Part 4, Chapter 9
Yesterday, we took a trip in the family car. Family car trips can be fun, but they can drag as well. From the insentient questions, to the kids fighting in the back seat and much, much more, family trips can wear us out. Still, each of the questions that happen, even the most annoying, are opportunities. These opportunities are given to us to choose the Lord.
The best thing that we can do with these minor temptations is to not let these small annoyances disturb us. Why get worked up over them. When we start to get annoyed by the little things, this is generally when road rage happens. “The best resistance one can make is not to be fretted by them” (Introduction to the Devout Life, 170). We are to do all that we can to keep ourselves interiorly at peace. “Therefore despise all these trivial onslaughts, and do not even deign to think about them” (Introduction to the Devout Life, 170). In other words, ignore them.
These petty annoyances may continue; they might just keep going on and on. So what should we do? “If you will take my advice…after making an act of this directly contrary virtue…simply turn with your whole heart towards Jesus Christ crucified, and lovingly kiss his sacred feet” (Introduction to the Devout Life, 170). So if we are being pushed to lash out in the car and yell, we than want to work to be at patience. If that doesn’t work than we should lower ourselves down by kissing the feet of Jesus. This is so that we realize that we can’t do it on our own, we need His help (we always need His help). But if we can try to ignore and let the minor temptations go, than that is what we should do.