I hate the holidays.

[Ash Wednesday]

Hey photo, I can certainly understand your trepidation about therapists. You would have to find one that is right for you, otherwise it's a waste of time and money. They also recommend seeing both a therapist and a priest. Both counselors that I was able to put my trust in the most were female and Catholic.

Glad that Thanksgiving was bearable for you.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='photosynthesis' date='Nov 25 2005, 03:35 AM']thanks to all who prayed for me...

today was a lot more bearable than I thought it would be.  I even found stuff to laugh about.

my family isn't very Christian...  everyone is secular except my grandma who calls herself Catholic but she's a member of a dissident group called Voice of the Faithful, my aunt and uncle (episcopal) and myself (orthodox catholic).  Usually we just say the normal "bless us o lord for these thy gifts" grace before thanksgiving dinner, but my aunt and uncle burst out singing 'PRAISE GOD FOR WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLLLOOOOOOOOWWWWW" and I burst out laughing...  It was such a surprise to see my family doing anything traditional or Christian.  But it was funny, my aunt and uncle were singing, my grandma and I didn't know the words to the hymn because we're Catholics and everyone else had this bewildered look on their faces.  I could barely contain myself!
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Your aunt and uncle were singing a good Catholic hymn

[Birgitta Noel]

Glad all went well!

I didn't know that was a Catholic hymn! Our Methodist friends introduced me to it! LOL

[homeschoolmom]

As a Methodist, I used to sing the Doxology all the time.

[cmotherofpirl]

its one really common to all "old school" faiths. I learned it as a kid as well.

[photosynthesis]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Nov 25 2005, 08:24 AM']Your aunt and uncle were singing a good Catholic hymn
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i'm not sure about the history of the hymn, but the verses were doctinally sound. I know there's a hymn in Goucher's hymnal (Catholic Community Hymnal - GIA) that has the same tune but different words. I haven't ever heard it in a Catholic Church, though, but I've heard it at a lot of Protestant services so I always assumed it came from the Protestant churches.

It also was funny because my grandma always said to her kids, "DON'T SING AT THE DINNER TABLE OR YOU WILL GET A CRAZY HUSBAND!" (or wife or whatever). you did NOT sing at the dinner table in our house.

[annabelle87]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sorry for the way people are towards you, too. People tend to wanna put a time limit on everything these days. Grief is one of those tricky things that's different for everyone. I'm sure if they had to deal with what you're dealing with they'd understand. Find refuge in the heart of God. As much as you don't understand why, and in as much pain as you're in, He loves you very deeply and He knows what He's doing.

I'm sure many have told you this already and it may sound cliché, but God has a plan. There is a reason He put this wonderful man in your life and there is a reason He called him home. You may not see it, I may not see it. Only He sees it. I know it's a hard concept to trust, but sometimes that's all we have. Somedays all we have to go on is our faith and trust in One who is all-knowing and all-loving. He is, you can say, the glue of our life. When all else comes crashing down, He remains. Remember that.

You'll be in my prayers.

[tojo]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Nov 25 2005, 11:24 AM']As a Methodist, I used to sing the Doxology all the time.
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I make it my personal policy to beat people who don't know it, lol.....

.....well only Catholic college boys who are my closest friends.......

[photosynthesis]

[quote name='annabelle87' date='Nov 25 2005, 07:16 PM']I'm sure many have told you this already and it may sound cliché, but God has a plan. There is a reason He put this wonderful man in your life and there is a reason He called him home. You may not see it, I may not see it. Only He sees it. I know it's a hard concept to trust, but sometimes that's all we have. Somedays all we have to go on is our faith and trust in One who is all-knowing and all-loving. He is, you can say, the glue of our life. When all else comes crashing down, He remains. Remember that. 

You'll be in my prayers.
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thanks... i needed to hear this... sometimes it's hard to see God as the glue in our lives when everything is broken and dysfunctional. Nothing is really sticking together! but I guess sometimes God has to break us before he can purify us.

I keep thinking this is my fault and that he died because I didn't take good enough care of him. I took care of him the last days of his life so sometimes I worry that he died because he contracted some infection. he had a weak immune system because of all the drugs they had him on. or maybe God is punishing me and I'm not sure what I did.

I'm trying to find a reason in this, even though it all seems really unfair and unreasonable. I don't know what God is trying to do with this, but I guess it can't get any worse.