Do you sometimes feel you are the only one you know who tries to put Jesus first?

[seeker_of_God]

Hudsonite, I wanted to thank you for posting that litany. I love it, and really need to start praying it.

 

[Hudsonite]

You are welcome!

 

[Hislittlelady]

very wonderful experience reading this… It is so nice to (at least once in awhile) get the feeling someone somewhere understands me…

I feel sorry for peple who don’t know what i know or have what (WHO) i have… and i pray for them… i pray for eveyr soul God created to make it to Heaven… or I try to remember to do that… :whacky: but sometimes i just get so tired of all the… un-nessary… negative and hateful words that are said… behind my back…

i have been rejected all my life, one way or the other… and a lot of the time i can’t figure out WHY… because i treat people with respect (except here on the forums, that is. ) …

i also come here becsause there are few other true Catholics in my life… or so it seems… i have gotten to the point where i don’t socialize much anymore, to speak of… so i don’t even know who belives waht…

:coffeeread: I had to respond to this because I noticed you said you’ve felt rejected all your life. You are not alone in this. There are more people that feel this way then you realize. I worked for a company for many years, and it just seemed I was so disliked by people. They treated me like I was a nothing, a nobody, and thought nothing of talking down at me, as if I had no intelligence or feelings.

This is what I have learned now in my older years. I sure wish for one that I could go back in time and respond with the way my brain operates now. I learned that when we are ‘meek’ and ‘mild’, just as Jesus was, that’s when we suffer persecutions. I mean no disrespect to our Lord Jesus Christ, but once we feel the holy spirit within us, we have no other way of behaving but as He did. It just comes naturally. People as a whole, don’t like this. They see us as goody goodies, or phonies, or just plain stupid. Look how they persecuted Jesus, and that gives us our answer.

Yet, even though no one wanted to befriend me, and oh how my heart ached from loneliness, when I left, all the people of the company gave me a large party with the most fantastic gifts. I was in shock. These same people, who treated me miserably, all had tears in their eyes when I left. Go figure that one out! I never will.

I never saw myself as boastful, or prideful, or snobbish, not at all, but if I appeared that way to people, I have no idea why. All this was before I even became a devout Catholic. Only in the past six years or so has my spirit grown to a point where I can feel Jesus within me. Sometimes so powerfully that I want the feeling to stay all the time, but it doesn’t work that way. I’ve always felt kind of out of the loop, left out, not included in groups. Yet, many people call me on the phone, even till this day, looking for me, wanting to spend time with me and I believe it’s just something about human nature. This is why we are all sinners. It’s in the nature and was never meant to be.

Many of those people that treated me in this way have long since died. I often wonder if when they had their life review, did the Lord or an angel, show them what my heart felt, and the sin that they committed against me. Were they made to feel my pain I often wonder? We will go through the same judgment for all the hurts we’ve caused others and will be shown all the pain we might have caused also.

Now I’m just myself, treating everyone in the same way I want them to treat me, and if they don’t want to bother with me, that’s okay now too. It no longer causes me that pain anymore. I realize it’s really their problem after all, and not mine. If they treat me badly, it’s between them and God. It was never about them and me to begin with. I know one thing with absolute certainty, and that’s God comes before man. Follow His ways and pray for others. I guess we have to always live turning the other cheek in one way or another.

Micah 6:8, What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. …

 

[the_phoenix]

:coffeeread: I had to respond to this because I noticed you said you’ve felt rejected all your life. You are not alone in this. There are more people that feel this way then you realize. I worked for a company for many years, and it just seemed I was so disliked by people. They treated me like I was a nothing, a nobody, and thought nothing of talking down at me, as if I had no intelligence or feelings.

This is what I have learned now in my older years. I sure wish for one that I could go back in time and respond with the way my brain operates now. I learned that when we are ‘meek’ and ‘mild’, just as Jesus was, that’s when we suffer persecutions. I mean no disrespect to our Lord Jesus Christ, but once we feel the holy spirit within us, we have no other way of behaving but as He did. It just comes naturally. People as a whole, don’t like this. They see us as goody goodies, or phonies, or just plain stupid. Look how they persecuted Jesus, and that gives us our answer.

Yet, even though no one wanted to befriend me, and oh how my heart ached from loneliness, when I left, all the people of the company gave me a large party with the most fantastic gifts. I was in shock. These same people, who treated me miserably, all had tears in their eyes when I left. Go figure that one out! I never will.

