Dear readers,
I have been having an on-going dialogue with Jose in Texas via email, as he used the ‘Contact Us’ page instead of commenting on one of the posts. I have asked his permission to post our dialogue, and he has granted it. Following is that dialogue:
——————————————-
Name: Jose
——————————————–
Comments:
I would like to talk or chat with other dads who have spouses who left with another woman. I cannot understand how or why after 25 years of marriage, how did this happen? Why was I blind to this in our marriage? I trusted my wife, and didn’t think she would do this to me…
Jose
———————————————-
From: dave
Sent: Thu, January 7
Subject: Divorced Catholic Dads web site inquiry
Jose,
I am REALLY sorry to hear that your wife left with another woman, particularly given that you were married so long.
Yes, she did it to you, but in a way she did not… She has done it to herself and the devastation she will endure will be terrible. I can only pity her and pray for her that she will not lose her soul to her disordered passions.
Why were you blind to this? I have learned painfully that I cannot know another person’s heart and even if I could, I am often too absorbed in my own interests that I miss a lot of the signals and warnings. I have learned that only deep prayer can keep my heart, mind and soul sensitive enough to be aware of other’s needs. The more I pray, the more aware I am.
Jose, do you mind if we put this discussion on the comments on the web site? Then others will be attracted to your comments and you will be able to chat with others who have had the same experience.
Let me know.
Peace
Dave at Divorced Catholic Dads
————————————————
Sent: Friday, January 08
To:dave
Subject: Re: Divorced Catholic Dads web site inquiry
That’s fine….I want the whole world to know what kind of woman this is…..
I know that God has a plan to show her a lesson, and I hope it’s not through the kids..
I know vengeance is His and it is mighty & swift….
She didn’t even want to go speak to our priest at our church.. she noted ” I DONT WANT TO GO SEE THAT MAN”!!! It’s awful how she has lost her faith and a sense of religion in her heart….
THANKS
Jose
————————————————-
To: jose
Sent: Fri, January 8
Subject: RE: Divorced Catholic Dads web site inquiry
Jose,
And so it falls to you to be what God, what Christ, calls you to be, alone. He calls you to be holy and the example of Christianity to your wife and children. It is especially now, in this time of your greatest suffering, that He holds out the greatest graces to you.
Be the best Catholic man you can be. Now is the time for you to be a man. A man of Christ. Just think of how He responded both to the prostitutes and to the soldiers who tortured and killed him. He was compassionate. And that is our example.
Pray, pray, pray and then pray more for courage, strength and wisdom. And your brother Divorced Dads will pray with and for you as well.
Dave
—————————————–
Sent: Saturday, January 09
To: dave
Subject: Re: Divorced Catholic Dads web site inquiry
Its that I’m hurting so much….I’m trying not to go to the lawyer and file for the divorce yet..I’m still hoping that God will intervene, in just as small as a mustard seed.
My kids at time are rude & ugly to me when I call them…I just blow it off so
I can hear & speak to them…My son called me last night to ask me for money, he had his car impounded for outstanding tickets…I told him I would help him, but he later called me and told me no after all….I just wish I could talk to my wife to apologize and communicate with her..She doesn’t want to have anymore conversation with me. I asked my daughter and she said mom says no…I feel like their intent is to break me down emotionally…I’m praying constantly to keep from this happening…
I wish there were some more brothers here in HOUSTON to help me…
Regards
Jose
____________________________
To: jose
Sent: Sun, January 10,
Subject: RE: Divorced Catholic Dads web site inquiry
Jose,
I understand the hurt. Actually, my wife left me 5 times before she finally left the last time and filed for divorce.
If you are “still hoping God will intervene”, then in my experience, I found I needed to open myself as much as I could to hear Him. So I went to confession and Mass to receive the Eucharist. I did not want any stain of sin clouding my interior vision or my ability for my heart to hear His word to me. As I said before, God has great graces for you in this time of suffering. He will never allow anything in our lives that He does not also provide sufficient graces if we will be open to them.
