I struggle with things.
Man things.
These struggles have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and I have fought mightily to rid them from my life.
There was a time in my life, in college, that I became apathetic to these things and allowed myself to fall deeper and deeper into my own selfishness and pride, never allowing my heart to be humbled enough to admit that I needed divine help in overcoming these things.
Then I met my future wife. While our relationship did not instantly make things better for me, and while we certainly had our struggles, her presence in my life allowed me to see the good that comes from purity and the value in that virtue.
I praise the Lord that for the past several months, I have been graced with the opportunity for regular confession and a renewed sense of culpability for these sins. One of my best friends and a priest-in-training, has been a great source of strength for me and has kept me accountable many times.
I know that I need humility and a deep sense of self-sacrifice in order to overcome these things completely. I believe God has blessed my wife and I with our bun-in-the-oven, and that this new page in our lives will help accomplish that.
There is an incredible amount of self-sacrifice that I am learning needs to happen in order to take care of a sick wife, maintain a household partially due to said sick wife, and work my first full time position. It is a tremendous responsibility and I am learning everyday how to love God in my work, love my wife at home, and love our child in the womb.
St. Joseph has been a newfound source of strength for me in this time of my life. His model as father, husband, and saint is one that is full of the virtues of purity, true humility, and self-abandonment. Devotion to St. Joseph began for me with the Novena to St. Joseph and I find myself thinking about his example more and more everyday.
Lord God, please grant me a true spirit of humility that I may serve you and serve my family everyday.
St. Joseph, patron of families, champion of purity, and model of humility, pray for us!
2 comments:
"I never said it would be easy - I only said it would be worth it."
That quote my cross country team adopted for the back of our shirts one season still has great meaning to me - and applicability to so many aspects of life. You are exemplifying self-sacrifice with a purpose right now, Adam, and I pray that the Lord grants you many graces during and after your efforts.
You can't go wrong with St. Joseph, he's one of my favorites as well. When I finally received the grace for regular confession it really changed my life and made me a better person, husband and father. I know without St. Joseph's intercession I wouldn't be who I am today.
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