I remember one of our daughters sending me a photo that, at first glance, looked like a happy toddler in a car seat. Upon closer inspection, her daughter was covered in chartreuse vomit. She had colic as a baby, and her little tummy was still trying to figure out food. The photo intrigued me because she wasn’t as miserable as you would expect, as she sported the latest in barf-wear.
The natural response is revulsion. However, mothers are a powerful force of nature and are compelled to run towards kid disasters.
This is an extraordinary gift given to us by the Father Himself.
Why? Our misery attracts God’s heart like nothing else.
“Yet this misery possesses the mysterious privilege of attracting our Lord. Our nothingness and our misery constitute the force that attracts our Lord.”
Servant of God, Luis M. Martinez
We can fall into the deceptive trap of believing that we must be squeaky clean and perfect for God to love us. Fact—He already loves us.
As a mom, I totally get it. There’s nothing like a crying child of any age that doesn’t propel me into motion. Moms (generally speaking) are hardwired this way, and I can’t think of a more perfect attribute of God to emulate.
Humanity is a hot mess and needs to run to God more than ever, not in shame or fear, but in confidence in God’s love for them.
No one is too far gone. No sin is bigger than God’s Mercy.
First recourse is sacramental confession. The Divine Healer waits for you. We can wrongly assume that it is our good works, talents, and virtues that most attract our Lord; on the contrary, it is our woundedness and neediness that draw His heart.
Have you ever planted a tree and eagerly waited to taste the fruit, only for it to languish? We have. The tree takes up space, neglecting to fully realize its potential and purpose. That is not a characteristic anyone wants for a tree and certainly not in a human being.
We are infinitely more valuable than a tree. Our worth in God’s eyes is priceless. It is imperative to our eternal salvation that we do not exhaust the soil of our lives.
Well, that took a wild turn, Barb, barf to trees to eternity?
Stick with me.
‘For three years now, I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. [So] cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?’ Lk 13:7
The question we all need to bring to prayer is this: Am I exhausting the soil or bearing fruit?
Life is short, and we are dead for eternity. The mortality rate is 100%. We are not made for this world; we are made for eternal bliss with God in heaven. This life matters because it is the proving ground, which, by God’s Providence, allows us to choose or reject God.
God has gifted each of us, placing us in conditions where we can thrive and bear fruit. Everyone’s planter looks different, yet it is the perfect soil that will bring forth a grand harvest as we cooperate with God’s grace and plan. You might think it unfair, as your soil is rocky and the conditions grueling, while your friend lives on easy street.
God knows best the conditions that produce fruit, and it is different for each of us. The most important thing is to stay focused and not waste your life on distractions.
Everybody wins when we bloom where we are planted.
The first three words given to Adam and Eve were, “you are free…” (Gen 2:16). We have freedom to bear fruit, making the world a better place, one person at a time, or take up space, focusing inward, and withering away.
The gardener in the Gospel of Luke 13:9 proposes giving the fig tree another year so that he might “cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it,” and the Master allows it. This is good news. God doesn’t want us to fail. He gives us countless opportunities to be cultivated and pruned because that is what is necessary to yield good fruit. Yes, it is often painful. We need only cooperate with His grace and plans as He never gives us more than we can handle. (I can say this with complete assurance, through four brain surgeries, being hit by a car, Meningitis and Sepsis in one year…) We have no idea what we can withstand until we have to. We are stronger than we think and impossibly strong with God.
As I eluded in my reflection last week, it requires surrender and seeking the Master’s assistance. As God continues to work on me, I invite you to pray with me. Thank you so much. The surgery went well.
Your prayers made all the difference for me, and for the team that worked on my head.
When we pray for one another, it nourishes our hearts. Suffering liberates and cultivates, allowing God access to bear greater fruit in us.
Our compassionate love, when poured out for our hurting brothers and sisters, is of untold value. The smallest act of love, or a whispered prayer offered on someone’s behalf, makes an incredible difference, and God honors it.
Let’s not be afraid to make small efforts starting today.
We can ask for grace for someone or any situation.
We can speak a simple prayer.
We can offer up or fast for a particular intention.
Because prayer matters and love united to the Cross can save souls.
I think that’s how Satan wants us to believe we are viewed by God. We are covered in absolute barf from our sinful choices of freewill. But with the grace and mercy from God ee can always be cleaned up, just like our moms or dads have done for us for years of childhood. Every night I make sure my kids say, “Mama Mary protect my heart and protect my brain (cause of grandma), Jesus my soul is yours help me protect it.”
What a beautiful article. The struggle is real, everyday I wake up in hopes I will let Jesus take the wheel and one day I pray I can and will
You are getting closer every day my love. It is so clear- you’ve come so far 🙂
Beautifully said, not only was it enjoyable to read but personally reflective for me, thank you
What beautiful thoughts, dear Barb, from a suffering soul for sure. Thank you for these words that inspire and validate our suffering. Suffering does have a purpose; we just have to trust in God’s plan with it for that incredible fruit that will one day be produced.
I love the phrase “suffering liberates and cultivates”. That really gives me hope that my suffering is going to bear fruit.
Thank you. And praise God that your surgery went well and that you are healing!
God Bless you.
to add to my comment…..
I am reading a book “nudging conversions” by Carrie Gress and came across this perfect thought!
“…it is always difficult to be mindful of the fruit of suffering
and to live with its hope, but that is where trust and faith grow
and live.”
God bless you.
Excellent! I read her book, The Anti-Mary Exposed- that too was eye opening!
So beautiful. I needed to read it!
thanks Ashley, we all need it LOL 🙂 Keep up the funny business
Thank you again my friend for such inspiring words. I really appreciate your blogs so much, as they speak to my heart just when I need it the most.
Happy to hear your surgery went well. Praying for your speedy recovery.
many thanks-I was so inspired after hearing several times how God is most drawn to us in our misery and suffering- everyone just needs to know that 🙂
Barb you are a gifted and treasured author for our Lord. My heart feels warm and soul happy when I read or see your post. Hugs forever to my favorite lady. You know suffering all to well and bear it angelically. I can only hope to eventually stand by your foot in heaven.
Oh Colette, we will stand shoulder to shoulder girl 🙂 Thanks for reading and sharing 🙂
Thank you Barb for sharing your inspiring writing.
Heal fast my dear friend.
God bless your family!
Barb, your article was very important to me. I found the substance of this article was that we can do so much better if we walk the path if we choose to.
The suffering that one takes is given an opportunity to believe that are misery is not a downfall, but a challenge to walk with grace if we choose to do that.
Thank you for a great spiritual lesson in life.
Such truth. There is so much beauty in the reshaping of our hearts and purifying of the clay by Abba Father if we recognize how deeply he draws us near in our times of suffering and separation while creating idols around us that distract us from Holy dependance on The Only One we need for all joy, provision, wisdom and strength. He draws us back into Him transforming our hearts and renewing our minds if we wholly surrender through complete humility to anything He asks of us. Sometimes it requires a complete, forced stop for us busy bees so that we don’t just listen, we receive His word and obey.
Beautiful, inspiring words. Thanks for sharing this message.
My Mom and I will add you to the prayer list in The Surrender Novena.
Thanks Jeannine for the prayers:-) So good to hear from you and what a beautiful reply, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us.