the Lord” p. 85
My finding of this scrap was rather Providential, as are most things in my life. After going through another couple of weeks of feeling very fatigued and extremely achy in my joints, this is a reminder I needed to hear.
Just a few days subsequent, I was at our parish office and spoke with my pastor. Along with my health struggles, our family had recently been through a series of surgeries, the tragic suicide of my cousin, and the hospitalization of my father. Father asked how I was doing. I related to him that all this suffering stuff was much easier in theory than in practice!
I thought back over the past couple of weeks and at how many times I had failed. I failed to offer up all my sufferings and frustrations. I failed to ask Our Lord for help in carrying these burdens. I failed to be patient with my family and friends. I failed in making good choices with my time. I failed to trust and to be joyful in the midst of the storm.
Why are we so weak? Why do we fail so miserably and do the things we do not intend to do? Why is it so hard to trust?
I believe we are weak so that we learn to rely on God. It is only in our weakness that we truly understand our need for Him in our lives. “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13) During the first year of my struggles with my health and fatigue, this realization came to me: My faith has been strengthened and my strength has been faithened (which I know isn’t a word, but you get my point!).
I believe we fail because we forget to ask for help -- from Our Lord, from Our Mother, Mary, from the angels and saints, from our brothers and sisters in Christ on earth. It is our pride that says we can do this on our own; we don’t need help. Proverbs has much to say about pride:
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” (Prov. 11:2)
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18)
“A man’s pride will bring him low but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” (Prov. 29:23)
John also has this to say about pride: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:16-17)
I believe it is also hard to trust in God because of our pride. We want to be in control. We want life to be on our terms, our way. Yet what we find again and again is that our ways are so often contrary to what God wants of us. And His ways are far better than anything we could up with on our own.
All of these struggles are also enhanced by our spiritual enemy, who seeks the destruction of all souls. When we are weak, tired, discouraged, and hurting, we are also more vulnerable to spiritual attacks. We try to pray, but become angry or frustrated with God (yet He knows how we feel, whether we tell Him or not!). We try to make good choices with our time, but hear those little voices saying: “It’s OK, you’re not feeling well, you can watch that TV show tonight because you really aren’t up to doing anything else...”
Oh, God, we need you for every breath! We need your grace to help with every good thing we do! And when we do ask for Your Help and Your Grace, You are so gracious and kind to us. It may not come to us in the way we think it should, but it comes in a way that is so beautiful and loving that we are reminded you are Our Heavenly Father, and You care for us as Your children.
I am so thankful that You are patient, God, because I am taking a long time to learn the lessons You are trying to teach me.
I am so thankful that You are forgiving, God, because I need your forgiveness every day.
|
|
|
Hidden One
Member
| Joined: | Thu Feb 28th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 126 |
| First Name: | H1 | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | lax Presbyterian -> pseudo-Arminian non-denom -> heretical Presbyterian -> ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 8th, 2008 11:28 pm |
|
f you wish to understand suffering, kneel in front of a crucifix. Nothing can be learned of suffering without learning of love, and the crucifix displays the greatest act of both.
____________________
1 John 4:7-12
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 12:21 am |
|
Didi wrote:
As I was cleaning out my purse a couple of days ago, I came across one of these scraps with the following written on it: “My pains and sufferings would be a paradise to me if I suffered with God, and the greatest pleasure would be a hell if I enjoyed them without Him.” -- Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, “The Practice of the Presence of the Lord” p. 85
Didi, I'm still looking for this quote in my copy. Perhaps the problem is that I have an abridged edition. Could you tell me whether it is from Part One, Two, Three, or Four?
another meaty quote from that book:
In The Life of Brother Lawrence, Joseph de Beaufort writes that after ten years of fear and bitter struggle, at the end Brother Lawrence was able to cry, "It no longer matters to me what I do or what I suffer, as long as I remain lovingly united to Your will." [Whitaker House, p. 79, The Practice of the Presence of God]
Last edited on Sun Mar 9th, 2008 12:28 am by Intercessor
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 12:32 am |
|
| Hidden One, would you care to comment on why some persons become bitter in response to suffering while others become more loving? Last edited on Sun Mar 9th, 2008 12:50 am by Intercessor
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
|
|
|
Hidden One
Member
| Joined: | Thu Feb 28th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 126 |
| First Name: | H1 | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | lax Presbyterian -> pseudo-Arminian non-denom -> heretical Presbyterian -> ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 12:43 am |
|
Some people accept suffering has a cause, and come to understand it; some don't.
