Facing The Same Problems Over and Over

I enjoy reading Bill and Monica Dodds' family column. My local Catholic newspaper (soon to be ceasing publication - sigh) runs it regularly. Their most recent offering was titled "Parents have to keep 're-solving' problems that keep coming back." The point is that certain families have certain crosses that just keep reappearing either by virtue of the personalities of the people involved, illnesses or addictions people face, or life stages being gone through. They offer the following wise perspective when going through those difficult times:

"1) 'They lived happily ever after' is a line in a fairytale. (And if a fairytale ever had a sequel, that would be the end of that nonsense).

2) God may never give us more than we can bear, but he does seem to overestimate our abilities. Or to paraphrase a prayer attributed to St. Teresa of Avila: 'If this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few of them.'

3) While a problem may be new to you, you probably aren't the first one to face it. Get help from professionals, from family and friends, from the parish or diocese, from the amazing variety of trusted resources available these days.

4) Truth be told, you're probably going to make a mistake or two along the way. But to quote St. Francis de Sales, 'Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself . . . Do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage.'"

The website for Bill and Monica Dodds is Friends of St. John the Caregiver