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May 15, 2016
Faith· Life

When the Struggle is Really Real

When was the last time you were struggling?  How did you handle it?  Did you question why? I can think of quite a few times in my life when “the struggle was really real”. I’m sure you can too.

Do you believe that during life’s struggles, God is still there and loves you just as much as the times when life seems much easier?  Is that easier to believe when you’re not “going through it”?  Sometimes I feel like the truth is easier to see when your standing further away from it.

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The truth is STRUGGLE is good.  STRUGGLE is temporary. STRUGGLE is necessary.

I don’t know if you know this, but . . . I really, really LOVE wine. (shocking, right?)  I visit wineries to (cough, cough) learn more about the process involved in making wine. Okay, maybe not for the learning experience . . .

But seriously, I love going to a vineyard.  I’m a city girl that dreamed of looking up and seeing nature, rather than the Septa bus, the parked cars, the row homes and all the cement I saw growing up.  I really appreciate seeing nature and all its beauty.  I also enjoy drinking wine  . . .ergo, a vineyard is a little like heaven for me.

Now, “truthfully”, I don’t really go to learn anything.  The last time my husband and I visited a vineyard – he wanted to go on the tour much more than I.  So we went, and I half-listened to the tour guide who said a funny thing or two – but often lost interest and day- dreamed about this guy not talking anymore, and me getting to go inside for the tasting part of the day.

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But one lesson I did learn, that I have not forgotten, is how a grapevine must STRUGGLE in order to produce the best fruit.

That fact hit me.  It was a “wow” moment. I started to think about how much that rings true in our lives.  How those people that struggle the most, and rise above their struggles, become the people we most look up to and aspire to be.

I started to think how my struggles, and how I handled them, really made me who I am. They made me stronger.  Sure, at the time, I felt they were completely unnecessary.  I know I told God that too.

But in those times, I faced many temptations, many choices, and many times I had to choose to do not what would make the pain or struggle go away sooner – but God’s will. Other times, I think I was so sunk in my own heartache, I did not choose God and His will.  All the while, He was there.  All the while, I longed to hear Him.

Before I started writing this post, I did a little research.  I felt like, “I can’t just know one sentence – one little tiny fact – and write a whole post about it.  Yes, the grapevine must struggle in order to produce the best fruit . . . but what else should I know”.  I found this at WINEANORAK.COM, and I want to share it with you:

More modern methods of growing grapes, in close-spaced rows on wire trellising, take advantage of the fact that making the vines struggle generally results in better quality grapes. It’s a bit like people. Place someone in a near-perfect environment, giving them every comfort and all that they could ever want to satisfy their physical needs, and it could have rather disastrous consequences for their personality and physique. If you take a grapevine and make its physical requirements for water and nutrients easily accessible, then (somewhat counterintuitively) it will give you poor grapes.

Then I recalled being a runner.

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I remember how hard I trained, how much the workouts hurt. How much I never wanted to go to practice.

I also remember getting my best time.  I remember winning.  I remember getting MVP and a championship title.

I remembered how once my mom said, “maybe sports just aren’t your bag”. But not giving up, and how not giving up allowed me to have self-esteem and an amazing feeling of worth.

I remember the shirts we had in high school, and how they stated, “Pain is short, pride is forever”.

And then I started to recall hearing those stories in the Bible where Jesus uses the vine and branches as a way to teach us about His relationship with God the Father and our relationship to Him.

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.  He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit . Remain in me, as I remain in you.  Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me” (Jn 15.1-5).

I then found an article written by a Benedictine monk.  This article, found at Catholic.org, provides a reflection on this Scripture passage.

The advice of the monk – and I would say of Our Lord – is to remain with God through all the struggles.  The monk, Father Gregory Gresko, states:

The most difficult task indicated in this passage of Jesus as the True Vine may very well rest in a key verb mentioned throughout:  Remain.  It is not being a branch that is most challenging according to Jesus here; rather to remain proves for us most difficult such that living fruit might be borne from our faithful steadfastness in Him. Jesus clearly desires us to persevere in obedience to the Word of God, Who is Christ Himself (cf. Jn 1.1).

So, if you are struggling with anything now, and you are wondering “what does God want from me?”.

He wants you to “remain in Him”.  He wants you to, in the words of F. Gregory Gresko, “persevere in obedience to the Word of God”.

