Mother Frances Streitel: Growing strong through life's difficulties

Amalia Frances Rose Streitel aka Mother Frances Streitel, Foundress of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, and, as a Maria Stern Franciscan, known as Sister Angela. Yesterday we reflected on Sister Angela’s progress following a very difficult time in her life.  She surfaces a stronger woman, a woman of deeper faith and a woman whose reliance upon the Lord has been strengthened. In her prayer Sister Angela notices what is going on within her: she is honest with the Lord, sharing her feelings, her disappointments, her concerns.  Like so many persons who came to Jesus for healing, He first wanted to know what that person was looking for from Him. He did not just cure them.  Honest presenting of their need was important. Sister Angela’s prayed her experiences, keeping nothing back from the Lord with the rationalization: “God already knows what I need. I don’t have to tell Him.”  This attitude in prayer is also very childlike! Children do not leave adults guessing what they want from them. How do I pray? Is my prayer childlike or do I rationalize that God’s know everything; I don’t have to tell Him.