Begin the Task Anew

     “Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them – every day begin the task anew.”                             St. Frances de Sales



     Being patient with our imperfections is something most of us find difficult to do. Trying to see them as “useful” and “purposeful” for our salvation is not how they are normally perceived.


     Instead, we see our weaknesses as a burden and a curse: Something like the plague from which we want to escape! We berate and beat ourselves up, when they exhibit themselves in our behavior. We are not the least bit gentle with ourselves and expect that we should have grown past them by now! After all, we have been working on this area for years and feel annoyed that we haven’t overcome them. We feel helpless and exasperated and don’t want to deal with them anymore.

     Saint Paul himself struggled with this very issue. “Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angle of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12 vs. 7b to 9a).

     God’s holy Word tells us that weakness perfects power. In that context, it becomes a gift, if we but rely on the grace of God and don’t allow the weakness to overcome us. Our imperfections are often a symptom of a hidden problem. It can exhibit itself in anger, resentment, jealousy, self loathing, haughtiness, and fearfulness. We have to ask God to help us recognize our problem and dig out the root.  

     How do we begin to change our thoughts and behavior to move in this direction? First of all, we need to be open and depend on God’s grace to assist us. Secondly, we have to see ourselves as we really are – God’s little children – who stumble and fall, time and time again. We need to remember that when children are learning to walk, falling is part of the learning process. But children are resilient and continue to get up again, and again, until they get it right. A good parent does not reprimand their child, but encourages them to keep trying and rejoices in their victories! We have to begin to treat our falls in this way, being gentle and patient with ourselves, always relying on God’s help.

    However, there may be times in our lives, like Saint Paul, when our imperfections remain with us. When this happens, we must not lose heart and become disheartened. Instead, let us strive to be patient with ourselves, by not giving up. We must keep trying to do what we are able – even if it appears in our eyes, to be very little. We may never know or understand why God did not remove the “thorn in our flesh.” He calls us to trust that “His grace will be sufficient.” We should try to be gentle, and begin to treat ourselves like a little child with leg braces, who walks with great effort. When we fall, may we remember to hold that “little one” close to our heart and encourage them to get up -- and begin anew. They are loved and precious to God and deserve our love as well. When we are tempted to become discouraged, we have to run into the arms of our God and draw upon His grace and mercy.

     The weakness and crosses we carry throughout our lives are allowed by God, so we may grow in grace and virtue. Humility and patience are cultivated best in the soil of our struggles when borne with complete trust in God.

     May we ask St. Francis de Sales to intercede for us, that we may never lose courage when we see our imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them – every day begin the task anew.