Obedient Suffering
Dominic finally and at long last got a fireman's helmet. He had been wanting one for a long, long time. Walmart had just one left and it was on clearance, but that was not the reason that he finally got a helmet. I let Dominic wear the helmet in the shopping cart as we strolled around the store with the firm stipulation that it had to be put back on the shelf when it was time for us to go. That sort of thing usually goes sour because after having played with a toy in the cart, it is hard for kids to put the toy back. They hold out a secret hope that they will get to keep the toy nonetheless.
Soon enough it was time for us to leave and we headed back to the toy aisle. At my prompting, Dominic wordlessly pulled the helmet from his little head and offered it up to be put back on the shelf. When the hat was replaced, he broke into such tears of broken-heartedness and profound sadness. His obedience even in the face of a broken heart was what moved me to buy him the three dollar hat more than the price tag. He listened to Mommy, obediently did what Mommy said, and suffered his poor heart for it without objection. What parent could not be moved by such a humble heart?
So Dominic was crowned with his shiny red fire chief helmet and it has rarely left his head since. Here he is enjoying the fruits of his obedient suffering.
Soon enough it was time for us to leave and we headed back to the toy aisle. At my prompting, Dominic wordlessly pulled the helmet from his little head and offered it up to be put back on the shelf. When the hat was replaced, he broke into such tears of broken-heartedness and profound sadness. His obedience even in the face of a broken heart was what moved me to buy him the three dollar hat more than the price tag. He listened to Mommy, obediently did what Mommy said, and suffered his poor heart for it without objection. What parent could not be moved by such a humble heart?
So Dominic was crowned with his shiny red fire chief helmet and it has rarely left his head since. Here he is enjoying the fruits of his obedient suffering.
Comments
"A small affliction borne for God’s sake is better before God than a great work performed without tribulation, because affliction willingly borne brings to light the proof of love. But a work of leisure proceeds from a self-satisfied conscience. That is why the saints were proved by tribulations for Christ’s love, and not by ease. For good works accomplished without toil are the righteousness of those in the world, who do righteous deeds with their possessions but not their bodies, thus gaining nothing within themselves. But you, O struggler, taste within yourself Christ’s suffering, that you may be deemed worthy of tasting His glory. For if we suffer with Him, then we are glorified with Him (cf. Rom. 8:17)."
From ‘Homily Thirty-Six: On the Modes of Virtue’ (Ascetical Homilies, p. 161).