thoughts on life...

life is hard and it doesn't get easier, you get stronger! these were the words of Fr. Michael Schmitz last night at XLT. isn't it true that we all think life is hard but it will get easier with practice? i know i did, but after hearing Fr. Mike's talk it changed my perspective. i thought that (like with everything) if you practice you will get better at it. no, life isn't like that. life will always have more difficulties that we won't be ready for. and that's okay. why? because we have a loving Father who can help us get through this hard life. all we have to do is give the hardship to Him and He will take care of it. we have to have anti-fragile faith. to me this means not being afraid of the next five minutes of life, of the next meal i'm going to eat, if i'll be hurt with the next friend i make. i have to rely totally on my Father and let Him take care of me. i know for a fact that He will take care of me. He always has and always will. 

God is kinda like a helicopter parent, as funny as that sounds. He watches my every move and waits until i call Him to help me. and i call on Him a lot! i think it is important to have a unique and special relationship with our Father because He created you and me. He knows you but He wants you to know Him too. it can't be a one way relationship. for example, i ask Him for something, He gives it to me and that's it. i don't talk to Him until i need something else. Fr. Mike used a perfect example for this. think about Santa Claus. why do we go to the mall and wait in never ending lines to see Santa? because if we see him it is guaranteed that we'll get what we want from him, right? this is how our relationship is with our Father. can you imagine that being done to you? how would you feel? would you still love that person? i would feel horrible! i would definitely distance myself from that person. but that is when you see the real love of the Father. He doesn't distance Himself from us ever! He just gets closer and closer to us until we realize it! 

Fr. Mike told us a story of a young girl named Mal. everyday she would write in her journal a rose and a thorn from that day. a rose and a thorn means a joy and a sorrow. i loved the idea so i started doing it too. it helps me to think of the things i did that day so i'm not just going through the motions. this is something i'm challenging you to do. start a journal of roses and thorns today!

i hope this post will help you in a tough season that your in right now!

until next time! ♡

if you want to hear the same talk Fr. Mike gave us click the link below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDnXk5iiCxM

here are a few encouraging life quotes that say the truth:

"you can complain because roses have thorns, or you can 

rejoice because thorns have roses." 

"don't pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one."

"don't let it break you. no matter how hard it gets, life goes on." 

"though my life is hard and i face tough issues, my God will never abandon me."

"i am not afraid of storms, for i am learning to to sail my ship."