N! Where should you run? There's only one direction—to God. This doesn't happen without labour and sorrow. And with grandmas, patience is so valuable. Pray for your life to be in order—it's not forbidden, and if it's for the good, the Lord will provide everything. But even then, oh, how much patience you need!
God bless you in your patience.
Dear in the Lord V.! When people live without God, life turns into hell, and hell in eternity follows. You must live by different laws, by God's ones, patiently overcoming the evil that reigns around you. After all, only this patient adherence to the truth, the affirmation of your faith and trust in God through your very life, bears good fruit. What good is it to call yourself a Christian but live like a pagan? Pray secretly for your loved ones and conquer evil with love and compassion for them.
May the Lord grant you wisdom!
Dear in the Lord V. N.! In a world made godless, the enemy rules, and what happens to you is the enemy's frightenings. But glory to God, they do not exceed your strength, and God's mercy strengthens you clearly and tangibly. Only the Lord knows the purpose of your labours and patience. We must be fully confident that everything that happens is by God's permission, and that your patience and labour will not be wasted. After all, especially valuable before God is not only repentance in word and recognition of sin, but repentance in deed to endure for your past iniquities. Try to receive Unction annually, anoint yourself daily with the Holy Unction oil, and drink it with the sacred. And I will fulfil your request for prayer!
May the Lord strengthen you!
Dear in the Lord N.! I am fulfilling your request for prayer for your family, and your parish priest is giving you very sound advices, so there's no need for you to turn to anyone else. Life itself teaches us, and no life is ever a smooth road. Only the way of the cross leads to the joy of communion with God—if, of course, we bear our cross without complaint, daily drawing strength from God.
God's blessing upon you and wishes for patience, patience, and more patience.
Dear Fr. M.! I fulfil your request for prayer. The struggle with passions is, after all, the work of our entire lives. In this struggle, we learn to see our extreme weakness and inadequacy, and the great power of God, Who can free us from the snares of sin and passions with a single wave of His hand.
It would be good for you to read a small booklet entitled "The Unpublished Diary" of Father John of Kronstadt. Since you sincerely love and follow his advice, you will learn from this diary how he struggled with the same adversities that beset you.
Patience is a great power, and with patience it is easy to move through life; combined with humility, it leads a person to the Kingdom of Heaven. You should resort to doctors in times of need. Otherwise, is it not presumptuous to demand healing from the Lord Himself?
I ask for holy prayers for my infirmity.
Dear M.! Who hasn't made mistakes in life? So everyone, without exception, asks for mercy and forgiveness. And God demands that you work with patience and prayer, helping your husband rise from his fall. Your patience and love for your children and for him will do more than talk and arguments clarifying the relationship. And, of course, children shouldn't be privy to the mistakes of adults. They may sense this themselves, but they shouldn't receive this terrible knowledge, which destroys faith in goodness and love, through you or from you. Be patient and pray. May the Lord strengthen you in this!Letters of Archimandrite John Krestiankin |