What doesn't kill you...

"Have you not heard the parable of the vine and the branches from the lips of the Master? Console yourself: He demands much of you, for you are the branch that bears fruit . And he must prune you, so that you'll yield more fruit. Of course that cutting-that pruning- hurts. But, afterward, how luxuriant the growth, how fruitful your works!" -St. JoseMaria Escriva

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Today a fellow FOCUS missionary lost her mother after losing her father only 5 short years ago. Being 1 of 5 in her family, they have lost their two and only parents. I first think about the unbearable suffering that she must be going through right now.

I am very close to my mother and father and I cannot even imagine the pain I would endure if I lost both of them in 5 years. It makes me understand how blessed I am to have such wonderful parents and secondly that they are still playing an integral role in my life.

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Suffering sucks. There is no way around it. We all suffer at some point, and the hard part is that we naturally strive for happiness in our lives. It's true, EVERYONE wants to be happy. The homeless guy holding the sign on the corner, the drug addict, you and me. We all have this desire within us. The strive for ultimate happiness. The wall that tries to prevent or even destroy our happiness is suffering.

What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger! Right?

A coworker asked me after hearing the news about our fellow missionary, "I know we all have to suffer, but why is it that some people have to suffer way more than others. It just doesn't make sense."

I wish I had the answer to that, but all I can do is sit and ponder the thought and be thankful for what I have that is so good in my life.