Some resent the fact that they had to suffer; some try to keep others from suffering.
Some give their sufferings to Christ, and never take them back; some do not.
Some request and accept the grace from God which allows them to grow in virtue and not be burdened anymore; some do not.
Some lose their faith; some do not.
Some cannot cope with sufferings past and present; some realize that they don't have to.
There are many reasons.
____________________
1 John 4:7-12
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 12:46 am |
|
Didi, apparently St. Paul had similar experiences to ours as God chose not to remove the thorn in his flesh, though he prayed about it three times. I've often thought St. Paul must have struggled with pride.
Like you, I keep forgetting to offer up various smaller sufferings such as feelings of loneliness. I've been making a real effort to request the intercession of the saints on a daily basis. As you say, often we fail because we forget to ask for help.Last edited on Sun Mar 9th, 2008 12:49 am by Intercessor
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 01:00 am |
|
Hidden One wrote:
Some request and accept the grace from God which allows them to grow in virtue and not be burdened anymore; some do not.
Hidden One, I liked all your comments; the one above is my favorite. I find frequent Mass and frequent confession are critical to my withstanding suffering with any success.Last edited on Sun Mar 9th, 2008 01:01 am by Intercessor
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
|
|
|
Hidden One
Member
| Joined: | Thu Feb 28th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 126 |
| First Name: | H1 | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | lax Presbyterian -> pseudo-Arminian non-denom -> heretical Presbyterian -> ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 01:03 am |
|
[size=Hidden One, I liked all your comments; the one above is my favorite. I find frequently Mass and frequent confession are critical to my withstanding suffering with any success.
I'm glad you liked them. I'll be received this EV, so soon I'll be on a level playing field. 
]
____________________
1 John 4:7-12
|
|
|
Didi
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 207 |
| First Name: | Didi | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic; almost left; Now an On-Fire Catholic! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 01:08 am |
|
Intercessor wrote: Didi wrote:
As I was cleaning out my purse a couple of days ago, I came across one of these scraps with the following written on it: “My pains and sufferings would be a paradise to me if I suffered with God, and the greatest pleasure would be a hell if I enjoyed them without Him.” -- Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, “The Practice of the Presence of the Lord” p. 85
Didi, I'm still looking for this quote in my copy. Perhaps the problem is that I have an abridged edition. Could you tell me whether it is from Part One, Two, Three, or Four?
It was the unabridged edition and has been awhile since I read it, but I think it was in Part Three. Last edited on Sun Mar 9th, 2008 01:14 am by Didi
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 01:11 am |
|
Hidden One wrote:
I'm glad you liked them. I'll be received this EV, so soon I'll be on a level playing field.
You mean you contributed all those insights without ever having received the sacraments???
Wow!
Something tells me you're going to run right past me afterward. 
Last edited on Sun Mar 9th, 2008 01:25 am by Intercessor
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
|
|
|
Didi
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 207 |
| First Name: | Didi | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic; almost left; Now an On-Fire Catholic! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 01:13 am |
|
Intercessor wrote: Didi, apparently St. Paul had similar experiences to ours as God chose not to remove the thorn in his flesh, though he prayed about it three times. I've often thought St. Paul must have struggled with pride.
Yes! I have often related to this passage in 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10. As Paul continues to struggle with this "thorn" not going away, he said the Lord said to him: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." How true!
I also like the passage from Romans 5:2-5:
"Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 01:15 am |
|
Didi wrote:
It was the unabridged edition and has been awhile since I read it, but I think it was in Part Three.
Thanks, Didi.
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 03:06 am |
|
Didi wrote:
I also like the passage from Romans 5:2-5:
"Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
That passage also introduces another theme in St. Paul's writings: his insistence that one should and can rejoice in spite of sufferings, sometimes even because of sufferings. See Philippians. Obedience is key in this connection between suffering and rejoicing. He reminds us that Christ was obedient to death, even death on the cross. In the reference earlier to Bro. Lawrence, one squirms with sympathy for his ten anxious, fearful years of struggle. Only when he became obedient to the will of God, whatever that might be, could he say it no longer mattered to him what he suffered.