This is a time when it is VERY important to be in tune with the graces God has for you in this time of suffering. Offer your emotional, psychological and human suffering for your sins and the sins of your wife. Yes, you will suffer in your hurt and react humanly, and that is only normal. Or you can suffer in your hurt and react with the grace of God – spiritually. Just recognize that your emotions are normal human reactions, but separate the spirit from the flesh within yourself. Let the suffering rip your flesh apart from your spirit and put your will in the spiritual side.
I had no one to help me. Many times I cried out to God for someone here locally to help me, but there was no one. No family, no friends. Just me and Jesus and Mary and my parish priest. Can you find a parish priest who can help?
I will still work at putting this dialog on the blog so that perhaps someone in Houston will see it and maybe put the two of you in touch.
Peace
Dave
——————————————-
Sent: Monday, January 11
To: dave
Subject: Re: Divorced Catholic Dads web site inquiry
Could you explain to me a little bit more in detail how I can separate the emotional, psychological, and physical sense… I feel like I want to give up on my kids since they protected her and went on her side. My priest at church told me I have been betrayed 3 times: 1- my wife 2- next, my kids 3rd – my friend from work whom I introduced to my wife, the lesbian.
Everyone else around me tells me I didn’t do anything wrong, it was my wife who just left like a thief in the night. She never gave me a chance to try to work things out. I kind of suspected it might have been her boss if not the lesbian friend . She met someone who was able to give her the intimacy we lacked in our marriage.
Jose
————————————————–
To: jose
Sent: Mon, January 11
Subject: RE: Divorced Catholic Dads web site inquiry
Jose,
I want you to do a short exercise. Say a short prayer – Our Father or Hail Mary and ask the Spirit to help you. Then, for a moment, close your eyes and then ‘step away from your body’. Look at what you see. A hurting guy and ………. Describe it to yourself. That is your humanity suffering – emotional, psychological and physical. But that is NOT your soul, your spirit, which is with you as you stepped away.
Then you can see what Jesus sees. A guy who is hurting emotionally, psychologically and physically, even. But that is JUST your humanity, which is not eternal and will die some day. Your soul, the spiritual part of you is what will live forever, and the destiny of your soul is based on the choices you make – your decisions, particularly at this moment.
When you do this, then you have a way to separate the spirit from the flesh. And you can have pity for the humanity part of you without getting sucked into letting it drive your thoughts and actions. Pray for the strength to go there often. Then the great graces God is offering you in this moment of great suffering will give you peace and sanity. You can, with God’s grace, look at the situation with peace, objectivity, and detachment. Pray for detachment.
Pray for God’s wisdom. The world has no wisdom compared to God’s. Look around you at your own condition and the condition of the world. This is wisdom? It is pathetic. No, God means to give you wisdom. His. And He is with you. NOW. And at every moment.
OK, so you, like me are a sinner and were not the best you could be in your marriage, and lacked some degree of intimacy. EVERY man who ever was married and walked the earth with the exception of St. Joseph, was the same way in their marriage – not perfect for what our wives needed. You have lots of company. It is normal to fail in what we were called to by the Sacrament of Marriage. God is supposed to be the Third Person in our marriage around whom we both center our relationship. So, as you look at your own sin and weakness, your failings in the marriage that were not what Christ called you to, then be honest with yourself and Him and make a confession. So I disagree with your family and friends: yes, you did do something wrong in your marriage, but every husband can say the same thing. Start with the realization that your sin and weakness was a contributor to the situation, just as your wife’s was. And make a good confession. That is key to coming to peace. It is the building block, the foundation.
I would say it perhaps differently than your priest. Your wife betrayed herself, the Sacrament of Marriage, and Jesus, not you. You are not her god and were never meant to be. That is ‘possessive’ of her and the relationship. In marriage, we give ourselves to each other to be helpmates and stewards to each other and our children to get to heaven. We do not own each other or our children. That is the disorder of our culture. We become so possessive of our wives and children that we become addicted in a way, and when they are taken from us for whatever reason, then we act like drug addicts going into withdrawal. Sound familiar?