I never saw myself as boastful, or prideful, or snobbish, not at all, but if I appeared that way to people, I have no idea why. All this was before I even became a devout Catholic. Only in the past six years or so has my spirit grown to a point where I can feel Jesus within me. Sometimes so powerfully that I want the feeling to stay all the time, but it doesn’t work that way. I’ve always felt kind of out of the loop, left out, not included in groups. Yet, many people call me on the phone, even till this day, looking for me, wanting to spend time with me and I believe it’s just something about human nature. This is why we are all sinners. It’s in the nature and was never meant to be.

Many of those people that treated me in this way have long since died. I often wonder if when they had their life review, did the Lord or an angel, show them what my heart felt, and the sin that they committed against me. Were they made to feel my pain I often wonder? We will go through the same judgment for all the hurts we’ve caused others and will be shown all the pain we might have caused also.

Now I’m just myself, treating everyone in the same way I want them to treat me, and if they don’t want to bother with me, that’s okay now too. It no longer causes me that pain anymore. I realize it’s really their problem after all, and not mine. If they treat me badly, it’s between them and God. It was never about them and me to begin with. I know one thing with absolute certainty, and that’s God comes before man. Follow His ways and pray for others. I guess we have to always live turning the other cheek in one way or another.

Micah 6:8, What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. …

Wow.

Awesome post …

~~ the phoenix

 

[Psalm4]

A couple things.

1. The litany of humility that someone posted earlier has actually been put to music, sung by Danielle Rose… absolutely beautiful.
2. The last post reminded me of this, a short poem attributed to Mother Teresa:

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

 

[mommyof4]

I feel that way a LOT…

for example… I like to spend a lot of time with Jesus @ the Blessed Sacrament… I get “attacked” for it one way or the other…

I try to do what i can for the unborn… ditto…

I try to do what the Church instructs… ditto…

Maybe i need to be in another community… because i just feel incredibly ALONE… most of the time, very misunderstood… and like people probably see me as a freak…

Just wondering if anyone else feels this kind of … not loneliness because i am not lonely… but alone-ness.

Yes, I do feel like this sometimes. I’m one of the few practicing Catholics in a mostly non-practicing Catholic family. I get accused of being a “fanatic” because I go to church every Sunday (and even once in a while during the week, too ), voted for McCain, give money to the church, etc. This is one of the reasons I like CAF so much- I feel like it’s my connection to other Catholics who care.

 

[distracted]

:coffeeread: I had to respond to this because I noticed you said you’ve felt rejected all your life. You are not alone in this. There are more people that feel this way then you realize.]

You have been through a lot of things i have… (although i never had the people who hated me throw me any kind of big party . No…they just kept on hating me, i think )… But anyway…

i don’t have time for more lengthy response, but thanks so much for sharing. It is always good to find people who have gone through much the same thing as i have… and like you say there are more of these kinds of “unappreicated” (my word) people than anyone realizes… something i have come to realize the older i get… I used to feel i was the only one who went through this orthat… but once i … well, found Jesus and got set free by him… and began to care more about others’ realities… I began to see a lot of things…

God bless…

 

[distracted]

Yes, I do feel like this sometimes. I’m one of the few practicing Catholics in a mostly non-practicing Catholic family. I get accused of being a “fanatic” because I go to church every Sunday (and even once in a while during the week, too ), voted for McCain, give money to the church, etc. This is one of the reasons I like CAF so much- I feel like it’s my connection to other Catholics who care.

i totally hear you… but now i know why people think i am a fanatic nut case…

i go to Mass every day… (when i can, which is quite often these days, thank God… )

I didn’t know you were a fanatic for doing what the Church requires. It is a mortal sin to miss Mass on Sunday… andfrankly, the laws that apply to Catholics apply to all (its just that not many people see it that way)… so everyone is required to go to Mass on Sun… because… for one… God loves everyone…

 

[mommyof4]

i totally hear you… but now i know why people think i am a fanatic nut case…

i go to Mass every day… (when i can, which is quite often these days, thank God… )

I didn’t know you were a fanatic for doing what the Church requires. It is a mortal sin to miss Mass on Sunday… andfrankly, the laws that apply to Catholics apply to all (its just that not many people see it that way)… so everyone is required to go to Mass on Sun… because… for one… God loves everyone…

I really don’t think of myself as being someone who does “more than necessary” in matters of Church and religion. I try my best to follow the Church’s guidelines as far as “rules” go, I give of my time, talent, and treasure, fast during Lent, spend some time performing corporal and spiritual acts of mercy, etc., but it’s not like I’m over the top in any of this stuff, either. It makes me mad and sad sometimes that just because you’re being obedient to Church teachings that you’re considered to be a “fanatic.” Sheesh.

