The Difficult Talk

Father...I don't want to have this talk...

WHY IS THAT?

I know you already know why so why don't You just tell me? 

BECAUSE YOU NEED TO OWN UP TO IT

YOURSELF FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT...SO

SPIT IT OUT...YOU CAN DO IT...I'M GIVING

YOU THE GRACE...BUT AHHH...FOR GRACE

TO WORK IT HAS TO BE FREELY RECEIVED...

YOU KNOW...THAT OLD "FREE WILL" THING...

SO...NOW WHAT?...WHY DON'T YOU COME 

BACK WHEN YOU'RE READY?...

No...I'm sorry for being such a little so and so...

Ok...I'm angry and frustrated at Jim...it's so 

irritating that he never seems to change...he's 

always the same...never really wants to share

anything personal or go beyond the superficial...

he hardly ever shows appreciation and is so 

self-absorbed...it's so irritating...

SO WHAT NOW?

what do you mean?

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO ABOUT 

ALL THIS?

I don't know....how about changing him?

SO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE AWAY HIS FREE

WILL SO YOU WON'T FEEL SO IRRITATED? 

O Father...You are too much!...

HOW'S ABOUT YOU ASKING FOR THE GRACE 

TO LOVE HIM WHERE HE'S AT AND PRAY FOR

HIM TO COME CLOSER TO ME?  CHANGE IS 

DIFFICULT FOR HUMANS....INCLUDING YOU...

JIM HAS HIS OWN ISSUES AS DO YOU...NOW 

YOU SEE WHAT I DEAL WITH EVERYDAY

WITH EVERYONE...THINGS CAN CHANGE FOR

EACH PERSON WHEN THEY ADMIT THEIR 

WEAKNESS AND ACTUALLY WANT TO  CHANGE

BUT THAT IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THEIR

FALLEN NATURE AND IS DIFFERENT FOR 

EACH PERSON...SO...WHAT ABOUT YOU?

DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE?...

Well...I'd rather see Jim change...

SO YOU WON'T FEEL SO IRRITATED AND 

SORRY FOR YOURSELF? BETTER FOR 

YOU...LESS OF A HASSLE...IS THAT IT? 

Well...to be honest...yes...

HOW'S THAT SOUND TO YOU?

Pretty self-centered.

IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?

No.....

SO NOW WHAT?

Help me Father...to love Jim where he's at...

serve him where he's at...be patient...persevere..

WALK IN HIS SHOES...YOU HAVE NOT DEALT

WITH THE THINGS HE HAS AND IS DEALING

WITH...LIVED IN HIS CIRCUMSTANCES...PRAY

FOR WISDOM FOR HOW YOU CAN ENCOURAGE

HIM...LOVE HIM...WHAT WAS IT THAT YOU 

WERE TALKING ABOUT AT YOIUR MEETING

THE OTHER NIGHT?

Accompaniment...

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

Not a coincidence was it?

NO...WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT 

FOR JIM?

Maybe I should be more active in seeking You for 

what I need to accompany him? 

LIKE WHAT?

Like everything...everything we've been talking about...

but please...forgive me for my self-pitying and whining

and not for my heart to change and what Your Will is 

for Jim and how I can encourage and accompany him on

his journey...

I KNOW IT GETS DIFFICULT AND FRUSTRATING AT

TIMES...MAYBE A LOT OF TIMES...BUT THERE IS 

GRACE FOR WHATEVER YOU NEED...WHETHER IT'S 

WISDOM..PATIENCE...PERSEVERENCE...LOVE...GRACE

NOT TO JUDGE OTHERS BUT TO ACCEPT THEM WHERE 

THEY'RE AT...FOR A CHANGE OF HEART...I AM READY

TO GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED BUT YOU 

MUST ASK AND RECEIVE...I DO NOT FORCE YOU 

OR ANYONE ELSE TO SERVE...

Sounds pretty complicated

YES...BUT YOU CAN HANDLE IT...IT IS GOOD FOR YOU

TO ADMIT YOUR STRUGGLES...MANY STRUGGLE

UNTIL THEY ARE WORN DOWN AND NEEDLESSLY

PAY THE PRICE.. MANY MORE REFUSE AND GO THEIR 

OWN WAY...AND WE KNOW WHERE THAT LEADS TO...

SO...BE AT PEACE AND ASK...SEEK...KNOCK...THERE IS

GRACE TO ACCOMPANY...IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO...

AND GRACE TO DO THAT AS WELL...

Thank You Father for listening to me. I need it all starting

right now...forgive me for my sins and give me all the 

Graces I need to serve Jim in the way he needs and especially 

Mercy for me and Jim as well

Reflection / Discussion:

- Why do we need to 'own up to our weaknesses'?

- What is your experience in struggling with the weaknesses of others?

- How does 'free will / grace' work in relationships / in your life?

- Why was it difficult to have this talk with the Father?

- What does 'accompaniment' mean?

- How can you have this kind of a 'talk' with the Father?

- Do you think it's possible? Why . not?

- How does this talk help you in your relationships?