To say she betrayed you is correct perhaps from the human standpoint, but not from the spiritual or eternal standpoint. No, she did not betray you, if you understand what I mean. She betrayed only herself, the Sacrament and God. Pray for her conversion.
And your children did not betray you. They were manipulated, perhaps and maybe even, seeing the marriage from outside, saw where the love they were receiving was coming from because you were gone working or whatever. But, again, they did not betray you. When they are old enough to reason right from wrong and have attained spiritual maturity, then they will see the truth, for whatever that is.
And the lesbian did not betray you, but rather, herself and God. And giving in to her weaknesses and lusts, led someone else astray. Pray for her conversion. God’s justice for the unrepentant in eternity (hell) is not something I would wish on anyone.
So no one has betrayed you. All, including you, just like the rest of us have fallen in sin and weakness. We betray ourselves, the Sacraments and God. Once you can understand that, that no one has betrayed you, then you can see more clearly. We are all responsible for our own decisions. You cannot blame yourself for your wife’s decisions, or your children’s – or anyone else’s decisions. You can only take responsibility for your own decisions.
DECIDE TODAY
Decide today.
Decide to let go.
Decide to love.
Decide to pray for conversions for yourself, your wife, your children, the lesbian and everyone supporting them.
Decide to admit the truth about your own sin and weaknesses.
Decide today to struggle for holiness as God is calling you to, particularly now, in this moment.
Decide today not to blame anyone.
Decide today to raise the eyes of your heart and mind to God many times throughout the day and ask Him how you should think and act.
Decide today to accept the grace He is offering you.
Decide to let every action be guided by Him.
Make those decisions today. And tomorrow and the next day. And EVERY day.
Then Christ, who is the Answer to every dilemma, every question and every struggle, will give you His wisdom and His Peace, a peace the world cannot understand.
The Peace of Christ be with you.
Dave
———————————————-
From: jose
Sent: Monday, January 11
To: dave
Subject: Re: Divorced Catholic Dads web site inquiry
WOW DAVE,
I never really envisioned my soul and detachment of humanity on myself in that light. What comes to mind, is that a lot of this sin could have been avoided. I myself brought it upon myself for sins not confessed and forgiven. Did I really wholeheartedly ask a true confession for my past transgressions? Is God showing me and opening my heart up for a true contrite heart to make myself pure for his works? Does he have a plan he’s going to set me upon to walk through? I have only concerns for the relationship that has been scarred with the children. It will only take time like you say until they reach maturity and can grasp the truth “VERITAS”.
I can only hope and try to improve my relationship with the children , when they are ready to come around. At different times I have reached out to them, and each time I end up getting hurt and feeling worse. I asked them to attend Mass this past Sunday and I invited them to breakfast. My daughter never hugged me or spoke to me, and the whole time she was text messaging with her friend or her mom.. My oldest son was on the defense with me and just started arguing about issues going on between me & my wife. I just feel like just leaving them alone for right now and not to persist anymore contact. I thank you for taking time out of your schedule to help me and guide me with your knowledge and spirit of our Father..
Thank You
Jose
——————————————
Sent: Tuesday, January 12
To: jose
Subject: RE: Divorced Catholic Dads web site inquiry
Jose,
WOW God! You are a ‘beautiful’ soul! Open to hearing God’s word to you. If I as a poor schlock and sinner myself can be a conduit, then fine, but it is you who are open and receptive to Him.
Yes, we can both say that much of our sin could have been avoided. All sin can be avoided. And a “humble and contrite heart He will not spurn” as scripture says. I grow in humility, it seems, only by being humiliated humanly before God, others and before myself. I am not the great and wonderful guy I think I am in my humanity. An openness to being humiliated, instead of anger and resentment at being humiliated, can lead to the virtue of humility if one is prayerful about it.
