Saturday Travis and I were able to hear Mother Agnes Mary of the Sisters of Life speak at the Peoria Diocese's Parish Pro Life reps' annual meeting. She did a beautiful job.
The Sisters of Life take a fourth vow to defend and protect life. One of the ways they do that is by providing pregnant women a place to live when they have no where else to go. Mother spoke about how the essence of that ministry was to show the mothers that they are someone to be delighted in. As she was speaking she made it sound so easy (perhaps her holiness and the grace of her vows kicking in) even though we all know it can be difficult. When she was finished I asked a question
- It seems that to love and delight in these women is easier because we don't know them. Yet when our own friends and family are these women, it is so difficult. How do you move past that disappointment, embarrassment and frustration at the sinful rut they are in to delight in these women?
Mother answered that it is hard - very, very hard - but we must still love them as God does. The delighting part doesn't change though it can be so much more difficult.
And boy is she right about that. I had one very specific family member in mind when I asked the question and she can be SO DIFFICULT to love. If anyone reading has any advice I'd love to hear it.
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