Encouragement

                                                                                                    As the year old child struggled to rise to his feet, his parents shouted words of encouragement to him, “You are doing ok, just keep trying to lift yourself.” With a grunt and groan, he did it; he had risen to a standing position through his own efforts. Now the real challenge presented itself, could he take some steps? “Go ahead,” his mother prodded him with a warm smile and a loving look. Then it happened, he took two steps….but soon dropped down on his butt with a bewildered look, as if to say “What happens now?” Both of his parents encouraged him to try again and again. As it is with most youngsters, he would not let an initial failure or disappointment stop him on his journey to walking. His smile and bright eyes seemed to exclaim, “Do not worry, this failure / setback will not deter me.”

The encouragement of his parents and his own determination kept him from accepting a temporary setback to the realization of his goal. Failures are indeed the stepping stones to success. Great inventors experienced many setbacks and failures on their road to achievement. There are few failures in life, only some hard won lessons that can lead to fulfillment.

All humans experience setbacks. On the moral level failure is referred to as sin. It damages the person’s relationship with God. Yet God is also forgiving and encourages everyone to seek His forgiveness, not allowing one’s failures to stop a person’s quest for a meaningful relationship with God. If necessary, God will forgive a person’s sins seventy times ….again and again. Additionally He will provide the grace for an individual to rise from his fall, encouraging him to never quit.

Jesus Christ encourages all Catholics to seek forgiveness of sins, providing the visible instrument of Confession as assurance of forgiveness. But Jesus does not stop at just offering forgiveness for sins, He adds the necessary grace to help avoid sin in the future. Jesus is our encouraging friend, supporting us through all failures and setbacks. He will always be there for us.

When the youngster was learning to walk, he did not allow temporary failures prevent him from reaching his objective. Adults can learn from the youngster to never forsake their goal of being friends with God due to sin / temporary failures. With God’s encouragement and grace in the sacrament of Confession, adults can overcome their setbacks and walk with their God. All they must do it to never give up….never quit seeking God.