And so, our wives and family leaving us is certainly a humiliation. Seeing my sin in truth for what it is, is a humiliation. I can never throw a rock at someone else or condemn them, because in the depth of my heart I know my sin and how much worse I am than they could ever be – even if their sin is so open and gross. My sin is worse because I know God, I have a relationship with Him, and still I commit sin and offend Him terribly. Who is the worst – the one who is insane and commits murder or one who has full use of their own mind and plans it and carries it out?
So I have gay, lesbian and playboy friends, but I see their sin, their pain they are obviously reacting out of and only have pity for them and pray. “Lord, they do not know what they are doing.” But I know what I am doing when I choose sin over obedience. Who is the worse sinner? I am. The realization brings humiliation, insight into the truth, repentance and freedom as I embrace the Mercy of God through His Sacraments. Then I can stand firm in my faith and be the silent, and sometimes not so silent, witness even as I reach out in friendship and love, praying to draw them into the arms of Christ as someone else did for me.
With truth, humility and God’s abundant Mercy, then I can be pure for His works as you say so accurately. Repentance and reparation for my sin is the starting point for me to begin a renewed climb of the mountain of holiness. The mountain we are all called to climb from our baptism. Jose CAN be holy and grow in holiness each day. He calls each of us to that. It is not just for clergy or the saints. We are all called to holiness. And He will provide the grace to do it.
This is your moment of grace, in the depth of your pain and suffering. Open your heart to it at this moment! Rejoice! He will fill an empty vessel. It is your time of ‘kyros’ – your time of grace! Empty yourself completely before HIM and be open to being filled with Him and His grace. See with new eyes, hear with new ears, and love with a new heart!
Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you.
I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
And if you are serving Him with all your heart, mind and soul as scripture says, He will take care of the salvation of your children, and perhaps even heal them in secret ways at the appropriate time. He WILL take care of the loved ones of his dedicated servants.
It was a good thing to reach out to your children. They DO need you, even if they do not know it or show it. YOU must be the calm, peaceful and silent witness to the value and centrality of your Catholic faith and Jesus Christ in your life. ESPECIALLY now, when they are living in the situation they are in, you must affirm your faith. By the quiet witness of your life and behavior. NOW is the time of ‘metanoia’ for you, the time for radical conversion. Let them not hear it but see it.
In the end, I always make sure that whatever the dilemma, my children know that I turn to my faith for the answer. Christ IS the answer
Be exceedingly patient, kind and forgiving of them. They are angry and they have shown it by their behavior. That is perfectly normal and natural. They have a right before God to be angry, right? You and your wife failed them, yourselves and God. Stay away from loosing yourself in your ‘hurt and feeling worse’. That is the poison of a fallen humanity. I deserved all the anger and frustration that came my way. And actually, if they had known the depth of my sin, I deserved more. Even my multiply handicapped, retarded son who has such a beautiful, sweet and innocent spirit was angry about the divorce and I was forced to deal with that. Talk about humiliating.
Your witness of kindness, peace, forgiveness and love is very much needed in your children’s lives right now. Be as Christ would be to them – merciful, understanding and loving. No need to argue with them. You do not need to defend yourself. Just acknowledge their feelings, anger and frustration with you both. It is the truth of the moment, and even if some of their perceptions are incorrect, the feelings are not.
Be you, but make sure that you are striving to be a model of a father and husband who has failed, yes, but is struggling to grow in faith, hope, love and holiness. Words are not needed. Ask St. Joseph for his help and model him.
God will work miracles in your life if you stick to the path of serving Him, of that I am sure. Look for them, but whether they can be seen and their timing is up to Him.
Peace,
Dave
——————————————————–
From: jose
Sent: Tuesday, January 19
To: dave
Subject: Re: Divorced Catholic Dads web site inquiry
I’m just at a loss of words tonight…I just got served tonight at my business the divorce papers from my wife..The day before my birthday…Im barely able to keep the business open for a short time…i dont know what im going to do to get a lawyer…
business has been slow for me the past two weeks, and my brother in law is going to try to negotiate something amicable between my wifes lawyer and himself..Hes an attorney but he doesnt practice family law… If she refuses to, then i have no choice but to hire a family practice attorney…
Everybody keeps asking me what happened, why did your wife leave…Everybody is dumbfounded, and cannot explain how could she do this to you… Everyone tells me I’ve been a nice guy and too good for her, and she took advanatage of me.. I just keep reverting to what you told me in earlier messages. I’m trying to keep the faith, but I miss my children more so than her. When they were younger I always ran the household, my wife didnt.. I cooked and cleaned when I came home from work. I guess its the routine and chores I missed doing for them out of my heart.
