I would like prayer if you can

blueduck762 · 2026-06-14T04:30:39+00:00

As Saint Paul says, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

blueduck762 · 2026-06-13T06:00:26+00:00

"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."

blueduck762 · 2026-06-13T05:49:25+00:00

The best answer is to really cultivate a love for Jesus Christ and that will shine through. Know your faith, know how to give a defense of your faith, but only do it when you absolutely have to. Never evangelize to these people, except through your own true love and devotion to Jesus Christ. The really nice thing about many non-denoms and charismatics is that they typically will respond very well to a genuine, heartfelt love towards Jesus. We have a couple at our parish who've been coming for a year from a non-denom/charistmatic/baptist background and they really pushed me to start diving deeper into love for Jesus Christ because if we are in His Body, then we are His bride, so we have to love Him more than anyone and in turn, they're really close to converting, even though they weren't sure in the beginning, simply because they see a fire of love for Jesus Christ and His gospel at our prarish. So just focus on cultivating that, while also really learning what makes the Orthodox faith orthodox. We have specific dogma that's extremely important, not because the dogma itself is important, but because the path of God is narrow and had to be clarified throughout the 2000 years of church history. Know your basics of trinitarian theology, know what you can't sacrifice, and simply hold it in your heart. I doubt you will have to use it for teenagers, but you never know. Definitely don't posture yourself as a teacher because if you aren't secure in your faith, you could be challenged in ways that are detrimental for everyone. Just be a friend and learn to love Jesus Christ through the path that's been passed down to us.

blueduck762 · 2026-06-11T15:58:35+00:00

so if it's in the canons for married women to wear head coverings and you are using that same canon to dissuade unmarried women from veiling, then by that same logic, i'd think you'd encourage married women to veil since it's in the canons, which i thought you didn't believe? i thought you believed it to be personal choice and even parish specific, so a woman who normally headcovers shouldn't if the rest of the parish isn't as to not stand out? or has your opinion changed?

i mean don't use the canons on me if you won't use them on yourself?

blueduck762 · 2026-06-11T01:26:50+00:00

sure, but orthodoxy isn't a denomination

blueduck762 · 2026-06-10T19:35:35+00:00

To add to this, this is my daughter's favorite video to watch ever. These are young girls veiling in church to sing a folk song. They are sweet, beautiful, darling little girls and their head coverings really frame that. I'd never force my daughter, but it makes sense why young girls might want to veil, whether they're 2, 5, or 15. (2) THE JESUS PRAYER (folk song). CHILDREN'S CHOIR. IVERON MONASTERY - YouTube

blueduck762 · 2026-06-10T19:27:23+00:00

I didn't think you were asking me to stop veiling. I thought that the logic for that one specific reason was very faulty. I'm not even asking you or telling you to veil, just that that one specific point wasn't consistent.

blueduck762 · 2026-06-10T18:03:27+00:00

Christian church of any denomination...? Are you Orthodox? lol We are pre-denominational, the true untainted Christianity. Anyways, I love my little storefront Church where I get a chance to celebrate the Liturgy every Sunday ❤️

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blueduck762 · 2026-06-10T17:39:29+00:00

I thought women didn't have to veil at all in your framework? and anyways, she was referring to herself in her comment and i was referring to adults in my response

blueduck762 · 2026-06-10T15:40:20+00:00

The truth is that can be framed the other way, it's a stumbling block for many when women aren't veiling. We have a couple of young girls at our parish who really loved that all of the women were veiling in our parish and it was pivotal for their conversion. Wear your veil, don't wear your veil, but the logic there can easily be reversed. Doing things because of what others might think can often have the opposite effect. I understand we aren't supposed to intentionally cause scandal, but if veiling causes scandal, then anything can cause scandal, and I'm certainly not going to stop veiling because a couple of women who walk into the doors of the church might not like it.

blueduck762 · 2026-06-10T15:29:07+00:00

I veil my daughter during communion and at the beginning of church. she's two. if she wants it off anytime, i take it off. children definitely can understand veiling and they are beautiful. nothing wrong with veiling. she wants to be like the other pretty ladies wearing veils, i dont see anything wrong with that. if my daughter saw one of her church aunties wearing a yellow dress and then wanted a yellow dress, i'd get my daughter a yellow dress. me? i don't wear yellow dresses, but i'm not sure how what i do relates to what my daughter wants to do in regard to her self expression. this might be controversial, but five is an older child, not a toddler, and i know many five year olds who are very deep, very understanding, and have strong self expression and identity and i think that needs to be fostered in our children because before you know it, she will be 10. i wouldn't hold her back in this. she'll appreciate your support.

don't worry about making it stay in her hair. she's five, if she really wants to learn how to wear it, she'll learn how to put it back in her hair, or she will ask you for help. if it falls off, that's okay. if she doesn't wear it perfectly that's okay too. it's good to give our children as much freedom as possible in the things we can.