This next point is pretty elementary for folks on this forum, but I used to encounter many Protestants who had never realized one can have joy in the midst of great suffering. They seemed to have confused joy with happiness, which is, of course, dependent on circumstances.
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
|
|
|
Hidden One
Member
| Joined: | Thu Feb 28th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 126 |
| First Name: | H1 | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | lax Presbyterian -> pseudo-Arminian non-denom -> heretical Presbyterian -> ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 03:27 am |
|
Intercessor wrote: [size=Hidden One wrote:
I'm glad you liked them. I'll be received this EV, so soon I'll be on a level playing field.
You mean you contributed all those insights without ever having received the sacraments???
Wow!
Something tells me you're going to run right past me afterward. ]
Hey, just because I don't have the benefit of the Sacraments (aside from baptism) doesn't mean I can't read the Saints... their insights, not mine. (I'm a particular fan of St. John of the Cross.)
____________________
1 John 4:7-12
|
|
|
Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1475 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 04:10 pm |
|
I have learned to give my suffering to Jesus, and I am usually lightened of the burden for a time. It's when the suffering returns again and again that I become weak and questioning. So offering up the suffering doesn't mean God is going to take it from me. It means I have to learn to live with it according to His will. Just accept it. He will ease it when He sees fit, and when He doesn't I pray that it will benefit someone else.
When I am in physical pain, others see and help me, and in doing so they are obeying Christ's command to care for the sick.
When I am sad or depressed, others will try to cheer me up and they are obeying the command to love one another.
The hard part for me is offering my own suffering to those I don't see or know about but Christ does. Asking Him to bless someone else with my suffering, is that how it is done? If I am in the bed with a migraine, can I offer that suffering to someone in purgatory? On a day like today, I am having trouble with lots of aches and pains from arthritis/osteoporosis. Can I offer that to Christ to do with as He knows best? That in itself would, to me, make the suffering more bearable.
|
|
|
Hidden One
Member
| Joined: | Thu Feb 28th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 126 |
| First Name: | H1 | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | lax Presbyterian -> pseudo-Arminian non-denom -> heretical Presbyterian -> ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 05:43 pm |
|
Can I offer that to Christ to do with as He knows best?
Yes, you most definitely can.
____________________
1 John 4:7-12
|
|
|
Didi
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 207 |
| First Name: | Didi | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic; almost left; Now an On-Fire Catholic! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 08:03 pm |
|
Credo Catholic wrote: The hard part for me is offering my own suffering to those I don't see or know about but Christ does. Asking Him to bless someone else with my suffering, is that how it is done? If I am in the bed with a migraine, can I offer that suffering to someone in purgatory? On a day like today, I am having trouble with lots of aches and pains from arthritis/osteoporosis. Can I offer that to Christ to do with as He knows best? That in itself would, to me, make the suffering more bearable.
Yes! And it does make the suffering more bearable, knowing it is not in vain, and that it can have some merit!
Often when I wake in the night with aches and pains, I offer it to Jesus for whoever is in most need of His graces at that moment. I figure I must have awoken with pain for a reason. Sometimes a friend or family member comes to mind who is especially struggling and I offer it for them. And it is great to offer it for those souls in purgatory -- especially those who have been forgotten by their friends and family.
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 08:35 pm |
|
I also find suffering much easier to bear by offering it up with Christ's agony.
But, what about the suffering of children?
How do you deal with the reality of all the abused and deprived children in the world? Have you found any truths that help you bear that reality?
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
|
|
|
Didi
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 207 |
| First Name: | Didi | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic; almost left; Now an On-Fire Catholic! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 08:44 pm |
|
Intercessor wrote: But, what about the suffering of children?
How do you deal with the reality of all the abused and deprived children in the world? Have you found any truths that help you bear that reality?
This is a hard one. 
The Church teaches that while suffering can produce merit, God doesn't necessarily cause the suffering -- it is a result of original sin. That doesn't mean the person suffering is an awful sinner; just that the result of sins throughout the ages has caused suffering.