Now its all come to an end The Alpha & the omega for every rhyme & reason under Heaven.
________________________________
From: dave
Sent: Tuesday, January 12
To: jose
Subject: RE: Divorced Catholic Dads web site inquiry
Jose,
I am delighted to hear from you, though my heart is torn apart in hearing your story. It is VERY similar to mine. And getting served the papers was humiliating, I know. It was the worst day of my life.
I too worked very long hours, and still had to do a lot of the cooking and picking up after her. My oldest daughter and her husband said I was both the father and mother in the family.
Hang in there my friend and pray that God will give you the strength to endure, as I know He will. I find our circumstances to be so similar in many ways. I know for SURE He will provide extraordinary graces for you if you look first to Him.
I ended up having to hire an attorney and had to borrow the money to pay for it. I am so in debt from the divorce that I am still facing bankruptcy and loss of my house. But I have to trust that God will continue to take care of me, just as he always has, and my two special needs boys He has entrusted me with.
Never be afraid of having the truth come out. And sooner or later, no matter what the lies and accusations are, if you, yourself, hold to the truth, and remain humble, the truth will come out.
Jesus did NOTHING wrong, but they scourged Him and crucified Him. And he did not judge or condemn them, but only asked the Father to forgive them. We can do the same. I have tried to model that. And mostly failed. But keep trying. So if you fail to do it, keep trying. If you succeed at modeling that behavior only 1 time in a 100, then praise God, because you succeeded once, which is one time more than you would have before. So go for two times!
Do you understand me?
Keep trying with your whole being to respond in the fashion that Jesus Himself is asking you in this situation. And if you fall down, and fail, try again. You will win great graces for yourself and your children and loved ones by that little effort. You cannot believe how much Heaven will rejoice in your smallest efforts to respond as Jesus asks of you!!
And if every Divorced Catholic Dad in the world did the same, it would radically change the world. Heaven would bend to earth to honor the suffering, sacrifice and prayer to redeem the families of the world. Be your part of that as I will also lend myself.
Jose, my heart breaks for you. I am so close to your circumstance and feel it deeply. I am and will be praying for you and offering my own suffering for you, my friend. Close your eyes and do that exercise again, and you will see that Jose suffers in his humanity, but the Jose’s spirit can be growing in holiness even as this great evil unfolds in your life.
Know too, that it may not all be coming to an end as you say. Rather, God may allow this to free you for a new beginning and a fresh start. Perhaps it was so disordered, given your wife’s apparent issues, that He did not want to let it continue – for your good and that of your children. It will all take time to unfold, but let it. Be patient. And ready for Him to show you a new path.
Be careful, though, and do not fall into your weaknesses through any temptations. Now is the time to be strong and make use of the sacraments, especially Confession and Eucharist.
Peace to you, my friend and please stay in touch. You have a brother who is praying for you and suffering with you.
Keep in touch, please.
Peace
Dave
————————————————
(Dear readers, please use the comments to post to the blog and not the contact us box which sends emails to me directly. That is a better way as it serves all who come to the blog.)
From: jose
Sent: Thursday, January 21
To: dave
Subject: Re: Divorced Catholic Dads web site inquiry
Thank you soooooo much dave…I look forward in hearing from you…I spoke to my son tonight. He called rather late to wish me a Happy Bday…I thanked him for the gesture…I didnt think he was going to call..We had a rather long conversation and got a little heated..But each time i reflected back on humanity….I thought about the thing you said….. I had like 3 people approach me today to find out about the sell of my business..Im just asking God to please help me so i can sell it and use some of the money for the divorce….
