Praying, Hoping, and not Worrying

Last updated on: August 30, 2024 at 12:40 am by Sherry Antonetti

0 Comments

Praying, Hoping, and not Worrying 2024-08-30T00:40:32-04:00 Sherry Antonetti

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“Easy for you to say God.” my brain things. You know already the outcome. However, for all of us in the Church Militant, the worries of this world, they can crowd out the spiritual life. There isn’t enough time for everything, which means we should recognize when we reprioritize away from God.

It’s so easy. We put it on the list and let it drift through the day. I’ve had this happen enough times to know, if I don’t jump on prayer and the mass, it may become a non-thing.

God doesn’t keep count or score. He just longs for us to long for Him. I know this, so I do not worry so much as recognize that I am easily distracted. By my own brain, by life, by the whole world, I drift in my own thoughts. It can happen in an instant, and the phone and computer, ten kids, a job, volunteer work and all of everything encourage such wandering in the midst of writing, prayer, anything. God knows my heart’s longing better than me. He also knows I need nudges and hints and helps.

So I’ve restarted my “May I pray for you today?” ministry online.

Every day I write on Facebook, “May I pray for you today?” and make sure to do so for all who ask.

The asking of others makes it easier to act. My own needs feel dwarfed by the crosses I see others carrying. It gives me perspective.

Lately, I’ve wondered if I am called to be a writer, because the writing has become less of a need, and more of a demand. I am demanding that I write, like I force myself to walk 12K on my fitbit. The inspiration for the deeper reality that normally demanded I type stories every day, isn’t there. So everything I write feels either stale or forced.

Meanwhile, the teaching has become a constant hum, with me thinking part of how you know what you’re supposed to do, is by the hallmarks God leaves you –rather like spiritual breadcrumbs so you can find your way to your spiritual home. I have to wonder, does God want me to let go of this in favor of something else? It’s scary even asking that. Except I know, I need to pray and hope and not worry. I also know, whatever I do, I should do with a full heart and as much warmth as possible, and God will work through it.

At the same time, I’m reading and there’s a constant theme in the lives of saints, of being distracted or deterred or tempted by the idea of abandoning what is right and that persistence is what is required. So I don’t know. I remember praying hard in the Year of Saint Paul, to be a writer like Saint Paul. I wrote the whole story in a sprawling notebook while waiting for him to get open heart surgery in 2008.

Then I wrote and wrote and wrote, for the past sixteen years. The words seemed to flow out endlessly and effortlessly.
Now, I’m a mom of a sixteen year old, and watching him attempt to handle high school, it’s hard to put into words what I can and can’t do. I see him waving to people, and pray they wave back. Hearing people talk to him, the prayer is always the same, “Be warm.” “Please be warm.” All I want for them is to be kind. All I want from him, is to not do something that will erode their desire to be kind.

It’s like walking an invisible tightrope emotionally in every encounter. You’re hoping people treat him like he’s about to be sixteen. At the same time, you’re hoping that he acts as close as possible to sixteen, and then remember, what if he acts like a bad teen? You don’t want bad behavior excused, and yet you hope people understand if he isn’t as good as you hope.

Being a mom of a teen with Down Syndrome, you spend a lot of time trying to find a place they’ll fit for longer than their teen years. Will he be able to play sports, have a hobby, have a job, after school finishes? That’s the worry. Will we be around when he’s twenty-five, thirty-seven, fifty-five? Older? That “pray, hope and don’t worry,” is an act of faith like no other.

Both parenting and writing require acting when you feel dry. Write, parent, pray, persist, hope and don’t worry.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

August 26, 2024

The Necessity of Prayer

Next Post

September 5, 2024 Can't Teach What You Don't Do and Don't Love

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Being a parent is the greatest blessing. As a Father of seven, I know that ..."

Catholic Dad

Blessed Then and Now

"I love your post! A lot of us focus on making it to the mountain ..."

Catholic Dad

Easter Monday, Now What

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Answered Prayers Blessed Mother Confirmation Devotion of the Sacred Heart Doctors of the Church Easter Family Humor family life Good Friday Growing up Healing Holy Spirit taps Lent Love in the little things Mary Undoer of Knots Not an Apologist Parenting Sacred Heart of Jesus Saint Therese of Lisieux Sin Small Success Saturday Teaching others and myself Uncategorized Waiting Writing Year of Saint Joseph

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz