Anxiety’s cold, bony hands were gripping my heart. I had just found out that someone hated me. Someone who I had to work with, and sit in meetings with, every week. I did not know how to make things better between us and the thought of entering her room and sitting beneath her icy stare every Monday made me want to quit my job. Since I could not see a logical solution, I turned to prayer.
One of my favorite Catholic practices is that of praying a Novena, 9 successive days of prayer for a specific intention. Since it was over Christmas vacation, I decided to pray the Novena of Our Lady of Guadalupe and light a candle each night. One of the things I love about the Novena is that on the last day, you always pray a prayer of gratitude for receiving the answer to your prayer. You trust that it has been done for you even if you cannot see the physical manifestation of it yet.
And let me tell you what happened when I went back to work after Christmas vacation! I entered the day thinking that some opportunity would occur where I could help or befriend her. Or I thought maybe there would be someone else who would step in and help build a reconciliation. Every way that I imagined the situation resolving sounded a little scary to me. I thought there would probably have to be an awkward conversation or I would have to give up something. So I prayed, “Please be easy.” And then THERE IT WAS in my schedule that morning. My schedule had been altered because the counselors needed to move some students into different classes, so now I would no longer be able to attend those meetings with my co-worker any more. If I didn’t want to, I would never have to interact with her again. Nothing could be easier or more stress-free than that!
I had already learned years ago that not everyone will like you, no matter how nice you are. I didn’t need her to like me, but it sure would feel better if she did. Over the course of the next month, as I passed her in the halls, she started smiling at me and even asking how I was doing. Whatever she had against me, seemed to have lifted. She might not want to spend time with me, but at least now the animosity is gone. And I didn’t have to do anything. Anything that is, except pray and believe in miracles!
If you have any miracle stories, please post them in the comments below…I want to hear them!! And don’t worry, if you don’t have a miracle story yet, you soon will.
If you want to learn more about Novenas, send me a message below and I would be happy to send you some resources!
About the Author: Julie Glaser is a healer who creates sacred spaces for people to share, release, and grow. She’s in the habit of being in awe and wonder and writes to share her own experiences and learnings with other inquisitive souls in the process of transforming.
Spiritual Direction and Healing Touch Energy Therapy 