C
CSN
Guest
Wow, you are pushed away ? I thought with the shortage of just about everything they would be very eager to at least take a look at you…
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C
CSN
Guest
I wowed someone with that first one, but I’ve never even heard the second one… Let me store that in my wow-banks for future use.
T
tkdnick
Guest
My biggest cross is lustfulness. I was even trying to find a nicer way of saying so it didn’t sound so bad, but that’s really what it is-lust…and not keeping custody of my eyes.
What am I doing to work past it? Prayer, confession, forcing myself to look away or to stare into the other person’s eyes, trying to avoid those people & situations I know create the biggest temptation for me. I really don’t feel like I’m making much progress, but I keep fighting the fight anyway, because I know I need to. It’s compounded by this intense desire to marry & have children. So I am always “looking”, even if the other person happens to already be taken.
What am I doing to work past it? Prayer, confession, forcing myself to look away or to stare into the other person’s eyes, trying to avoid those people & situations I know create the biggest temptation for me. I really don’t feel like I’m making much progress, but I keep fighting the fight anyway, because I know I need to. It’s compounded by this intense desire to marry & have children. So I am always “looking”, even if the other person happens to already be taken.
M
mommyof4
Guest
Just wait until you get older- the hormones calm down a little bit!
T
Toni
Guest
Ok I will begin with the old joke.
A man complained to God about his cross being to heavy. So God sent Saint Peter to help him to find another cross. They walked into a room filled with crosses of all kinds. Steel, tin, wood etc. The man looked at all the crosses and decided he did not want to pick one that was to small. So he went in search of the perfect cross. At last he found one and pointed it out to Saint Peter. Saint Peter lifted the cross and turned it around and would you believe it had this man’s name on it.
It’s hard to say just one since I have had many that I felt were much to heavy for my back.
The top two have got to be when I found out that my daughter was molested by my neighbor an usher at my parish,
and my mother’s unexpected death.
Prayer and adoration got me through.
I included one of my favorite prayers for everyone with crosses.
Your Cross
**The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God. **
A man complained to God about his cross being to heavy. So God sent Saint Peter to help him to find another cross. They walked into a room filled with crosses of all kinds. Steel, tin, wood etc. The man looked at all the crosses and decided he did not want to pick one that was to small. So he went in search of the perfect cross. At last he found one and pointed it out to Saint Peter. Saint Peter lifted the cross and turned it around and would you believe it had this man’s name on it.
It’s hard to say just one since I have had many that I felt were much to heavy for my back.
The top two have got to be when I found out that my daughter was molested by my neighbor an usher at my parish,
and my mother’s unexpected death.
Prayer and adoration got me through.
I included one of my favorite prayers for everyone with crosses.
Your Cross
**The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God. **
M
Mary3
Guest
An autoimmune disease that leaves me often weak, tired, achy, fuzzy-thinking. Today is a bad day. I am just now learning to offer these bad days (and good days) to the Lord.
Job 1:20-22
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.” ** In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 1:20-22
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.” ** In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
E
Epsilon_Omega
Guest
Chastity and Purity in my thoughts and actions towards girls around me, and me becoming a priest (not that much of a cross, but I am going to be celibate for the rest of my life) 
A
acadian
Guest
I feel kind of silly after reading some of the others, but right now, loss is my biggest cross.
In the past year or so, I’ve lost a step-grandma (death), an excellent assistant (job change), a wonderful boss (retirement), a long-time co-worker (death), and a beloved pastor (reassignment). One of my best friends is in the process of moving 7 hours away, and I have a sinking feeling that when school starts again, I will be dealing with the loss (reassignment) of the awesome supervisor I’ve had the past 3 or 4 years.
But it could always be worse.
Coping with prayer and frequent Mass.
In the past year or so, I’ve lost a step-grandma (death), an excellent assistant (job change), a wonderful boss (retirement), a long-time co-worker (death), and a beloved pastor (reassignment). One of my best friends is in the process of moving 7 hours away, and I have a sinking feeling that when school starts again, I will be dealing with the loss (reassignment) of the awesome supervisor I’ve had the past 3 or 4 years.
But it could always be worse.
Coping with prayer and frequent Mass.
C
Chickamauga
Guest
My cross is I’m now sorry I converted to Catholicism a little over two years ago.
C
Catholig
Guest
D
distracted
Guest
I don’t have time to elaborate but i have this same cross… Talk to later, hopefully… God bless…
D
distracted
Guest
Whoa! You are the first one i’ve ever heard say that. Please, could you elaborate?? Thanks. Praying for you.
Don’t give up all the good things the Church has just because of - let me guess??? People in the Church???
