Sadness is an Enemy to Devotion

A quote from Catherine McAuley:

Sadness is an enemy to devotion.

Sometimes I wonder just where Catherine got her words. Why was this said and what was the context? Yet, just to know that she said it, it can sufficiently stand alone not knowing the context.

Sadness...what tinges sadness? Regret? Guilt? Unfulfilled dreams? Grief? Memories of good or bad times? What else might there be...?

The other day I was talking to a friend on the phone and we were talking about how Mother's Day has not always been a good day for us. If you have nurtured children, taught them, but not had any of your own and if your mother has died, sadness can really take hold of the day and make it a bittersweet day. As I was talking, I paused. My friend picked up my hesitancy and asked why the pause. I just said I had a momentary sadness thinking about my mother who had died two years ago. That is a sadness that grief brings, a healthy thing that we learn to live through. My mother was a very nice lady who loved to cook and do things for others.

Sadness that pervades our lives and has nothing to do with grief or anything especially noteworthy is another thing. I have met some sad people in my life, people who have little joy in their life. I hope that in my encounters with them, they have come away with some joy. I would like to think I bring joy to others.

Sadness in going to the Lord is good if you can turn it over to the Lord. Let the Lord ease the burden for a while and lift the gloom of your heart and soul. Sadness that stays does nothing to increase the love of God in this world and minimizes the devotion and prayer you might endeavor. A sad heart has no light in it. So today if you see someone without light in their heart, let some of your light shine for the person and pray for the person. You may be the only spark of God in that person's life today.

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