www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Interesting Coincidence or Something More?

Hello all, I just want to share this because to me, it seems very special. So my best friend, she's in a terribly abusive relationship and I feel that she's given up. So, she just had her second daughter on June 8th, which was Pentecost. Her original due date was June 1st, Ascension. I love my friend dearly and worry for her a lot and something tells me her daughter being born on an important holiday is no coincidence.

During my travels this Spring, I found myself in a Melkite Church in my friend's hometown, the priest there listened to my worries and my fears and soothed my anxious heart with the notion that because I've been helping my friend, been there for her through all the abuse, all the difficulties of pregnancy, the past 6 years, maybe things will turn around. Maybe my commitment will give her the strength she needs to end the abuse.

Pentecost is a holiday in her church and she actually missed it and she's well aware that her daughter was born on a special day. I just, I just feel like this might be a good sign for them. Am I over thinking this? I'd appreciate anyone's opinion on this, it's just been something I've been rolling over in my head for a few days.

There is some significance to being born on a holyday, just as there is to "falling asleep" on a holyday. One tends to think that God has a special plan for that person. Prayer, discernment and obeying God's will as best as one can is important to fulfill this plan.

Well, my friend's getting her new daughter baptized soon. She adheres to a tradition of not taking the baby out into public for at least a month after the birth. Plus, her abusive boyfriend's equally abusive mother is visiting. The lady is insane, just goes through all my friend's personal stuff, constantly complains about me. I worry about her children being raised in such negativity but it would appear God is favoring them for something.

I recommend a good discussion with your regular spiritual father.

This woman might be your best friend but, as she has freely chosen a relationship with someone else, you are not her best friend. It is quite possible that you need to respect her decision, give her distance, pray for her, but then move on and concentrate on your own life.

I recommend you speak on things that you actually know of. For you know not of how me and my best friend work. You don't know me, you don't know her, and you are in literally no position to proclaim things counter to what the evidence tells me and counter to what she tells me. So excuse me if I openly disrespect your response.

Also, why do you assume that I don't have regular discussions with my priest? I'm so deeply tired of this. Deeply tired. I quit this nonsense. Go pass your uneducated and ill informed judgments and criticisms on someone who you actually know more about.

Thanks for your post. You are correct that I do not know you. Nor does anyone here on the Forum. None of the details of your friend's life or the relationship you have with her are relevant to your stated question. Yet you posted them for the world (or, at least our small part of it,) to see.

I responded as I did because people who have regular discussions with a spiritual father tend not to post details of personal relationships in a public forum.

I wish you and your friend the choicest of the Lord's blessings.

EasternRomioi3:

Christ is in our midst!!

I think you owe our Admin an apology. You come here asking for advice and he gave you a very charitable bit of it. It seems that you're not interested in what you have asked for, but only want affirmation of what you're doing. Based on what you have posted over time and this recent advice, I think a nerve has been touched--a reality you are too close to to see. If you don't like advice, don't ask for it. But in all things, we treat each other with a bit more respect here than you have just shown.

Bob
Moderator

The only problem I have with that initial response was "you are not her best friend" part. That struck a nerve. Also, I asked whether my friend's child being born on Pentecost was an actually a sign of something or just a coincidence and has no real value. I did not ask about my friendship because I do not need to. It is between my friend and myself and since I have plenty of proof from myself and from her about the quality and strength of our friendship.

I regret even bringing this up. I never once asked about my relationship with her. The core of this post was...

"Pentecost is a holiday in her church and she actually missed it and she's well aware that her daughter was born on a special day. I just, I just feel like this might be a good sign for them. Am I over thinking this? I'd appreciate anyone's opinion on this, it's just been something I've been rolling over in my head for a few days."

The other stuff is just background information. If I had given nothing and just said "Hey, my best friend had her baby on Pentecost, is this a good thing?" I'd have gotten completely different responses. I felt like being honest and open with you all because honesty and good communication are essential.

As for whatever I am too close to see, whatever reality this is that you're claiming. I know the reality, I see it, I live it, and I have for 6 hard years. The rewards and the strengths I've received from her outweigh any negativity. But either I didn't deliver my intentions correct in my initial post, because it was obviously misinterpreted, or I'm just terrible at writing any coherent thought.

But you're right, I do owe the Admin an apology.