Look For Your Hope

My father used to tell me I was honest to a fault. I’m sure what he meant was that I could be truthful without using so many words or going into too much detail. Today I choose to be honest to a fault. Hopefully, it won’t be to my detriment. When things get too hard, I shut down and find other ways to occupy my mind. It might not be the best way to deal with stress, but it is my way. I have put a lot of pressure on myself to write articles that bring people hope, especially during this pandemic, and that is kind of overwhelming. I mean, I’m just me. So, being true to myself, I just shut down this past week and didn’t think much about writing. That is another thing my dad told me, “Always be true to yourself Wendy.” That advice has helped me to be the best person I can be. I can’t shut down forever. I have to get back to the responsibilities life gives me.

The coronavirus is a reality, no matter how I or anyone else chooses to deal with that it remains a reality. This is hard; everything about this is hard. People are restless, and every day seems to run into the next. There is this silent anxiety that hangs in the air and no matter what you do, it’s just there. This virus will go away eventually, but knowing that doesn’t make it any easier. The one thing I do know is that God is with us in every moment of it. And that is hope for me, and you.

It is spring here, and although it has been cold and cloudy, I have been listening to the birds and waiting in anticipation for the sun to shine and new life to spring forth. It’s helped me to see that no matter what we are going through, nothing can stop life from moving forward. Yesterday the sun came out, and the air was warmer than its been in months. I took a walk, pulled some weeds, and soaked up every minute that I could. It was so invigorating, especially with the stress of these past few weeks. Today I am sitting here writing with the windows open listening to the sounds of spring. And even though things are still uncertain, I have a deep sense of peace.

The world is giving us a lot of reasons to despair right now. But Jesus gives us reasons to hope. A few days ago, someone very special to me had a baby despite this virus. He is beautiful, he is here, and he has his whole life ahead of him. That little guy is hope for me, and he is hope for his parents and siblings. He can be hope for you too if you want. Look for your hope. See it where you can and in any way that you can. The Lord wants to bring you hope. Don’t be a victim of despair because you will only give the devil power over you. No matter what difficulties you find yourself in right now, and we are all experiencing difficulties, believe that hope is all around you, and know that it is in you. Because Jesus is hope, and He will never leave us alone.

The following prayer can be prayed anytime. You can also pray this prayer after a spiritual communion.

PADRE PIO’S PRAYER AFTER HOLY COMMUNION

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You.

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life and without You, I am without fervor.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light and without You, I am in darkness.

Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.

Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.

Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and always be in Your company.

Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.

Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.

Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close and life passes, death, judgment and eternity approach. It is necessary to renew my strength so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!

Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You.

Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.

Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love.

Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.

With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity.

Amen