——————————————–
From: dave
Sent: Thursday, January 21
To: jose
Jose,
And yes, happy birthday to you!
Jose, if you can manage it and you are not already doing it, try daily Mass whenever you can. Particularly, now, in this time of trial, you need the extra grace that He offers in the most perfect prayer you can offer – the Mass. And spend a little time in adoration before or after Mass. Pray for Wisdom and Peace.
As you grow in interior peace and grace and silence – interior silence at this point is VERY important – God will be able to whisper His Wisdom to your heart about the best way to proceed that is His way of holiness. Then calm purpose will accompany love and charity as you move through the day. Pause as often as you need throughout each day to get back in touch with Him and reclaim your calm, peace and interior silence. And by the way, people will notice it because it will change your exterior behaviors.
I will continue to pray for you, Jose.
Dave
——————————————
From: jose
Sent: Friday, January 22
To: dave
How I wish you lived close by…..I have my family for support, but some of the
support they give is not good and wise choises…I have to discern sometimes whenever they say things to me….I wish i had a close male friend just to go talk with…
My brother lives on the other side of town, but then again I have to be prudent and discerning what he says..I wouldnt tell himm this but i know he means well some times..
I’m just living day by day, and trying to stay afloat…The Devil just likes to make things hard for me sometimes..I feel he picks his teeth with me..
Thank You so much for being here for me…I really take to heart the reflections & guidance you have given me…
Jose
—————————————–
From: dave
Sent: Tuesday, January 26
To: jose
You are right. Family can provide some emotional support, but I was shocked at some of their suggestions.
My Catholic faith tells me that the ways of the world are not the ways of Jesus Christ, and that we are all infected with the disease of the way of the world. So being prudent and discerning with the guidance of the Spirit is wise of you and so important for your peace. If you go His way, you will find peace. If you respond as the world tells you, you will never find peace.
Look around you. What can the world teach you about peace – in relationships, families, nations and the world? NOTHING. Caution: be wary of the ways of the world infecting advice and counsel, even from among your closest and most trusted family and friends and even priests and therapists. Discern everything. Only Jesus can teach us the true way of Peace.
When divorce strikes a Catholic Dad, hell itself rejoices because the Dad is emotional and vulnerable. How many souls have been lost because, in the course of and the aftermath of divorce, they chose the ways of the world? Is it worth it?
Yes, Satan knows your every weakness and will strike at every place that you are weak or vulnerable and in every way he can, whether that be from within (your self condemnation, for instance) or from without (family and friends). He will play you like a fiddle, very carefully and slowly if need be to achieve his aim. Make you fall just a little here and there. Then bigger falls, more serious sin is much easier to achieve. Sometimes he will make it hard – even impossible for you, and sometimes he makes it so easy and enticing that you wonder why not go this way.
Caution.
Fortify yourself with prayer, Mass and the Sacraments. The battle is intense at this point and the soul of a Divorced Catholic Dad need all the armor of Heavenly grace it can get. Pray, even as you are under attack and feel like giving in, and God will send his angels to protect and guide you. Sometimes I have only been able to cry out to a particular saint, “Help me” because I was so weak in the face of the attack. God has not failed me in those instances. But be careful, because just as you breathe a sigh of relief for overcoming an attack, Satan will come back at you sometimes 10 times harder. Pray again.
Your focus on just living day to day is actually very good. It is what we all need to do more of. What does Jesus Christ want of me today? How does He, in the particular circumstances of my life at the moment, want me to live to reflect Him and His love for people? Do that, and He will take care of everything else in His way. I am very good and have developed an art of living in fear and anxiety about tomorrow and the future. The more I want to control things, the more anxious I become. But He calls me to be peaceful and calm as He was during His passion. Just that little sacrifice of remaining calm in the storms of life on a daily basis will save many souls.
As for being local, Jose, yes it might be nice. But you know, you gave me permission to post our emails on the blog, which I have been doing. So your suffering has other merits you and I do not know – only God knows – because other Divorced Catholic Dads can benefit from it.
