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Leonie
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Joined: Jan 28 2005
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| Posted: June 23 2007 at 1:46am | IP Logged
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I don't have any wisdom but I am praying and second the idea of seeking a spiritual director.
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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Angie Mc
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Joined: Jan 31 2005
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: June 23 2007 at 11:12am | IP Logged
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I am praying for you during this time of discernment. What you describe is so difficult. I'm sorry you are hurting.
In addition to the experiences above, I'll add a few that have helped me. I'm sure I don't do all of these things, all of the time, but I do like to know that I have different things to try that have helped me somewhere along the way.
Attend to your duties in a realistic way. When you have many duties, focus on one main duty from each of your main categories (ex: prayer, virtue, physical, relationship, housework, home education.) Write them down and check them off each day. The duties that you miss today, are the ones you begin with tomorrow. When you complete each duty, offer your efforts up. God knows how hard your work is.
Focus on what you DO do instead of where you fail. Dispair is the ultimate energy zapper and trick of evil. Smile with gratitude each time you wake up on time, say your prayer, fold your laundry, forgive your husband.
Start small and build up (ex: if your home is messy, focus on one space to keep clean, tidy, and welcoming then move on to the next space.)
Follow St. Therese's example of doing small things with great love.
Expect and accept the desert. Being in the desert is part of the spiritual journey. Just because we feel lonely, dry, and confused in it, doesn't me that it or we are "wrong." Trust that you will be closer to God in the end because of it.
Read about suffering. Making Sense Out of Suffering is my favorite.
Focus on serving others. Left to my own naval-gazing and trying to figure out my desert, I can without intent, plunge myself deeper into my suffering needlessly. Sheesh, this is hard enough without me shooting myself in the foot through over analysis and self-worry.
Pick a project - any project. Sometimes tackling a project that has been nagging me for awhile helps me to feel like I'm moving forward and doing something different and worthwhile, which can cheer me up.
Fake it till you make it. Smile and be cheerful even if it feels like the very last thing you want to do. A quick smile to a loved one during a personal time of suffering softens hearts and can open floodgates for grace.
Pray for what you want and be grateful for what you get. Search for and write down everything worth being grateful for.
This is a test - this is only a test. Pray to pass the test.
Talk to God. If you are unsure of a decision, tell him so. Then say, "I think this is what I need to do. If this isn't what I need to do, please let me know by (in the morning, before the appointment, next week.)" This way, if I don't "feel" any feedback, I assume that the silence is approval. God doesn't expect us to know His will perfectly, all the time.
Measure goals objectively instead of subjectively. Feelings are fleeting and often misleading. If you have set realistic daily goals, worked hard to meet them, then you have done well...regardless of how you feel.
Oh my...I hope I haven't over done it! Please only take what you like and leave the rest, knowing that God loves you, wants what is best for you, and gives you everything you need. Trust Him because He is trustworthy  .
Love and Joy,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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DominaCaeli
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Joined: April 24 2007
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| Posted: June 23 2007 at 8:49pm | IP Logged
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Prayers for you.
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Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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4Real Forums : We Pray to the Lord
Topic: Prayers (& advice) for my spiritual life
