The Cross

 

Human nature does not want pain, any kind of pain. 

We defend against it, run away from it, medicate 

ourselves, use drink and drugs to escape disappointments

and grief and the hard realities of life.

We even disconnect from ourselves, which is a way of 

giving up. 

Jesus said that the ones who wanted to be His disciples 

needed to pick up their cross, and follow Him. 

To follow Jesus, to become holy, implies accepting

and being fully present with everything difficult.

Because it is by the Cross that we Resurrect with Him.

When everything inside us screams : "I can't", " 

I can't do it", know that this difficulty is in fact a gift,

a treasure, and we might discover that we can open 

ourselves up to accept it. 

If we truly want to love, we must learn to suffer.

 

I was married to an alcoholic who, every time he was 

angry, and that was often, said that he was going to

turn our children against me. The children that I was

practically alone in taking care of. 

 

Imagine having as an objective in life to break the bond of 

love between the mother of your children and the children,

turn it into hate. A sick and perverted mind damaged 

by life long alcohol abuse, evil and corrupt. From my side, 

despite everything, I never had any wish to break any part 

of their relationship with their father, because I knew it 

would hurt them. 

 

The hardest cross anyone can have is the absence of love 

in one's life. 

Our heart cries out for love, and it is by giving that we

receive. It does not come by force, brutality or money. 

Love also involves suffering when it presents itself. 

This is true surrender, we become stripped of our

own minds, plans, wishes. 

 

The Power of Love will always win, the light that shines 

in the darkness is the Infinite Perfect Creative Power that made us, that made everything. 

 

The Paratrooper's Prayer

Give me, O Lord, my God, what is left Thee, that which no one asks of Thee. 

I do not ask Thee for rest or tranquility, neither of soul or body.

I do not ask Thee for wealth, nor success, nor health.

So many ask this of Thee, O my God, that there must be nothing left for Thee to give.

Give me Lord, what Thou hast left, give me what everyone else rejects.

I want insecurity and trepidation, I want struggle and torment.

Give me this definitively my God, give me the certainty that this will be my portion forever, because I will not always have the courage to ask Thee for it. 

Give me Lord, what Thou has left, give me what others do not want, but also give me courage, strenght and Faith. 

 Written by André Zirnheld