tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546639772211374853.post8543674267223513600..comments2023-05-16T02:53:34.878-07:00Comments on The Catholic Working Mother: NFP Saved My Life and My MarriageJoAnna Wahlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09942928659520676271noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546639772211374853.post-49829055681135459012014-02-20T18:46:30.215-07:002014-02-20T18:46:30.215-07:00Thanks, Heidi.Thanks, Heidi.Lenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09173616693453942166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546639772211374853.post-17345225448609739192014-02-20T09:16:02.997-07:002014-02-20T09:16:02.997-07:00Great testimony! Great testimony! Monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11501575551066939483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546639772211374853.post-32227420225885931042014-02-20T06:34:55.811-07:002014-02-20T06:34:55.811-07:00Lena - I'm sorry I didn't see this until n...Lena - I'm sorry I didn't see this until now. I went to bed early (this last trimester is much harder this time around - I think I'm getting old, haha!), and I'm on the East Coast, so it may have been crazy early according to your clock, too! <br /><br />I'm still learning about discernment and how to do it. It was a completely new concept to me when I first heard it, about five years ago. Some things that have helped me:<br /><br />This book: http://www.amazon.com/Searching-Maintaining-Peace-Small-Treatise/dp/0818909064<br /> <br />It helps me remember that God's gift to us is peace and it helps remind me that in ALL things, I must surrender to Him. It's short little chapters (just a few pages each), and VERY easy to just pick up and read when I need a "boost" of hope.<br /><br />A priest once told me another bit of advice that I cling to. He said (and I paraphrase, because it was a few years ago and my memory is slightly hazy): "Never discern in a period of desolation. Pray during desolation. Turn outside of yourself in desolation. Only discern God's will in periods of consolation." This explanation might help (it helped me understand that a bit): http://www.loyolapress.com/discernment-consolation-and-desolation.htm<br /><br />Recently, we had to make some really major decision regarding our adoption (we'd found out we were pregnant, and while we *knew* that was always a possibility since we weren't trying to avoid (it wasn't required by our country/agency), we weren't really sure how to proceed at that point). I have a very, very dear friend who is a Franciscan hermit and who I turn to for a lot of spiritual guidance. I was going through the pros/cons of all the different options we had in front of us, and I honestly could not come to a conclusion. We'd prayed about it, we'd taken it to Adoration, we'd written out the pros/cons.....and it just felt like God was completely silent, like we were getting NO direction whatsoever from Him. My hermit friend said this:<br /><br />"What I do believe with every once of my frumpy being is that whatever option you choose, God will bless it. This is not to say that the option you choose will be without trials; every act of love involves the cross.<br /><br />Perhaps as you continue to pray our Blessed Lord will make clearer to you the option He wishes you to exercise. If not, I would take that as an indication that He doesn't care which option you choose; he just wants you to choose one and see it through. He will be with you in the victories and the defeats along the way and use it all for your sanctification."<br /><br />I clung to that then, we made a decision based on our rational thinking through of the choices, and have stuck to that decision. And God HAS blessed it. There's been a lot of suffering that we could have avoided, but as we get closer to bringing our little guy home (hopefully this month!!), we've been covered in blessings. I think my hermit friend was 100% right - sometimes God doesn't have a direct will for us and our decisions. His Will is passive - giving us the ability to use our reason and intellect to make a choice. To me, that takes a lot of pressure off of the "getting it right" stress.<br /><br />I hope that helps! I'm still very much learning and reading EVERYTHING I can about this topic!Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01185792549179757757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546639772211374853.post-39697403302883165852014-02-19T20:23:22.132-07:002014-02-19T20:23:22.132-07:00"I think our culture, specifically, has forgo... "I think our culture, specifically, has forgotten what discernment is, and how to do it."<br /><br />I hope someone explains the what and how of discernment. I hope discernment is easier than agonizing over a decision or being frozen with fear because you can't make a decision. <br /><br />Wow, you put this up quickly. I just came here from the Bubble blog. Lenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09173616693453942166noreply@blogger.com