Not feeling good about my disposition

[Lucy_1]

I lost my dad two years ago, lost my mom four years ago. My husband isn’t a Christian. I don’t really have many Catholic friends. I usually don’t remember to pray or turn to God during the day. I go to mass, sometimes weekly adoration, and I try to be kind and serve the people I come into daily contact with. It just doesn’t seem like enough to make me very good Christian or pleasing to God. But I don’t feel like I have the energy to do more. Just feeling discouraged and overwhelmed. Not even really sure what my question is, but I welcome any advice.

 

[Irishmom2]

You sound as if maybe you could use some Catholic companionship. I know you said you don’t have any energy, but could you possibly join a prayer group or bible study? It is easy to feel down when we don’t have anyone we can commiserate with.

 

[MNathaniel]

Aw, honey.

First up, I’m sorry for what sounds like your loneliness and lack of Catholic companionship (and lack of Catholic support within your own home). I’m sorry to hear that you’re feeling low-energy, discouraged, and overwhelmed. And I’m so sorry to hear about your loss of your mother and father.

Second up, God is pleased with every little thing you do for Him and offer up to Him, including going to Mass, weekly adoration, and every single time you try to be kind and serve someone you come into contact with. Not one ‘little’ thing you do for God, is truly little. God will glorify every bit into something beautiful and grand – perhaps especially because you are persevering in loving Him (and loving others) when you are feeling so lost and gloomy yourself.

Advice:

(A) Pray. You say you usually don’t remember to pray or turn to God during the day; please, for your sake, try to find a way to change that. Commit to even five minutes in the morning, or five minutes at night, when you focus all your thoughts on God, and tell Him what’s going on for you, tell Him how you love Him, tell Him what you’re thankful for that day and what you struggled with, and ask Him for His help. Then sit in silence and let Him just be with you. Give Him that time, to be used however He chooses. Make the space for Him to enter into your life, then let Him love you.

(B) St. Thomas Aquinas suggests five remedies for sorrow:

1. Weep (let yourself ‘exhale your sorrow’)
2. Share your sorrow with friends (sorrow shared is sorrow halved)
3. Contemplate the truth (especially, perhaps, sacred scripture. Maybe try Lectio Divina on the daily/Sunday gospel reading?)
4. Pleasure (in proper moderation; seek good entertainment! perhaps a TV show that makes you laugh, a small glass of sherry and a piece of chocolate; play a card game or board game with your husband)
5. Warm baths and naps (we are not just a soul, but a body! And the body needs a certain amount of care, also in moderation of course.)

(C ) Attend the sacrament of Reconciliation regularly; I’m not sure what your situation is, but I know that I frequently feel discouraged, overwhelmed, and tired when I’m really needing to get to Reconciliation, and God heals many things for me there. And while you’re in the Confessional: tell your priest how you’re struggling, and ask him for any ideas.

May God bless you, sister. And remember: Pray! God loves to give us good gifts, and we are invited to ask for them. Then also take actions.

 

[Catfinger77]

Lucy, I’m 71 and have emphysema and have been losing energy over time. I have been praying first a daily rosary, then added the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Chaplet of St. Michael and I soon had more energy. I started doing this for religious reasons, not thinking about helping me feel better, really. Just thought I would mention this. The difference has been fairly dramatic, actually. Was it the prayer or something else? I feel strongly in my gut it was the prayer.

 

[Lucy_1]

Thanks, this is helpful. (Also I forgot to mention that I do go to confession once a month.)

 

[Lucy_1]

Thanks, I’ll look around for one.