Inspiration

The Grace of Yes Post you have been waiting for...

Did you know you were waiting for this post?  I've been waiting for days to sit and write it so you must be waiting to read it, right?  Or what would be the point of writing it?


First, The Grace of Yes; Eight Virtues for Generous Living by Lisa Hendey is a wonderful book filled with real-life stories of people and their "yeses" to God, to others and to themselves.  Lisa and I are the same age, so I had a few laughs as she described her favorite Church songs and shed a few tears over the more serious memories.  I am not a person who often cries when reading, let alone while I am on the treadmill at the gym, but I did.  Each chapter ends with a prayer and questions to ponder.  My full review is here.

Next up, the book club.  The book club you can attend in your pj's, with your coffee and no makeup.  But wait, there's more, you don't have to read the book!  Book clubs at CatholicMom are awesome.  You read the post about the current chapter and then respond to the questions in the comment section or on your blog.  Of course, reading the book makes it more interesting.

You can also look forward to The Grace of Yes Day on November 18.  The plan is to flood social media with photos and examples of saying Yes to God.  Don't forget to use the #GraceofYes when you post, tweet,  Facebook or instagram!

Isn't that goldfish on the cover cute?  It's Fiat.

Don't Ask Why

A few years ago I learned to stop asking “why” about suffering.  A Jesuit priest said simply, “It is part of the human condition.”  When he said that, it was not a revelation to me, but rather an awakening or acceptance of that truth.  I am thinking about that truth again as I watch friends suffer with serious illnesses.


All of them are young, under fifty. Two have cancer and one has a host of chronic illnesses that defy treatment and dumbfound doctors.
This week my friend with chronic illnesses had to be admitted to the hospital with mild pneumonia.  We had a long visit with tears and laughter.  What struck me is how she told me how many people have a standard for her feelings and do not want to hear about feelings which they do not think she should express.
Right now she is angry and very tired.  For the last year she has spent most of her time in hospitals and in bed.  She is suffering and trying so very hard to make the best of it, be positive, and figure out what God wants her to learn from all of this.  She stays close to Mary in prayer and draws comfort from her.  She has a Mary statue that lights up by her bedside, even in the hospital.
While I don’t ask “why,” I do ask God how I can help ease her burdens.  I provide comic relief, a shoulder to cry on, and a glimpse into my “normal” life.  It is not always easy or convenient to be with my friend, but it is always important.
In my humanness I want to turn away and avoid the pain.  Her suffering reminds me to be grateful.  When a person says, “All I want to do is go to the grocery store and cook dinner for my family”, I am reminded to be thankful for ability to tackle the long to-do list.  My complaining over my life pales in the face of her true suffering.
Suffering often makes us uncomfortable.  We want a quick fix, a pat comment, and we want to move on to the next thing.  Sadly, suffering cannot be fixed with Band-Aids.  It requires our presence.
Walking with someone in their suffering helps us to be become better people if we let them lead us.  It requires patience and the putting aside of self to be present to those in need.
Maybe the test of a Christian is not to ask “Why” in the face of suffering, but “How can I help?”