This can be so difficult . . . but here’s the part that might just give you the hope you long for right now.  Jesus goes on to say:

 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

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Stay close to Him.  Our Lord knows what it’s like to struggle.  He loves you.  Your pain will not last forever . . . hold onto Him.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.  I pray that although the struggle might be real, that it is coming to an end soon and that easier days are right around the corner.

God Bless YOU!

Amy

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Comments

  1. Lis says

    May 16, 2016 at 9:07 am

    Beautiful! I love this analogy. It makes me think of Romans 5:3-5

    3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

    • Amy says

      May 16, 2016 at 9:19 am

      Amen! Thank you for that added verse! It is perfect!!

  2. Karen Grosz says

    May 16, 2016 at 9:08 am

    This is beautiful. Yes, when I have gone through those really tough struggles, that is when I have grown, usually in different virtues. When I went through my infertility issues I learned a great compassion and understanding than I ever thought I could. When I went through my health issues, I learned fortitude and persistence. So many things only grow and develop through pressure and struggle. None of us want it, but it is worth it in the end.

  3. Ginny says

    May 16, 2016 at 1:34 pm

    This was timely for me in that for a long time, I really railed against the struggles in my life. Pride had a big part to play in that; I was convinced that God owed me – big time – for the hardships my family was experiencing. We actually did the Undoer of Knots novena to unravel all the difficulties. In the end, God unraveled our hearts.

    We’ve grown so much since then. If it weren’t for all of those hiccups, we wouldn’t be able to see God’s graces in the same way we are able to now. Thanks for the reminder.

    • Amy says

      May 16, 2016 at 1:40 pm

      I have really been meaning to do that novena – thank you for reminding me and sharing how it really helped you and your family!

  4. Amy says

    May 16, 2016 at 9:50 pm

    Wow, I really needed this. Spiritual attacks have become a part of my life and I need to remain in God if I am to have any hope of surviving the devil’s bullying.
    Thank you Amy!

    • Amy says

      May 16, 2016 at 10:33 pm

      Stay strong! I hope you are wearing a Miraculous Medal around your neck too!

  5. Caroline @ In Due Time says

    May 16, 2016 at 10:01 pm

    Yes, the struggle is REALLY real. I have been in the struggle for years now. I do see fruit produced. There is so much joy and peace to be found in the struggle, but I wouldn’t be lying if I didn’t admit that I am ready for this struggle to be over. Whew 😉

    • Amy says

      May 16, 2016 at 10:35 pm

      I hear ya my friend, I hear ya! I know your struggle! It helped me to write my prayers and my desires – and to say a novena or two (I wrote those too). I hope to be celebrating with you soon! ((((BIG HUG)))))

  6. Christina says

    May 17, 2016 at 6:55 pm

    Beautifully written, so much to think and pray about here. Thank you for sharing this!

    • Amy says

      May 17, 2016 at 7:15 pm

      Thank you so much Christina! God Bless you!

  7. brianna george says

    May 19, 2016 at 11:54 pm

    Our family has been in such a struggle lately as missionaries. Attack after attack trying to dissuade us from the journey the Lord has set before us. Satan has put so many distractions in our way. It has been a struggle. But through this struggle we have seen Christ win again and again. The struggle makes his love that much sweeter. 🙂

    https://unveiledandrevealed.com

    • Amy says

      May 20, 2016 at 7:41 am

      God Bless you and your work as missionaries! I pray you continue to see Christ winning and less of Satan’s distractions! Thank you for all you do for Our Lord!

  8. Mallory says

    June 8, 2016 at 1:59 pm

    Amy, this is an excellent post! It helped me to realize that often, part of our struggles is the need, in the midst of the storm, to stay close to Jesus, even if we would rather push Him away to make our struggle easier. Pain is not fun, but we need pain to grow. Thank you for this article!

  9. Leslie says

    March 2, 2017 at 6:26 pm

    I love this analogy so much. I was waiting to see how you would tie it in with Jesus as the vine and it was perfect! I love the “remain” message and will keep it in mind as I face my daily struggles. Thank you!

    • Amy says

      March 3, 2017 at 6:01 am

      Thank you so much Leslie!!!!

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Often I need this reminder - God doesn't want us to feel stressed.
He wants us to rely on Him - trust Him.

He wants us to love.
Be patient and kind.

Many saints have discovered this and have advised us in their own words.