Peace,
Dave
———————————————-
From: jose
Sent: Monday, February 01
To: dave
My mom always called me ____ …. Since i was the baby of the family… Im the youngest of six siblings….Its stands for “KING” i was the king of the house when I was little growing up… I dont feel like one…
I just have only one king who I serve…..I reach out to him constantly all day and in quiet prayer…. I was invited to go to a church healing service where a friend of mine goes to.. She says they have a very nice congregation and evening prayer service… Im going to go on wednesday night after 7pm…
THanks DAVE for being a friend there for me…
You have given me alot of kind words & Godly inspiration….You dont know how much I look forward in hearing from you..
THANKS
Jose
——————————————–
From: dave
Sent: Monday, February 01
To: jose
Jose
A healing service sounds like a very good thing. I went to healing Mass myself here locally and the priest laid hands on each of us and prayed for extensively over each of us. I have to believe that God has honored those prayers for healing. Some of it I think was at such a deep level that while I could not sense what it was at the moment, I have seen its effects over time.
Original Sin had devastating effects on all of creation, and we suffer those effects in every part of our humanity. We are all in desperate need of healing and restoration that only God can provide. Jesus is Healer – he was MOST known when he was on earth for that. He will do that for us if we ask in faith like the blind and lepers. But it means we have to be humble and admit our disease to Him, face the disease of sin that afflicts us and its particular symptoms in our lives, and then ask Him to heal us. He is compassionate and merciful and will answer sincere prayer.
Your constant and quiet prayer is outstanding. St. Paul says “pray constantly”, and so your action is a proper response to his exhortation.
You are doing marvelously well – much better, I think than how I did when it happened to me.
You know, there are so many Divorced Catholic Dads that need help. I wish I could reach every one of them on the face of the earth. If they just followed your example instead of going down the tubes and following their human instincts with anger, revenge, hate, rejecting the Church, Jesus and morality, the world itself would be changed. I have seen so many Divorced Catholic Dads throw away their faith to chase their feelings and lusts and hurts that it really pains me.
As you struggle through this time, do me a favor. Offer your suffering for all Divorced Catholic Dads that they might turn to Jesus and His consoling Mercy. Maybe if enough of us do that, we can help put an end to the loss of so many souls who are so afflicted.
I will be looking forward to hearing how the healing service goes.
Keep going to Confession and Mass to keep the channel of grace open. Grace can overcome the defects of our humanity as we work out our salvation.
Peace to you!
Dave
——————————————-
From: jose
Sent: Wednesday, February 03
To: dave
Hey Dave
How are you doing…Have you been okay.. Do you get busy at night?? I only have computer access at work, so Im unable to check my emails till I get to work.. I wish I had computer access at home…Right now im staying with my mom, till I can get through the divorce..
I’m suppose to go to court on the 23rd the petition for the hearing- my moms birthday… Im just hanging on and doing my daily prayers & petitions..How are your children doing… Im still struggling trying to reach out to my middle son and my younger daughter… My oldest son is the only one speaking to me..
I hope everything is doing well with you…Ill keep praying for you & your family as well…
Jose
—————————————
From: dave
Sent: Saturday, February 06
To: jose
Thanks for the check-in. I am doing OK at the moment.
God has always come through for me and I am sure something will unfold in terms of what He is asking me to do next. The interesting thing is to step outside myself and see how my frail humanity reacts in this situation – fear, anxiety, lack of trust, etc. So for me, this is a valuable spiritual exercise and trial. To remain peaceful, calm, joyful and trusting. To stay focused on His Will and what Heaven wants me to do each day.
And so it is with all our trials and suffering if we will let it “be done on earth (in each of us) as it is in Heaven”. I think Our Lady must have mastered that art, as her life at certain times, was so tumultuous, like fleeing to Egypt when she and Joseph had built such a nice little house in Bethlehem, and all the other contradictions she lived. As I contemplate her life of contradictions and hardships, I grow in my appreciation of her Motherhood and the graces that come to me from her.
