Last night was a very painful night for me. My entire body hurt. I mean it hurt right down to the bone, places that shouldn't even hurt at all. I'm not sure what the source of the problems was but it took quite a long time before I could fall into a restless sleep. I awoke this morning in a bit of a fog but at least I woke up. The pain isn't as bad this morning but it's still lingering in the background, reminding me not to take those days of feeling good for granted.
Suffering is nothing new to anyone. Suffering was brought into the world through the sin of our first parents and we have been reaping the repercussions of it ever since. It is so important that even through our own suffering, we remain compassinate to the suffering of others. I know from my own personal experience that sometimes this isn't easy. It's hard to step outside of our little bubble and realize that other people's pain (be it physical or emotional) is just as valid as our own. It really gets to me when I hear people who are in pain say, "I shouldn't complain because I know there are others out there who have it way worse". I guess if you really want to get down to it, none of us should complain -- we were all given another day to live, another chance, when so many didn't wake up this morning. Yes, there are others who have it worse. That doesn't invalidate your own sense of suffering!
Compassion. It is a word many know but few know how to utilize. Perhaps we don't realize how we come across to others when we're so blinded by our own sufferings. We often want to believe that our suffering is more debilitating than anyone else's who may possibly know us. In doing this, we form our opinion of others' suffering and lose that ability to really have heartfelt compassion for what the other person is going through. This is the beginning of a "me, me, me" situation that can quickly spiral out of control and isolate ourselves from those who genuinely care about us.
Catholics don't believe that we suffer in vain. We believe in "offering it up" for a specific intention. We could offer up our suffering for the holy souls in purgatory, or for our wayward brother, or for anything that will bring us or others closer to God. I'll admit that sometimes I forget to "offer it up" because my head is so wrapped around my own issues (ah, the perks of being human!).
So next time you are in bed with the flu or have that pounding migraine, say a prayer and offer it up for someone you love!
Lord Jesus, I unite myself to Your perpetual, unceasing, universal Sacrifice. I offer myself to You every day of my life and every moment of every day, according to Your most holy and adorable Will. Since You have been the Victim of my salvation, I wish to be the victim of Your love. Accept my desire, take my offering, and graciously hear my prayer. Let me live for love of You; let me die for love of You; let my last heartbeat be an act of perfect love.
~ St. Therese
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Thursday, May 30, 2013
Offer Up Your Suffering
Last night was a very painful night for me. My entire body hurt. I mean it hurt right down to the bone, places that shouldn't even hurt at all. I'm not sure what the source of the problems was but it took quite a long time before I could fall into a restless sleep. I awoke this morning in a bit of a fog but at least I woke up. The pain isn't as bad this morning but it's still lingering in the background, reminding me not to take those days of feeling good for granted.
Suffering is nothing new to anyone. Suffering was brought into the world through the sin of our first parents and we have been reaping the repercussions of it ever since. It is so important that even through our own suffering, we remain compassinate to the suffering of others. I know from my own personal experience that sometimes this isn't easy. It's hard to step outside of our little bubble and realize that other people's pain (be it physical or emotional) is just as valid as our own. It really gets to me when I hear people who are in pain say, "I shouldn't complain because I know there are others out there who have it way worse". I guess if you really want to get down to it, none of us should complain -- we were all given another day to live, another chance, when so many didn't wake up this morning. Yes, there are others who have it worse. That doesn't invalidate your own sense of suffering!
Compassion. It is a word many know but few know how to utilize. Perhaps we don't realize how we come across to others when we're so blinded by our own sufferings. We often want to believe that our suffering is more debilitating than anyone else's who may possibly know us. In doing this, we form our opinion of others' suffering and lose that ability to really have heartfelt compassion for what the other person is going through. This is the beginning of a "me, me, me" situation that can quickly spiral out of control and isolate ourselves from those who genuinely care about us.
Catholics don't believe that we suffer in vain. We believe in "offering it up" for a specific intention. We could offer up our suffering for the holy souls in purgatory, or for our wayward brother, or for anything that will bring us or others closer to God. I'll admit that sometimes I forget to "offer it up" because my head is so wrapped around my own issues (ah, the perks of being human!).
So next time you are in bed with the flu or have that pounding migraine, say a prayer and offer it up for someone you love!
Lord Jesus, I unite myself to Your perpetual, unceasing, universal Sacrifice. I offer myself to You every day of my life and every moment of every day, according to Your most holy and adorable Will. Since You have been the Victim of my salvation, I wish to be the victim of Your love. Accept my desire, take my offering, and graciously hear my prayer. Let me live for love of You; let me die for love of You; let my last heartbeat be an act of perfect love.
~ St. Therese
Suffering is nothing new to anyone. Suffering was brought into the world through the sin of our first parents and we have been reaping the repercussions of it ever since. It is so important that even through our own suffering, we remain compassinate to the suffering of others. I know from my own personal experience that sometimes this isn't easy. It's hard to step outside of our little bubble and realize that other people's pain (be it physical or emotional) is just as valid as our own. It really gets to me when I hear people who are in pain say, "I shouldn't complain because I know there are others out there who have it way worse". I guess if you really want to get down to it, none of us should complain -- we were all given another day to live, another chance, when so many didn't wake up this morning. Yes, there are others who have it worse. That doesn't invalidate your own sense of suffering!
Compassion. It is a word many know but few know how to utilize. Perhaps we don't realize how we come across to others when we're so blinded by our own sufferings. We often want to believe that our suffering is more debilitating than anyone else's who may possibly know us. In doing this, we form our opinion of others' suffering and lose that ability to really have heartfelt compassion for what the other person is going through. This is the beginning of a "me, me, me" situation that can quickly spiral out of control and isolate ourselves from those who genuinely care about us.
Catholics don't believe that we suffer in vain. We believe in "offering it up" for a specific intention. We could offer up our suffering for the holy souls in purgatory, or for our wayward brother, or for anything that will bring us or others closer to God. I'll admit that sometimes I forget to "offer it up" because my head is so wrapped around my own issues (ah, the perks of being human!).
So next time you are in bed with the flu or have that pounding migraine, say a prayer and offer it up for someone you love!
Lord Jesus, I unite myself to Your perpetual, unceasing, universal Sacrifice. I offer myself to You every day of my life and every moment of every day, according to Your most holy and adorable Will. Since You have been the Victim of my salvation, I wish to be the victim of Your love. Accept my desire, take my offering, and graciously hear my prayer. Let me live for love of You; let me die for love of You; let my last heartbeat be an act of perfect love.
~ St. Therese
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