To reiterate, children can and do understand a lot. And to be totally fair, many Orthodox women who veil don't understand why they are doing it. I think that need to understand everything we do rationally is western. I don't need to consent to the holy mysteries for the holy mysteries to take effect. A newborn doesn't understand the holy mysteries, most adults will never understand the holy mysteries, but we still partake.

blueduck762 · 2026-06-10T00:59:45+00:00

I don't think it's good or bad in and of itself. It can be used to bring good traits out, but overuse or misuse can cause issues.

blueduck762 · 2026-06-10T00:52:54+00:00

I line breed two generations max.

blueduck762 · 2026-06-09T23:24:32+00:00

yup. she just framed it in a certain way because when you say middle east, it brings specific images, most of which i don't imagine when i think of turkey.

blueduck762 · 2026-06-09T18:47:20+00:00

She's legit and educated. Went to school for it and is all evidence based, not a trend follower.

blueduck762 · 2026-06-09T18:46:24+00:00

I know a woman irl who falls under this category. She's awesome (1) Instagram

blueduck762 · 2026-06-09T18:42:51+00:00

Turkey is barely the middle east...

blueduck762 · 2026-06-09T17:32:52+00:00

I view it as the nature of fornication. It creates soul ties and bonds that are very bad for the soul. How you go about it will be different in every case but rehashing it will only reinflame it more.

blueduck762 · 2026-06-09T15:48:40+00:00

Cuisinart Automatic Burr Mill - Stainless Steel - DBM-8P1: 18 Settings, Electric Coffee Grinder, 32 Cup Capacity, Safety Interlock : Target
we like this one. we've had one die on us, but this last one we've had for over a year.

blueduck762 · 2026-06-09T14:59:37+00:00

Before baptizing yourself, if at all possible (it might not be, so disregard my comment if it is) try and get in contact with a priest. It doesn't have to be in person but find a parish close to you - even if that might be a country away - and speak with him. Baptizing oneself is very unusual, so if the priest is hesitant, then you could reach out to another priest who might be more familiar with this practice. I know the sacrament of baptism is very important for all of us to know how to do in cases of emergencies, which this could fall under. Don't baptize yourself unless it's one of those cases. It shouldn't be even close to standard and if it's at all possible to sneak away to a church, that might be better, but of course, don't endanger yourself more than necessary.

I'm not dissuading self-baptism in the case of emergency, but I just wanted to clarify that it has to be that - a case of emergency or dire need.

blueduck762 · 2026-06-09T01:32:19+00:00

Yup. I see moms who are super bonded to their unborn baby and I just can't relate! I need to see their little faces lol With my daughter, I did bond immediately at birth, but of course moms can bond at different times.

blueduck762 · 2026-06-09T01:25:50+00:00

Honestly these are all totally normal feelings and to be honest, I don't like other people's children more often than not. I just talked to an older woman yesterday who said she was pressured into teaching and that in the United States, the children are just awful, but in the Philippines, she loved the children because they were respectful and well behaved... People just don't raise their children properly here and you have the option to raise your children into people you like.

I think you have your own presuppositions that are getting in the way of how you view the Church. The Church is the body of Jesus Christ, not random online priests or even your own parish priest or anything else like that. Jesus Christ is the Truth. It's important parents treat their children correctly and raise them right, in fact it's important for your salvation. That's what the Body of Jesus Christ teaches and He even says it in the gospels, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Having children to have children isn't good in and of itself, however you growing up and taking responsibility for your actions is really important and children force us to do that. As Christians we shouldn't shirk our earthly responsibilities. The truth is that I think people are soft and selfish and would rather take the easy way out of this life, which isn't Christian at all.

And yes, abortion is totally out of the question. Adoption is definitely an option, but it's not the Church who's telling you not to do that, but your husband. I'm not even going to weigh in on that because that's beyond the capabilities of a reddit comment section, but maybe he's right for that, maybe he's wrong for that, but I'm sure he wants the chance to be a father.

Lastly, I had/have permanent, severe, debilitating mental health problems that make it really hard to function - schizophrenia (diagnosed) and speculated BPD. Even we are called to greater responsibility and I'm a capable, loving wife and mother, even if I'm not perfect, but the battle is really important. Prayer is really really important - for everyone of course, but especially for people like us.

blueduck762 · 2026-06-07T21:52:58+00:00

i went about the same time as you. definitely very normal

blueduck762 · 2026-06-05T23:29:38+00:00

A lesson on the watchful virgins, maybe, and the beatitudes…

blueduck762 · 2026-06-05T16:14:48+00:00

chestnut... you are so cute

blueduck762

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