Saint Katharine Drexel said, "peacefully do at each moment what needs to be done."

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Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… 

This type of advice can be really helpful for all of us… especially for a young girl navigating middle school or her early teens.

This advice would have helped me.
Why?

Because it takes some pressure off the high expectations often felt by us as individuals.

It makes God’s will for us feel achievable and realistic.

It’s totally relevant to a student in junior high
(And a slightly stressed out adult)

This page in the Be Yourself embraces scrapbooking fun- just like the back cover. Only this page encourages photographs. Yes, actual printed ones 🎞️📸

Take a deep breath.
Love the next person that comes near you.
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A prayer and the story behind the picture… Oh S A prayer and the story behind the picture…

Oh St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, 

I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, our Lord; 

so that having engaged here below your heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. 

Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss his fine head for me, and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. 

St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for us.
Amen.

My children had off from school on Friday. I had committed to an hour of Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays from to 2 to 3 during Lent… so since they had off, they had to come with me.
It was stressful.
They CAN NOT sit still.
Once I got one to stop walking around or talking, another one started.
But in the middle of all this… I witnessed a sweet moment.
I hesitated to pull out my phone because I really try not to during Adoration.
But, the beauty of the moment struck me, and I had to capture it.
📸 
Motherhood is hard. Parenting is difficult.
But I’m often reminded it’s like farming… and I’m planting seeds.

I just hope and pray I’m planting more good seeds then bad ones.

Thank goodness we can pray and ask for prayers from others!

Saint Joseph, pray for us!
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I adore you Jesus, true God, and true man, pres I  adore you Jesus, 
true God, and true man, 
present in the Holy Eucharist, 
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and united in spirit 
with all the faithful on earth 
and all the saints in heaven. 

In gratitude for so great a blessing, 
I love you with all my heart, 
for you are worthy of all praise 
and adoration. 

Lord Jesus Christ, may I never offend you with my lack of love. 

May your Eucharistic presence refresh me in body and soul. 

Mary, Mother of the Eucharistic Lord, pray for me 
and obtain for me a greater love for Jesus. Amen.

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Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… thes Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… these numbers are NOT in my favor?

Years ago, I was lonely, depressed and wondering if I would ever not be lonely and depressed.

I dreamed of falling in love and getting married.

But, I wanted to marry a faithful Catholic man… and I believe I saw that only 22% (?) of Americans were Catholic.

And then I thought…
Half of them aren’t men, a large percentage are not practicing and … also how many are BOOMERS?

Lucky for me, God math goes like this…
5 loaves 
2 fish
=
5,000 meals and leftovers 

This is my handsome husband and our awesome nephew with the Bishop that Confirmed him on Friday.
Matt was -and is- such a proud Sponsor and Uncle!
God bless Grayson Patrick FRANCIS!

Thank you God for all of your gifts!!!
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Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a retreat and you see joyful faces! 

Listen, this is the best retreat hack for Catholic girls!
****The Be Yourself Journal Scrapbooking activity.****

Give each girl a Be Yourself Journal.
Explain how, “We are all called to holiness but we take different paths.” ~ Saint Katharine Drexel.

Have each girl pick out a Holy card and two Catholic stickers.

Put scrapbooking paper and Catholic washi-tape (thank you @thestumpofjesse ) on the tables and get them started with decorating the back of their journals.

As they work add more stickers and quote cards to their table.

Point out that they were all given the same set of instructions… yet each cover design is unique.

The same is true for their calling!
God has a unique mission for each individual.

He calls us to follow the Commandments, embrace His Word and trust the teachings of the Church…
same set of basic instructions, different yet BEAUTIFUL results when followed!
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Huge thank you to the women who donated journals and holy cards!!!
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Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? 

Holy cards can be a fantastic prayer journal prompt. 

Copy the prayer off the back and glue the card to the page ;next to, underneath or above where you wrote the prayer).

Follow me for more prayer journaling tips!
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Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this week Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this weekend!

So excited to help these young Catholics see that each is called to holiness… but each mission is unique and unrepeatable!

Huge thank you to the women who donated journals for the retreat (11 donated!!!) and the women from my Bible study group who donated Holy cards!

If you would like to donate a Journal for one of the girls attending the retreat this weekend… send me a private message and I’ll explain how!

Holy cards are GREAT prayer journal prompts!

Which Holy card would you put in your prayer journal?
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