“Don't worry, God understands,' Mom said. 'He knows that your father is a cross we must bear.”
In the book The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, the protagonist's mother offers words of comfort in the face of adversity. With a simple phrase, the mother conveys a sense of enduring faith and strength in the face of challenges.
When facing challenging or difficult situations, how do you find comfort or reassurance? Do you agree with the idea that some burdens are meant to be carried? Why or why not? What role does faith or spirituality play in helping individuals navigate through tough times? How do you interpret and reconcile the concept of suffering with belief in a higher power or deity?
In this quote from Jeannette Walls' novel, "The Glass Castle," the character's mother shows a sense of resignation and acceptance towards the challenges they face, specifically in regards to the father's volatile behavior. By likening the father to a "cross we must bear," the mother implies that both the hardships caused by the father and the burden of dealing with them are somehow part of a divine plan, thus offering some consolation to her children. This quote highlights themes of resilience, faith, and the complex dynamics of family relationships in the face of adversity.
In Jeannette Walls' quote, the mother's words offer solace and reassurance to her child during a challenging situation. Today, many people still find comfort and strength in their faith when facing adversity or hardships. Believing in a higher power can provide hope and perspective, helping individuals navigate through tough times with a sense of purpose and resilience.
“Don't worry about your father. He's a perfectly contented, self-sufficient zombie.”
“We are what we are, and life is what it is, but God is bigger than any cross we bear”
“Best of children, sisters arm-in-arm, we must bear what the gods give us to bear-- don't fire up your hearts with so much grief. No reason to blame the pass you've come to now.”
“I know he's right to be worried about us, because I'm worried about us too. I don't understand how relationships work. I don't know how they survive. It seems every day something new arrives to threaten your peace of mind.”
“Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.”