Journey

[jago1099]

Sorry if this is the wrong thread but I need some advice. I was raised a cradle Catholic like many here, my mother is a very devout woman, my dad not so much, but he came from a Bible Church. Anyway about three years ago I was given a fatal diagnosis from a heart doctor (I have a pre-existing condition so I get regular check ups), but after additional testing the initial tests were wrong and I was fine. So I was happy, but deep down once facing the possibility of death my question of faith came to a head. Serious doubts I always had pushed me into a deep depression. I eventually got through this, but I do have have lingering doubts and I seem to be a believer some days and other days I am not.

So now I am facing the fact that my mother and father are getting older and my mother has some medical issues and I know the end is not around the corner but in the foreseeable future. I know we all lose our parents but without the faith I once had this is tougher than I thought. Now here is my next problem, I have daughters who are around 5, I am raising them Catholic as I was but now I am wondering, see that time when I doubted so much it made me so depressed I do not want my daughters going through that. So I am unsure what to do from here. Any advice?

 

[Loving_disciple]

Ptah for them and teach them as the Church would. Teach them to do daily prayers and have devotions to the saints. As they get older answer their questions this will require you to study every aspect of the Church, Faith and other faiths

 

[JRKH]

Dear One,
I understand your concerns. I lost my dear wife 4 months ago and my mother is almost 89 - and also devout.
I mention this so you will know that I have given this same matter considerable thought.

Consider this…
You have a common, but mistaken, outlook. If your mother is devout, why should her passing be a sorrow? Of course we will be sad, and cry, and miss them, but it should be no more than missing someone who moved far away so we can’t see them.
I cried just last night because I miss my lady so much.
Yet how could I want her back? She is with Jesus.

Likewise, if we seek to love God and to do His will, why should our own passing be feared? Yes we will suffer. Yes we will likely spend time in purgatory. But a merciful God awaits those who Love Him and neighbor.

Please don’t take this harshly…I don’t mean it to be.
but if we believe, and love, and have hope…then we can approach end of life issues much more positively - whether it be someone we love - or our own.

Hope this helps a little.

God Loves you so much…

Peace
James

 

[jago1099]

Ptah for them and teach them as the Church would. Teach them to do daily prayers and have devotions to the saints. As they get older answer their questions this will require you to study every aspect of the Church, Faith and other faiths

Yeah, they are almost five and have taught them some prayers but sometimes I just think I dont want them to go through what I did. I also think it is due to some serious anxiety issues I have, hopefully I want pass those down.

The other thing that is that I know I should have strong faith, one daughter was not supposed to survive to birth or if she did would have chromosomal problems. We prayed and waited all through the pregnancy , it was very hard. But it had a happy ending for us and she was born healthy and strong. You would think that would make me more faithful.

I have recently starting studying Thomas Aquinas and I think he is helping with belief, but still have have trouble.

 

[HelenRose]

Yeah, they are almost five and have taught them some prayers but sometimes I just think I dont want them to go through what I did. I also think it is due to some serious anxiety issues I have, hopefully I want pass those down.

The other thing that is that I know I should have strong faith, one daughter was not supposed to survive to birth or if she did would have chromosomal problems. We prayed and waited all through the pregnancy , it was very hard. But it had a happy ending for us and she was born healthy and strong. You would think that would make me more faithful.

I have recently starting studying Thomas Aquinas and I think he is helping with belief, but still have have trouble.

Oh how I have wanted to protect my children from my mistakes and my sorrows. You can’t protect your children from sorrow. No matter what I could have, should have, did or didn’t do as my children were growing up, when my seven year old granddaughter Danielle was killed in a car accident, I could not protect my daughter from the overwhelming pain. I could only hold on to my faith and love her.

The greatest gift you can give your child is a happy faith filled childhood. She is a different person than you. Her journey will be different than yours. Her happiness, peace and sorrows will belong to her they will not be yours.

Live for the beauty of each day. You can not control or predict your children’s future. You can only give the beauty of today.

 

[jago1099]

Dear One,
I understand your concerns. I lost my dear wife 4 months ago and my mother is almost 89 - and also devout.
I mention this so you will know that I have given this same matter considerable thought.

Consider this…
You have a common, but mistaken, outlook. If your mother is devout, why should her passing be a sorrow? Of course we will be sad, and cry, and miss them, but it should be no more than missing someone who moved far away so we can’t see them.
I cried just last night because I miss my lady so much.
Yet how could I want her back? She is with Jesus.

Likewise, if we seek to love God and to do His will, why should our own passing be feared? Yes we will suffer. Yes we will likely spend time in purgatory. But a merciful God awaits those who Love Him and neighbor.

Please don’t take this harshly…I don’t mean it to be.
but if we believe, and love, and have hope…then we can approach end of life issues much more positively - whether it be someone we love - or our own.

Hope this helps a little.

God Loves you so much…

Peace
James

Thank you, I am sorry to hear about your wife, will pray for you and your family. There nothing to take harshly there. I hope I have your strength and faith one day.

 

[JRKH]

Thank you, I am sorry to hear about your wife, will pray for you and your family. There nothing to take harshly there. I hope I have your strength and faith one day.

Thank you for your prayers.
I believe you will have such faith one day. Let me share a prayer with you that I found very useful…It’s really several small ejaculatory prayers - one that my mom taught me and a couple more that I made up…

“Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this glorious day,
for all the blessings you have bestowed on us,
and the opportunity to serve you.
Oh my God I will continue to perform all my actions for the Love of thee,
though I be a poor and inconstant servant.
I know I am unworthy to seek thy favor,
but look to your mercy and Love
as a child seeks his parent’s arms.”

I’ll say this little prayer, or portions of it every day. It helps to keep me focused on gratitude, humility and most of all on God’s wonderful mercy.

Peace
James