 

[mommyof4]

Wow.

Awesome post …

~~ the phoenix

Double wow.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

“To whom much is given, much will be expected”. Those who are gifted by God in virtue etc., will have more virtue expected of them than those not so gifted. And none of us can claim that we are the source of goodness be it great or small…God is always the source of goodness, we are merely the channels of God’s Goodness, which is never given so this I or this me may shine, rather that God may shine into His world. Goodness or virtue is never mine, it is The Lord’s who asks a return of His Gifts and with interest or something to show for the Gifts granted. See the Parable of The Talents - Matthew Chapter 25 Verse 16 HERE

I tend to think the other way round, that others are always far better than I and I know this to be true and a fact:thumbsup:

.

 

[fin]

Yes, I do feel like this sometimes. I’m one of the few practicing Catholics in a mostly non-practicing Catholic family. I get accused of being a “fanatic” because I go to church every Sunday (and even once in a while during the week, too ), voted for McCain, give money to the church, etc. This is one of the reasons I like CAF so much- I feel like it’s my connection to other Catholics who care.

I so feel the same way, as well as with the OP, and the previous reply to this post. Similar scenario, I consider myself a zealous Catholic, very happy to be one, and people around me are Catholics who are not practicing, and do not know their faith at all.
Just because I love the Church so much, and I don’t think green jokes are funny, people get the impression that I’m a prude, or whatnot. I’m really looking (and praying) that I can meet like minded Catholics, people who are excited about their faith, where I won’t be out of place…

 

[iaskquestions]

I feel that way a LOT…

I never feel that way. There are a lot of devout people in my church and I look up to them. They may not necessarily be as knowledgeable as me, but their humility and love for Christ is visible even in their silence.

 

[distracted]

I really don’t think of myself as being someone who does “more than necessary” in matters of Church and religion. I try my best to follow the Church’s guidelines as far as “rules” go, I give of my time, talent, and treasure, fast during Lent, spend some time performing corporal and spiritual acts of mercy, etc., but it’s not like I’m over the top in any of this stuff, either. It makes me mad and sad sometimes that just because you’re being obedient to Church teachings that you’re considered to be a “fanatic.” Sheesh.

yeah, that’s the sad thing… that even when you are doing less than what you think or feel you should… (God knows on that one…)… people think you are fanatical. I think they just have this need to justify thmesleves because they feel guilty for not doing those kinds of things… but oh well… I used to get angry at such people but then i realized that, well, basically, that it “will all come out in the wash” (otherwise known as Purgatory…). In other words, there isn’t much “right” in this world… but God makes things right evnetually…

 

[distracted]

I so feel the same way, as well as with the OP, and the previous reply to this post. Similar scenario, I consider myself a zealous Catholic, very happy to be one, and people around me are Catholics who are not practicing, and do not know their faith at all.
Just because I love the Church so much, and I don’t think green jokes are funny, people get the impression that I’m a prude, or whatnot. I’m really looking (and praying) that I can meet like minded Catholics, people who are excited about their faith, where I won’t be out of place…

sometimes it seems people in the Church are worse than those in the world… as far as seeming to think that there’s something wrong with me (becasue i like to spend a lot of time with Jesus in the Church)… I seem to get more flack from them… but maybe that’s becaues (partly because) people in the world generally don’t know i like doing that (particular) thing… They know i am a Church-goer & a few other things… whereas they (most?) are not… and so i get treated somewhat shabbiliy sometimes… but again, i sometimes wonder which is worse… I mean, the thought occurs to me that people in the Church should have at least somewhat a better attitude toward the devout than those in the world… (??) Yet its been my experience that they can be the absolute worst…

 

[Monica4316]

I feel that way a LOT…

for example… I like to spend a lot of time with Jesus @ the Blessed Sacrament… I get “attacked” for it one way or the other…

I try to do what i can for the unborn… ditto…

I try to do what the Church instructs… ditto…

Maybe i need to be in another community… because i just feel incredibly ALONE… most of the time, very misunderstood… and like people probably see me as a freak…