I
iamrefreshed
Guest
My cross has been the after affects of my wife’s childhood sexual abuse by her father and a subsequent rape (also as a young teen). It has caused her to use coping methods that have seriously damaged our marriage.
Fortunately, I was called back to the church out of the blue a couple of years ago and that has made this cross bearable (barely).
Another thing that God helped me out with was bringing my wife to the church last year. That and 10 monthly therapy sessions have improved life so we no longer cry everyday. Just the occassional cry at the saddness of everything.
We’ve completely cut off contact with her toxic family and only let the kids make the occasional telephone call. What’s sad is that the kids don’t even miss them. That’s probably safer for her father because I don’t know if I could see him and not get violent!
Fortunately, I was called back to the church out of the blue a couple of years ago and that has made this cross bearable (barely).
Another thing that God helped me out with was bringing my wife to the church last year. That and 10 monthly therapy sessions have improved life so we no longer cry everyday. Just the occassional cry at the saddness of everything.
We’ve completely cut off contact with her toxic family and only let the kids make the occasional telephone call. What’s sad is that the kids don’t even miss them. That’s probably safer for her father because I don’t know if I could see him and not get violent!
T
Teelynn
Guest
Chronic addictions with several family members. Currently, they are all in recovery which is a miracle in my life. With the addictions came much abusive behavior and at times caused me unbelievable despair and heartache. With the grace of God and the help of our Blessed Mother I managed to live through it and it seems for now I do not have that cross to bear at all. Truly miraculous!
E
Epsilon_Omega
Guest
I also have severe eczema, which makes my skin break out, and lowers my self-esteem. I hate getting wet, and my skin dries out fast, so I hate showers and baths. My skin itches alot, and even if I don’t do anything wrong, my skin breaks out again.Chastity and Purity in my thoughts and actions towards girls around me, and me becoming a priest (not that much of a cross, but I am going to be celibate for the rest of my life)
C
CB_Catholic
Guest
My cross is and has always been, since I was a child, a negative self-image. This led to a severe clinical depression in my 40’s. I am much better now, but I battle with myself a lot. I pray all the time to Jesus to help me, but I never feel I am “good enough”. I have not served Him as well as I could because of these feelings, but I keep on trying in small ways. I don’t think it will ever go completely away, it’s part of my brain chemistry, but, like St. Paul’s cross, it keeps me dependent on Jesus.
C
Catholig
Guest
D
distracted
Guest
You are wise to realize that it will never go away completely (not in this life anyway). I have come to realize the same thing in my own life…
You are far from alone. I used to think i was the only one who suffered from this low self-esteem thing but you’d be surprised how many people have this (some are just good at hiding it… They over-compensate by acting like everything’s OK…) but some people (me) can’t seem to hide it…
Spending time with Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament is the best antedote for this (and every other) problem. I pray you have the time to do that - or that you make the time…
Also, I’ve found it very helpful to go somewhere where you can be totally alone with God and nature… When i do that, my whole perspective changes. I don’t feel “less than” when i am with my Creator…
Praying for you. God bless.
D
distracted
Guest
A friend gave me this lotion made from beeswax and honey and who knows what else. I am wondering if that kind of thing would help. It helps my skin a lot. I may be able to find out what all is in it… maybe even get the recipe… or you could go on the internet… Raw honey is good for a lot of things…I also have severe eczema, which makes my skin break out, and lowers my self-esteem. I hate getting wet, and my skin dries out fast, so I hate showers and baths. My skin itches alot, and even if I don’t do anything wrong, my skin breaks out again.
God bless.
D
distracted
Guest
I believe everyone is addicted to some thing or another. I grew up in a family that was addicted to negativity. They couldn’t/ can’t seem to say anything good or positive or loving about anyone (except maybe to a person’s face maybe once a year… but behind the person’s back… Yikes!
).Anyway… i believe all addictions come from not being well-grounded in the love of God. I mean, if we all really, truly KNEW how much God loves us (through Christ), we would not need those things that seem so needed (?), yet are so harmful to us…
I’ve been a Christian all my life, a devout one for several years… and yet i still frequently put the things of this world over God, albeit subconsciously, unintentionally… As a human being it is hard to always put God first (detach from the things of the world)…
At death, we will have no choice… and who knows when death will call…?
Anyway, I will pray for you your family. Please (PLEASE) pray for mine also… Yours may be in much better shape than mine. Your family is in recovery (admitting they have a problem). My family scoffs at the thought of therapy or recovery programs… They think they can fix themselves… No, actually, its worse than that - they don’t seem to think there’s anything in need of fixing…
I love them but that’s the way i see things…
God bless…
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