Tag: adversity

G-d, Interrupted

 

Over a lifetime, I’ve met lots of people who wonder why G-d “lets us suffer.” Or why G-d lets perfectly innocent people, especially children, die from catastrophic illnesses. Or why G-d lets bad things happen to good people.

I think these people are asking the wrong questions, and they are looking for help to come from the wrong source. I’ve also heard the comment that G-d doesn’t give us more than we can handle, and I think this belief doesn’t frame people’s struggles in a way that helps and empowers them, or strengthens their relationship with G-d.

I was inspired to think over these kinds of issues in reading a piece this weekend written by the late Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, where he discusses how Joseph was able to reconcile with his brothers, where instead he could have felt bitter and rejected by how they had treated him. Rabbi Sacks suggests that a factor for Joseph might have been his reframing his situation, realizing that G-d had a role that He wanted Joseph to play. I would also add from my own perspective that although many things happened to Joseph that he couldn’t control, he also had free will to make many constructive choices, which is the very special gift that we are all blessed with.

Quote of the Day: Facing Adversity

 

“The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.” — Ulysses S. Grant

Throughout his life, U.S. Grant had his share of adversity. Through most of it—his sad performance as a farmer, fighting the rumors of his drinking, his frustration of having to work with inept generals during the Civil War—he had so many people who stuck by him. In fact, President Lincoln, in spite of his moments of doubt, knew that Grant would see the country through the War. And he did.

Today, we see so very many people struggling with adversity. Parents who are fighting for their children to be able to attend school in-person and who seek out others of like mind; small business owners whose customers stuck by them in an effort to help them through financial hardship and impossible odds for survival; everyday people who manage to find connection with others in spite of the isolation being forced upon them.

Sometimes You Just Need to Curl up in the Fetal Position and Cry

 

This was some of the best advice I’ve ever heard. After my husband commissioned to the army, we moved to Southern Georgia where he received his leadership training in the jungle and I received mine at soirees.

One night we had a Q & A with the wives of senior officers, hosted by the wife of the Command Sergeant Major; the senior ranking non-commissioned officer of the installation responsible for tens of thousands of soldiers. She had almost two decades of experience, and of all the stories and wisdom she could share, there was only one she made a point to tell.

Member Post

 

Here on Ricochet, we have several home-schooling parents.  Given that many schools are closed and kids have to get their schooling at home for the rest of the year, perhaps our experienced home-schoolers could offer a weekly column on tips and tricks for home-schooling your kids.  If there’s already a Ricochet Group for home-schoolers, perhaps […]

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Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America have a lively discussion of the Trump administration’s withdrawal of federal funding for California’s high-speed rail project. Democratic presidential hopeful Kirsten Gillibrand says states would no longer be able to legislate on abortion if she gets elected. And Jim offers a radical counter-proposal after learning an adversity score was added to the SAT.

More Lemons, Please

 

We live in chaotic times when the political world is falling apart. People are angry, discouraged, and outraged; many are throwing up their hands and are depressed that we have reached this state of disharmony and vitriol.

Several weeks ago I wrote about my own despondency in being surrounded by evil acts and evil people. I had people concerned about my mental wellbeing, which deeply moved me. I felt I had an obligation to find a way to experience my life as I wished to know it, in spite of giving in to the ugliness around me. I thought you might find my discoveries helpful:

Member Post

 

One of the instructors that taught my kids karate was what you would call a hard-ass. I remember watching his classes, where he would ask kids to do, say, a right straight punch. There would always be one little kid in the class who would have their left arm out in a punch. His solution […]

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