I think that for both of us, this time of suffering can have great value if we cooperate with the flood of graces available to us. Let’s catch some of that and see where it takes us!
Peace,
Dave
————————————-
From: jose
Sent: Saturday, February 06
To: dave
Hi Dave,
Ill be praying for you and your endeavour of finding a new job. I’m thinking of my humanity myself and stepping out and seeing myself frail and not reacting quickly and not thinking it out.
I went to a Mens Prayer Group meeting this morning. I met a whole new set of friends at the Catholic Charismatic Center. These are a group of men who do bible study and a whole lot of encouraging and help men in crisis or having difficulties or problems. They provided alot of help & support that I could see I’m lacking.. It felt sooo good….I’m hoping to go back soonnnn I can hardly wait……
Hope to hear from you again
GOD BLESS
——————————-
From: dave
Sent: Saturday, February 06
To: jose
Jose,
I really appreciate the prayers.
The asceticism of looking at yourself from a spiritual perspective is a great foundation for growth in the spiritual life. From that place, you can begin to see yourself as Jesus sees you, with compassion, mercy, love and joy. We are at once insignificant, lower than the lowest, and at the same time, loved to the heights of Heaven no matter our failures. It is the true heart that draws down from Heaven an abundance of graces to continue the growth He desires.
I am delighted that you found that group and their support. That can be very helpful to have some community around you to pray and encourage you in your spiritual growth. I spent many years leading Catholic Charismatic prayer groups and Bible studies. The experiences enriched my spiritual life and propelled it forward out of the every day, run of the mill, go to church on Sunday type of life. I grew interiorly in ways I had never known possible and that is where my very personal relationship with Jesus took root and flowered.
And being with other men who have experienced struggle and pain and suffering can be very good and help bring insight as you listen to their struggle to grow in faith.
As always, take everything in and ponder it interiorly during your daily prayer time. Discern it all and recognize that even in those groups, as with all of us, there are the effects of sin and weakness and evil. Go with both an open heart and with confidence that Christ is leading you. He will bless you through them and at the same time use you to reflect His love.
May you devote yourself even more to your practice of daily prayer and to the growth of the interior life through the Spirit. I would encourage you to continue your daily meditations in quiet some place. He means to lead you in a new way to a place you have never been and it takes a quiet heart, mind and spirit to hear His voice.
Peace,
Dave
———————————————-
From: jose
Sent: Monday, February 22
To: dave
Thanks Dave…..
Im doing greaaaaaattttt I thank GOD everyday for all of his blessing he has bestowed upon me to this moment. Im doing his mission he has set before me, and I’m following the path he has directed me to. Im continuing to go to my mens bible studies, and Im still going to my counseling at the diocese. The man whom I was before is no longer in me, I can feel the HOLY spirit in me and guiding me to do GODS mission everyday. Im still seeking his wisdom and I read my bible everyday for food and nourishment. I stay up at night some times for hours and before I know it its 2am before im going to bed.
I spoke to my attorney the other day, and my wifes lawyer informed him they were going to set a restraining order upon me. But I thought to myself, GOD knows that I havent done anything wrong,or threatened my wife or any type of stalking on her & my daughter. Shes the one who has the demons she’s fighting not me. Im giving it up to GOD, and he will get me through this. I told my attorney, “Its sad to say, but this could of have been the best thing she could have ever done for me.” She has set me free and I feel uplifted with GOD and to do his will. You know for all the years of my marriage, I was always the caregiver, the nurturer in my family.
My children know that all the things I ever did for them in my marriage. I can sleep at night knowing that I was always there for my children.
My wife spent alot of time at work or at home drinking or partying with friends.
I have developed new relationships with people whom Ive become friends with at church. They are inspiring and have helped me get through this.
I hope your doing well and and Im still praying for your new job your going to receive, if you havent yet. I hope for GOD to help you to continue to receive his graces, since We are committed to GOD, and doing what is right who can HARM US. I know we have to suffer here on this earth to share some of Christ’s passion, but I know Christ suffered more for us.
I look forward in friendship here online..
Your brother
Jose
————————————————–