I think I might be under spiritual attack. For a very long time now there is a very negative atmosphere in my home on sunday mornings, when our family is preparing to go to mass. My husband and I almost always end up arguing over something, which is quite unusual for us as we rarely argue. No matter when we start getting ourselves and the children ready, we are late for mass because something always comes up. This morning we ended up having an absolutely horrendous fight that errupted over nothing. My husband stayed at home with the kids (this was the plan anyway) and I barely made it to mass. The whole episode and me trying to get to church felt completely surreal.
It is difficult to explain what exactly is going on, but things feel strange, like something is off and out of control. I have been praying more lately and going to adoration often, and feel a great desire to completely dedicate my life to God. He has given me so much and I have grown spiritually in the last couple of years. I’ve read that the devil attacks those who are growing closer to God. Could this be it? I have to say I am seriously freaked out by the weird things that have been happening.
Any advice?
Dear Contra mundum, Beloved Child of God,
I am so sorry this is happening.:bighanky: I realize this is serious, but as someone to whom these things have happened in a former marriage (before annulment, before RCIA, before marrying a Catholic and entering the Church…) I experienced all this. Here’s what I think:
1-Please, if you can, both of you do your best to recapture your sense of humor, and fast! Couples with children can feel like they’re going crazy. I saw the comedian “Sinbad” who is actually very (general audience) rated, say how he used to be normal but he just suddenly seemed to have lost his mind! I think this often happens on Sunday mornings.
A minister I knew when I was a protestant said the following.
1-Real love is scraping the burnt embers off the toast your wife hands you on Sunday mornings, getting everybody in the car anyway and just doing your best.
:hug3:
2-Real love is writing “I LOVE YOU SWEETHEART,” in the table your exhausted wife has not been able to dust for eleven and a half weeks.
My husband and I used to take things SO SERIOUSLY. Here’s how we ended all that. Now, when I use “a hundred gallons of water” (as he says) to clean two dishes, instead of really addressing the issue he
pretends to be mad and says “Oh, God Help Us, there goes the water bill!” And guess what, he now offers to do the dishes and I let him. He’s much better at it.
3-Tell the children (this is a Doctor Phil kind of quote) that unless their hair is on fire, they better be ready on time and at the door at such and such a time on Sunday morning (or whenever you go to Mass.) Unless they are infants or toddlers. Nothing you can do really if they’re little ones. If they’re a bit older just Smile broadly and tell them you mean it. I used to call my daughter at ten minute intervals, and shout “I’m LEAVING” :extrahappy:five minutes before I started up the car. Even as a teen, she knew MAMA meant it.
4-Go on a nice date with your husband and apologize to each other, if you can find a sitter. If not, put the wee ones to bed and make a nice candlelit dinner. Can you exchange baby sitting with another trusted couple?:angel1::knight1:
5-Humor really helps. Talk to the children (if they’re of an age where they can understand.) If they are very little, well, maybe there’s the blessing of a Church Nursery if you can make it, to give you an hour of peace, God bless you. My heart goes out to parents raising children.
6-Even if the enemy is doing his best, Christ is bigger. I used to shout out “I KNOW JESUS WANTS US TO BE ON TIME FOR CHURCH!” The enemy hears that and backs off.
7-I have to recommend the movie “The Ref.” about a couple in counseling. It really gives one perspective and is very entertaining.
8-Do tell each other how much you love each other. Lots.
9-Admit when you’re exhausted and let each other know it’s not them, it’s sheer fatigue and every day life. You’ll be OK.
10-Lastly and most importantly, keep praying together, and make fun dates so that any bad times will be outnumbered by the good times.
Give yourself permission to be human. Re-invite a sense of humor into your home management, along with the serious. Mass time is most definitely serious and should be respected. What we can deal with on a lighter level is how we act one or two hours before we get there. You sound like lovely people and I really think you will be just fine.
Many blessings,
Kathryn Ann:heaven:
), I try to engage my son and I in laughter over the million little things that are making us late again – can’t find my keys again, forgot my lunch again, the dog just took my last clean pair of underwear under the fence into the park out back…