Sometimes there is a greater purpose at hand, as in John's Gospel, Chapter 9:1-3: "As he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered, 'It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.'" And again, in Ch. 11 (from today's Gospel reading) when Jesus raises Lazarus. Jesus could have prevented Lazarus' death, but He a different purpose in mind -- that of people witnessing this miracle so they might believe.
I also believe we have the sick and the poor with us so we experience selfless giving of ourselves. It is only through charity that we begin to understand the depth of the Love of God, to do something for someone else without expecting anything in return.
|
|
|
Didi
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 207 |
| First Name: | Didi | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic; almost left; Now an On-Fire Catholic! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 11:38 pm |
|
I'd like to share something with you that has helped me a lot in offering my sufferings.
I was talking with my priest awhile ago that sometimes, especially when my symptoms are much worse, that I forget to offer all that I'm going through and then I feel bad, like my suffering has been "wasted."
Father asked if I prayed a morning offering, and at that time I was, but not necessarily every morning. He said if we pray a morning offering prayer, we have already offered all that we will do, say, experience, etc. for that entire day. We can, again, re-offer for specific intentions as pains come our way, but that through this prayer, it's "covered" so to speak.
A sample morning offering:
Dear Lord Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary I offer You my day -- my work, my rest, my prayers, my joys, my sufferings -- in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered throughout the world, in reparation for my sins and the the sins of the world, for the intentions of Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, for all my friends and family, especially for (special intentions here), for all poor souls in purgatory, and for those who have most need of Your mercy and grace. Amen.
Now I faithfully pray this every morning, if I remember I pray it before I even get out of bed. I have found it helpful and comforting.
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 10th, 2008 01:16 am |
|
I agree that it is important to remember that suffering comes from sin. However, it is easier to be satisfied with that as a response to the problem of suffering among adults than it is to be satisfied with that as a response to the problem of suffering among children.
I find myself wanting God to intervene and then sometimes becoming discouraged or angry because He hasn't or doesn't. My spirit is always chastened when I remember God's questioning of Job---"Where were you when I . . . ?" How absurd that the sinful vessel should venture a moral judgement of the Potter!
There are issues of "that's how the world is set up when God grants us free will." I guess it boils down to faith--faith in God's justice, mercy, and goodness. I really struggle with the abuse of children.
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
|
|
|
Ali
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 665 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 10th, 2008 10:16 am |
|
IMO, God is preparing us. Getting us ready to accepting our vocation (whatever that may be), preparing us accept him fully into our lives, preparing us to meet him.
A child suffering is the worst. But if that child can grow out of that suffering and find a vocation in adulthood to help other children and reach out to them, they will be blessed. If we see a child suffer, witness their faith and love firsthand, then we are blessed. God will always love the child and take them home to be with Him.
How else would I be able to have empathy, sympathy, or cry with someone if I never felt their pain? Jesus came here and was fully human and suffered for us. All something he most definatley could have chosen not to do. But he did it anyway, for love of us. For better understanding of us so that we may love him ore.
We may not chose our sufferings (although we are the cause of a lot of them ) and children most definately do not chose to be abused or to get sick, but by going through those times of distress we grow. We grow in our spirituality, in our understanding, and in our love to other's going through similar trials.
Once we make it out of that dark time we can turn around and offer our experiences and our love to those other unfortunate souls who are also suffering like we did. We can help them to see that you can make it through. That God is good and will provide for us and bless us. We can encourage them, counsel them, and offer them a shoulder to cry on. Because we have been there. We know what it's like. We aren't offering blind sympathy. We are offering ourselves to our fellow man. That is what Christ gave us, and that (IMO) is how suffering can help us to be more Christlike.
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 10th, 2008 04:41 pm |
|
Thanks, Didi, Hidden One, Marsha, and Ali for your great comments.
Marsha, you mentioned the opportunity for spiritual obedience provided for others through your own illness or misfortune. It took me many years to reach that sort of philosophical acceptance of help from others. Too much independence can be indicative of pride, perhaps.
Ali, my mother is an example of what you discussed. After suffering much as a child, she became a pastor's wife and has spent her life trying to help others. In that process, of course, she has been able to get some of her own neediness addressed as well.
Yet I wish with all my heart I could have spared her that suffering.
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humbl | | |