Just wondering if anyone else feels this kind of … not loneliness because i am not lonely… but alone-ness.

aw…I know what you mean… I know it’s really tough. I love to go to Adoration and pray after Mass and even though I’m not Catholic yet I believe everything the Church teaches, that I read about… and sometimes I feel lonely because some people think I’m weird that I like Adoration so much, but it’s the only time I’ve ever felt real peace. I just want you to know that there ARE Catholics like you out there… you’re not alone… I’ve met some people at my parish who really love God and who really try to put Him first…
remember that people aren’t perfect, we’re all at different stages, if someone isn’t really devout maybe they’re just struggling with something… it’s important to always be patient with others, and be humble - realizing that if we want to put God first, that’s a grace from Him.
But I know how you feel… look you’re doing the right thing. If people don’t understand, remember that God is pleased… if you get attacked by others, in any way, pray for them, and remember - Christ was misunderstood too. This is a way of sharing in His suffering. And God can use it for our sanctification.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what you’re doing.

God bless you

 

[Elizabeth502]

Answer to thread question:

No. Never. Because at any given time I can name at least a handful of people who are more consistent & reliable in their commitment than I am. It would never occur to me that I would be “the only one” or even the most committed of anyone I know. Maybe I just know great people or something, or maybe I have an accurately negative assessment of my own performance.

Even limited to the “act of trying,” I can certainly claim that I try like the dickens, but equally so I see how often my efforts are half-hearted or insufficient. I would have no way to evaluate how hard “the people I know try to put Jesus first.” For all I know, perhaps they try harder. For all I know, they succeed more often.

 

[George14]

Elizabeth: I have struggled with something for a very long time, and recently I “stuffed my embarrassment” and INTENSELY prayed to the Blessed Virgin with a very specific and confident request of her: i.e., that she allow me to TOTALLY trust her, that she give me the grace to stop “trying” on my own, since MY efforts are fruitless. I have a couple scriptural phrases that just plain keep asserting themselves and to which I cling: “Without Me you can do nothing!” “What have you that you have not received?” “Unless I cleanse you, you will not be clean.” “…because HE that is mighty HAS DONE great things for me.”

All of these remind me that it is NOT MY strength, or even for that matter, my initiative. I am “dirt”, but dirt is the very planting ground for generating children to enjoy Him for all eternity by a God Who is much more pro-active about us than we can begin to know. HE created the universe. FOR US. HE created me. HE came “to call sinners” BECAUSE WE ARE SINNERS.

So I now absolutely RUN to Mary, I “stop trying” and just focus my intentions in her IMMEDIATE AND INTIMATE LOVE FOR ME, KNOWING she hears every whisper or nuance of my mind and heart. Sometimes I embarrass myself by how familiarly I “talk to her” so conversationally - not disrespectfully, of course, but “WOW she’s RIGHT HERE.” While the real presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is unique, I KNOW of the real presence of Mary, Our Lord, my Father, and all kinds of saints and angels ON A DAILY, MOMENT BY MOMENT BASIS. A loving presence, a “go for it!” joy-giving “atta-boy” friend-ness…

It is wonderful also to read in the catechism of these exact concepts, and I refer principally to the statements about how God is the one who started it all to begin with, how He is the source of everything - that without His grace we REALLY CANNOT do anything valuable. So that reinforces my “acceptance” of my own weakness or powerlessness to do anything but “hide” in the solitude of my confidence in Mary’s loving embrace.

When I read your above post and started this response, it got triggered by your comment about “my efforts…” and it got a bit out of hand because of my own VERY recent concerns on that same idea that I was fortunate to experience. I tell myself to “watch out: make sure you put your money where your mouth is!” Anyway, I read where the holier you are, the more you see your own faults and sins more clearly and come to believe you are the worst sinner. I must be holy: “my list is bigger than your list!”

 

[distracted]

aw…I know what you mean… I know it’s really tough. I love to go to Adoration and pray after Mass and even though I’m not Catholic yet I believe everything the Church teaches, that I read about…

are you in RCIA? What were you raised as? Why are you interested in Catholicism and what 1st got you interested??

and sometimes I feel lonely because some people think I’m weird that I like Adoration so much, but it’s the only time I’ve ever felt real peace.

