HUMAN RESPECT
"To love and be loved..." Though we may deny it, that is
the one thing that every woman desires from her friends and family. To
have it makes our lives like sunshine; to lose it is like living in the depths
of darkness. We will do anything and give anything for those whom we
truly love, and count it as nothing. Yet, to lose the love or respect of
anyone close to us is like a sword piercing our very soul. Nothing seems
to have the ability to raise us up...
This is because we tend to not look to God for help and assistance
in our hour of need. He is the only one who will always be faithful to
us, always cherish us, and always love us. It is true that sometimes He seems
distant and does not answer our prayers right away, but there always is a good
reason for His doing so. I have especially learned in the past six months
that when we forget God and turn only to people in times of distress; we will
never be happy or find peace. God is the source of all joy, and if we
ignore Him, why would He ever bestow it upon us? He alone truly
appreciates all our efforts to become a better person, and understands when we
fall. Every other friend or family members will always find fault in us
or some reason to be angry, displeased, or annoyed with us.
Everyone has their greatest weakness, and mine is human
respect. In the past years of my life I have always picked out one person
out of everyone I knew to lean on and be my guide and helper. As long as
they were by my side, I could tackle anything. However, within a couple
or a few years that person would either cut all ties with me or be taken out of
my life, and I would start falling and find the smallest things in life
difficult. I used to complain about this to God, and from the time
I was a very little girl I used to implore Him to send me just one person who
would always be there for me. Yet, God in His great wisdom chose not to
answer my ardent plea.
Then, one day I was reading a book by the Most Reverend Father
Faber called, Growth in Holiness. In it he has wrote a
section on "Human Respect" and how it often brings the most pious
souls to damnation. Upon reading it, I was suddenly hit with the
realization that this was certainly my greatest fault. Had I not always
sought, above all else, to have someone to be pleased by and appreciate all of
my efforts? How God must have grieved over my lack love for Him, when I
sought only mere humans to trust, confide and lean on rather than Him!
In the past few months I have tried to overcome this terrible
defect in myself, and I always seem to find myself slipping back into it.
Yet, I know that until I overcome this fault, I shall never be strong and
able to proceed further on the road to sanctity. So, I am determined to
work on it and overcome my weakness in its regard; through prayer, penance,
help from the saints and the grace of God. I pray that God may do the
same for all who wish to become true ladies; dependent on God rather than
mankind!
Thank you for your honesty. I too have this fault I'm trying desperately to overcome, as well as pride. For the two go hand in hand. Your blog on pride was also insightful and I'm reading Humility of Heart now. May God bless and watch over you and may we pray for one another. Melissa
ReplyDeleteDear Melissa,
ReplyDeletePride is my other worst enemy too!
We must be a lot alike... ;-)
It is SO HARD sometimes to fight against it, and it always seems to keep creeping back upon me when I least expect it...
Thank you for your prayers!
You shall be in mine!
In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Rita
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rita. We do sound a lot alike! Thank you also for your prayers. I now have your name to include in my Rosary!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Melissa
Melissa
Thank you, Melissa! It means a lot to me!
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Rita