My husband had that book and so I read it for the first time as an adult woman, and really enjoyed it. Stories of overcoming adversity, especially in the beautiful wilderness, speak to me. Yet here I am, nearing 60, and have found myself floundering after the death of my disabled twin sister. I retired at 57-1/2 to spend more time with her, then a year later she died suddenly, possibly of suicide. The pain and loss are completely new to me, despite having had a father and two brothers pass away years earlier. Now, six months later, I am left not knowing my purpose, dealing with arthritis that makes my hobbies difficult, and feel stuck. I have been leaning on God a lot yet there are too many days where I feel frozen. Maybe I should re-read "Hatchet." I know God loves me, I know at some point I need to move forward. I really enjoy Fr. Mike's talks. His energy and words are inspiring.

Praise you Jesus for bringing into your priesthood such a wonderful holy priest Fr Mike. Please always bless him in all his ministries in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Lord, may we have more priests such as Fr Mike. Amen.

As the saying goes, '' If we do not deal with reality we will always be confused and unhappy.''

Thank you just what I needed to hear. Perfect way to start my day with acceptance I am who I am won't change for the world

Self-acceptance and accepting of our circumstances. This is indeed, the lesson.

Amen ! I just was saying my night prayers and started to weep about my loneliness after a two year friendship has ended . Acceptance blow me away ! Praise the Lord

Fr. Mike, just wanted you to know that I really enjoy your commentaries. So much so that I've subscribed to your podcasts. I love the fact that you make it fun and relevant. Oh, and by the way, I'm Jewish!

You are a blessing for many! 🤗💕🙏🏼

Father I can not begin to tell you how much I needed to hear those exact same words. It is almost unsettling how your words describe how I have been feeling and rejecting my situation lately. It is weird. But also very very comforting. Thank you and keep up the good work. The internet is a tough "place", but you never know how much you can help someone in need you don't even know.

Father Mike your are helping me heal my broken heart and come closer to God and now the Catholic church. I will be starting my RCIA classes this fall of 2021.

Father it is good and useful when your talk about virtues that we need to practice day after day WE DO NEED THIS WORLD WIDE. AGREE ?????

Oh Father, if only all life’s challenges could be solved in 6 minute podcasts. Changing one’s heart often requires struggle, time, and yes, even tears. A significant change isn’t a switch that can be flipped and all is suddenly better. The angst and tears aren’t always denial or pity, but a part of the meaningful human process of change itself as we work through it.

Every time I watch these videos Fr. Mike does, I want to immediately go make a Eucharistic Holy Hour. Darn you limits of space and time!

Reminds me of a quote on acceptance (without needless judgment) by Marcus Aurelius: "Is your cucumber bitter? Throw it out. Are there briars in your path? Turn aside and walk elsewhere. That is enough. Do not go on and say, 'Why were things of this sort ever brought into the world?'."

And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation - some fact of my life - unacceptable to me. I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.

Thank you Father for this video. In a couple of weeks I am having my first anniversary of my dear husband's passing. Oh, how angry I was, I couldn't accept he was gone, he's not coming back. No matter how hard I prayed, wished, pouted, screamed, it couldn't change the fact he was gone. Just like that. There are so many things I have learned over this past year--how much God loves me, how much my husband wants me to be ok and move forward. In many ways, I have, but his bag still hangs on the chair, with his car keys and wallet, ready to go. His clothes hanging in the closet. I'm still waiting. I will start praying now to God to ask him to help me accept, and live my life. Thank you again.

This is a good one! One that I keep repeating so it’ll all sink in….. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Easier said than done, Father Mike, but it's so true.

you teach people to love themselves just like they are, you teach people to love themselves and not punish themselves for what they are, but to move forward!!!!....loving yourself is the key of growing!

Thanks Father Mike.

Praise God! What a change it made in my life just listening to this video... I'm glad you spoke about acceptance Fr... Tired of running away from situations and this video just helped me to accept the situation the way it is and grow with confidence... Thank you

Thank you Father for this message. I can’t begin to explain how touched I am by your words of wisdom. I am at a crossroads in my life right now and everything changed very suddenly and your message helped me realized not only am I not accepting the situation and therefore not moving forward, I am also praying for the wrong things. May God help me from now on discover who I am in the midst of my mom’s sickness and where I am supposed to go from here. Thank you again. All the best.

Bless you Fr. Mike and may God be praised for creating you - you can’t imagine how much your talks mean to me and how they are helping me - this is just what I needed to hear. I wish I could adopt you. I am including you in my daily prayers and mass intentions. You are so precious.

Thank you Lord Jesus christ. And Thank Fr. Mike for this video.

This is so good father, so good. I've been struggling to accept myself ever since I started loosing my hair, along with it I lost my girlfriend, my family is broken and it feels like I am still stuck at the bottom of the society. But I don't give up in prayer and never will I. It is not an easy and may take time, but I know the day will come that I have already accepted myself and thinking about that fills my heart with delight. God bless you.

