When we are told that a loved one is “in recovery,” we often breathe a sigh of relief. It’s a “Thank God” moment, because it means that someone dear to us has gone through an event or a period of time that was difficult or painful or scary (or maybe it was all of those things) and is now coming out the other side. Thank God.
It’s just the way life is. And sooner or later, everyone we know will spend time recovering from something.
- From a stay in the hospital
- From an addiction
- From a financial setback
- From an accident
- From the grief of losing a loved one
- From a storm or a natural disaster
Everyone suffers, and the scars can take a long time to heal. A friend once told me that some things cause such a dramatic change in our lives that we can never really get over it; we just get used to it. I think it must be like that for anyone who suffers a great loss. I don’t know what it feels like to see your child critically injured in an accident, or to have to evacuate your home in a storm, or to be diagnosed with a terminal illness. But I do know what it feels like to lose your husband after 50 years of doing just about everything together. Life-changing events like these often leave us feeling like victims, carrying a hurt that never completely goes away.
In Philippians 3:13-14, St. Paul tells us how he deals with suffering and loss. “One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” He presses on.
“Press On” is a song by Daniel L. Burgess that beautifully echoes St. Paul’s message of encouragement.
“When the valley is deep
When the mountain is steep
When the body is weary
When we stumble and fall
When the choices are hard
When we’re battered and scarred
When we’ve spent our resources
When we’ve given our all
In Jesus’ name, we press on
In Jesus’ name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on”
The process of recovery may be slow and exhausting, but Jesus tells us, “to pray always and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Some translations of that verse say, never lose hope; don’t be discouraged; never give up. Our strength and our hope are in Jesus. He knows what suffering and sorrow feel like, but He urges us to press on and never give up. Jesus doesn’t just know the way; He is the Way. And if we let Him, He will lovingly lead us “out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1Peter 2:9). With His help, we press on.
“Dear Lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on”
Press On” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIAPghCFfyg
And what about the Keychain? I had written parts of this reflection 4 months ago, but I had no idea how to end it until a friend approached me at Mass one day, right before Christmas, held out a little bag, and said, “Pick one.” She had wrapped enough keychains for everyone at Mass that day. I smiled when she said, “It’s a random Bible verse,” because I knew that neither one of us believes in coincidences. And it was no coincidence that the “random Bible verse” I chose gave me the inspiration I needed to press on and finish writing this reflection. “Never give up.” Thanks, Angela.
Best one yet. Very
meaningful, especially at this time. I will forward this to Meghan. ❤️🙏
A very timely message for a few people who are close to me. I think this was meant to be completed 4 months later, because it is meant to be read by these people now, not 4 months ago. Thank you, Gma.
This was meant to be completed now to help us through this difficult time. As difficult as it may seem, we need to press on. 😥💞