Me Too!!!

remember that people aren’t perfect, we’re all at different stages, if someone isn’t really devout maybe they’re just struggling with something…

i’ve considered this… and i have never been rude to those who are rude to me… (i don’t think i have been anyway… :hypno: in any case, didn’t ever mean to sound that way…). But it is kind of weird that other Catholics don’t appreciate the Blessed Sacrament (Exposition). I don’t even HAVE that in my parish… (“new” priest)…

remember that God is pleased…

yeah, it is amazing how difficult it is to focus on God, even when you know in your head that you should… and ignore mere humans… who don’t know a thing about you anyway… its just amazing how weak and human we can be… (speaking of myself, mostly… but i know i am not alone…).

• Christ was misunderstood too. This is a way of sharing in His suffering. And God can use it for our sanctification.

i definitely do this… I never used to know about offering up sufferings… (i wasn’t catechized… had to teach myself years ago… so terribly glad i DID!! :extrahappy: ). It is one of the greatest treasures of the Church… to know that we can be united in Christ, united in His sufferings… for the salvation of the world…and in expiation of our sins… I used to suffer “in vain”… and it was SO awful… i felt i couldn’t bear some of the sufferings i had…

God bless you…

 

[Monica4316]

Hi,
I was raised in a non religious home… and then my family became Eastern Orthodox, and I got baptized too… but I wasn’t really into it and didnt have a strong faith, and eventually I became agnostic. And then when I came to college I found my faith, but I became Protestant. Last winter, I started to believe in the Eucharist… I felt nervous inside, like something was wrong, when I went to my old non denom church… around December. And then God showed me the Eucharist is true. It was really undeniable… and I didn’t know what to do, lol, because all my beliefs were Protestant! But over time I tried surrendering to God more and my beliefs started changing…and then one day I realized I’m already Catholic in my heart lol. So I started going to Mass every week. I believe that it was the Eucharist and Our Lady who brought me to the Church. I started going to Adoration and God showed me He’s really present there… I’m not in RCIA because I was already baptized and confirmed (chrismated) in the Orthodox church soo all I need to do is go to confession, make a statement of faith, and take Communion which I’m going to do hopefully this winter, I’m still meeting up with my priest… he gave me a book to read and wants me to be properly prepared, which is good I think… I want to be prepared too.

So - yea I can’t wait for the Eucharist!!

And I’m so glad to know the Lord because He really loves us like NO ONE else, and He will never ever leave us

hey I see what you mean about how there are many Catholics who don’t seem to appreciate the Blessed Sacrament. There are people at my parish who never genuflect, who just come in and receive Communion and then leave. But …there are many devout Catholics as well. Don’t feel like you’re alone. I belong to a Catholic group at my university, and we go to Liturgy of the Hours and sometimes there’s Adoration, and people spend hours before the Lord on their knees praying… I think maybe you just need to find more people like you, they’re out there have you ever gone to a Catholic conference or retreat or anything like that?

Also I wanted to say about suffering, I see what you mean about “suffering in vain”… I only found out about the Catholic teaching recently… before I always thought that suffering was God punishing me! But now I see it as an opportunity to love God more selflessly and help convert sinners…be united with Jesus on the Cross…

Also I’ve been thinking about putting God first… and I think He showed me today that this desire to love Him and put Him first comes completely from His grace… and that our job is to hold on to it and to cooperate with His grace, to - always choose Him over everything… over all the world, if necessary. If people around us are acting worldly, it’s important to just humbly pray for them and ask God for the strength to always be faithful to Him… and not give in to worldliness… because it’s so easy to, sometimes. God can at any moment take away this grace…I think He did this to me a couple of times, when I no longer had this desire to love Him at all and it was so hard not to sin. I also felt very far from God, and didn’t see the point of putting Him first anymore. That’s how we are without His help… I don’t know if this has ever happened to you or not… well during those times, that’s when God is giving us trials to teach us how to trust Him in spite of feelings, and how to love and obey Him with the will alone. Then, it’s important to try and love Him anyway, whatever you might feel. The grace you’re given now, the grace to want to love God, that’s meant to encourage you and help you grow, but if like me you ever get times when you don’t feel that, those trials are for our sanctification too. My point is… No matter what, always try to live for God, because that’s the only truly important thing in this life, - to love God and your neighbour - and I’m glad that God has given you the desire to put Him first

just some random thoughts…

God bless!