tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post2648241654031908053..comments2024-03-17T22:48:00.427+08:00Comments on Reflections and Ruminations: The benefit of painFr Luke Fonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03079016104331055895noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-46286008458096649282011-02-28T09:59:32.097+08:002011-02-28T09:59:32.097+08:00Thank you Fr Luke for last Wed's session on Re...Thank you Fr Luke for last Wed's session on Reconciliation. As caregiver to a multiple condition spouse of 31 years, I can fully relate to the pain of sorts,especially during the threatening hours where it seems that our Lord is taking him away from us. He had 3 brushes with death - each time, I upheld him to our Lord to allow him to be healed in accordance with His will. It has never failed! He continued to be in gainful employment and headed his department, providing this family with the comforts of life.<br />If not for these 3 practices of widowhood, it would be unbearable to shoulder single handedly, the days ahead as he approaches the final lap of his term on earth. May our Lord continue to have mercy on us especially in those final moments, where he would like to pass out at home with me. Should this not be God's will, may the angels come and show him the way to Almighty's kingdom.<br />If God willing, I will drive him to Malaysia to rekindle the memories of our wonderful times and family holidays we had over the last 31 years.<br />Thank you Lord for the immense strength to journey with my spouse and uphold the fidelity of matrimony. Please help me live my imminent singlehood for the first time, as joyously as You have always blessed me with.<br />May I offer my current grief for the betterment of others who need healing of mind, body or spirit.<br /><br />Shalom and see you Fr this Wed at St Teresa'sAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-26956678852956127302011-02-24T07:11:27.686+08:002011-02-24T07:11:27.686+08:00So true. If it were not for the pain in my life, I...So true. If it were not for the pain in my life, I would not be who I am today and where I am today. :)MFEO2009https://www.blogger.com/profile/04204650566306925124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-50881779142730636972011-02-22T10:47:51.631+08:002011-02-22T10:47:51.631+08:00Dear Fr Luke
Thank you for yet another reminder t...Dear Fr Luke<br /><br />Thank you for yet another reminder that as Christians we should always stay positive and look upon every situation as an opportunity for spiritual growth and seek God no matter how we feel because to turn away from Him in our pain is to say goodbye to love and hope. Hence we should turn to Him even in times when nothing makes sense and frustrating questions flood our minds: Is it really the will of God or the lunacy of man which had put us in such a state, what is the point of living/carrying on in this way, where is God in all this, and in cases of prolonged excruciating illness 'How much longer, Lord?' It may require a tremendous amount of humility and willingness to surrender before we understand and appreciate the true meaning of the ‘Redemptive Suffering’ you mentioned. While spiritual growth and healing do not eliminate sufferings, they help in ceasing the battle within us somewhat and we are then able to tell the Lord, “I am ready to come home”, home being heaven, paradise or simply an acceptance of Him and His plans for us. All things happen for a reason ~ that sounds so cliché. I prefer to think God allow all things to happen for good reasons. <br /><br />God Bless.Cecilia Honoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-29339850799020427932011-02-22T09:24:01.709+08:002011-02-22T09:24:01.709+08:00The problem of pain is a subject that is far too d...The problem of pain is a subject that is far too deep, too theologically profound for most of us (including me) to grasp fully. <br /><br />One thing I do know, however: those friends and relatives of mine who have been through terrible suffering, and yet have steadfastly persevered in their faith, have been a tremendous inspiration to me.<br /><br />Too see, firsthand, the grace of God working through and in them is one of life's precious lessons that cannot be found in any textbook.<br /><br />God Bless!Robbie Jnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-32010058849721044272011-02-21T19:45:13.084+08:002011-02-21T19:45:13.084+08:00My father is now in hospice care. Over the years, ...My father is now in hospice care. Over the years, we have grown to be much more than "father and daughter"; we are close friends. Losing him will be painful. But to have missed the opportunity to know and love him would have been far worse.<br /><br />God has always been - and will always be - a Creator, and I have every confidence that our God will use the pain that has entered our lives creatively for good. <br /><br />My father has taught me many important lessons during his lifetime. I've shared some of them in a series of reflections I've written over the course of his last illness. If you would like to read some of these thoughts, visit the links found at "A series special to my heart", which can be found on my sidebar at http:/acts17verse28.blogspot.com/.<br /><br />And please pray that God will take my father gently home with Him.<br /><br />In Christ's love,<br /><br />SueNCSuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17617227847364562989noreply@blogger.com