Your energy is so contagious. Thank you for dedicating your life to Jesus and humanity.🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊

Awareness, Acceptance, Action. 🦋

Thank you Fr. Mike. I always watch your videos both when I'm happy or sad. This is a perfect video for someone experiencing a heartache!

Thank you Fr Mike! I have been struggling really bad today with a very serious situation. I have been praying about it but feel so far away from God. I needed to see this! Thank God for you and what you do!

it took me a long to realize that i will always have chronic pain and will be physically ill. it also took me a long time to accept that i am not me tally well. but with God's grace i have learned to offer that up and unite my suffering to Jesus' passion and pray for others' conversion and for the holy souls in purgatory.

Thank you, father Mike. God bless you.

woah ty! ty for explaining the difference between resignation and acceptance.

I love coming back to these videos and re-experiencing their wisdom all over again. Thank you Fr. Mike for the profound way you illuminate God's wisdom to all who watch these videos.

This message is so needed right now. Thank you Fr Mike. You have no idea the lives you touch and change for the better. God bless you.

Such a powerful message, we can work to be the best person we can be, but somethings we do have to accept certain situations and move forword. Love your videos, keep it up!

Thank you Fray Mike. I'm crying of happiness much time rejoicing my soul, understanding many creativity and i see what you talk😇😇😇👼

In this very moment, I needed this.

Great message! Somehow the word of God always seems to find you when you need it the most!

I love Romano Guardini, gonna go open “The Lord” right now. Read it if you want some preaching straight out of the Gospel! One of my favorite books! Thanks Fr Mike.

I needed to hear this. Thank you so much father mike.

“And Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation -some fact about my life -unacceptable to me . I can find no serenity until I accept that person place or thing or situation is being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. - Anonymous

Bravo!!!! Great explanation of “acceptance”.

This is such a powerful message! Thank you for this Fr. Mike !

Very good. I notice this was 6 years ago! Very true, especially now!!

Thank you father Mike! God bless! 🙏🏼😇

Thank you, as always, Father. This and the video on the meaning of suffering are such a powerful duo.

This videos make me feel so much better. They come to me and tell me what I need to hear at the right time. Thank you.

What a great podcast. Thank you Father, just what I needed to here.

Father Mike is so adorable in his silly moments at the beginning of each video. I adore that part of him. He reminds me of my older brother who has that similar silly sense of humor. He's made me laugh since the day I was born. 😂💜

God knows I needed this message. Thank you so much Fr. Mike 🙏 God bless you 🙏

YOU ARE GREAT AS WELL AS FUNNY!!!!!!!!

Thank you for this message Fr Mike. As usual, it resonates with a part of my life. I recently realized and accepted some brokenness in my life, and have taken steps that will help me towards healing.

Okay i accept that the Lord sent you, Fr. Schmitz, to me today. Alleluia! Thank you for your wisdom.

This is coming at just the right point in my life

The timing of this message is awesome. God is good.

Wow! You are so convincing! What a beautiful advise. Thank you from Canada.

Thanks, Father Mike!!

'for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.' ie you r made right for God.

Thanks for sharing my Catholic group is reading father Romano guardini's book the virtues that lead you closer to God great post

God is really Good you know Thank you Father Mike

Love this. So very true Fr Mike. What a different world it would be if more people accepted themselves and the fact that God loves them just the way they are. 💕

Fr. I must say , this video is made for me. your words touched me and thank you.

Well said

From my past experiences, I believe God challenges and molds us to be the person we are meant to be. To live and be wise, strong and be as honorable as he is for we are a part of him.

Here it is 4 years after this was posted, and yet, the power and love of Christ ministered to me right where I am today. It is the truth that sets us free. The truth is I can trust in God with my whole heart even when my strength is so little, and my hope is so small I have a big loving, powerful God who loved me so much, even when I am at my worst, that He would die for me. That is a handhold for me. Thank you Father Schmitz for living your life to help lead others to our amazing God.

This really touched me. Needed this

Again! You hit the spot!! Bulls eye!!! Que Barbaro mi Hermano!! God bless you!

Thank you.

Wow.... simply wow!!!

Andrea, the author is Romano Guardini!

Thank you, could you do a long super in depth video on this 🙏💖 ☘️ 🧚‍♀️

I wish the videos have Vietnamese closed captions because I really want to share the wonderful preaches with my family, friends, and people in my country

Yes!

Thank you for this. I have a lot of trouble with this even though I believe it. I heard it taught one time as similar to GPS. If we don't allow the device to know where we currently are, it will never be able to help us navigate to where we need to go. Furthermore, the device never criticizes us for where we are- it's just a fact. Now, if only I could remember this whenever I want to fight with reality!

Exactly what I needed. Thank you

Can you make another video of how to do this ? And accept certain situations?

Thanks be to God, for our priests 🙏🏻❤️

Wonderfully helpful video, Father! Thanks!

Powerful stuff

Thank you so much, Sir. Exactly what I needed to hear.

God bless you

Self acceptance isnt that hard . Its to accept that others hate your guts thats difficult . But you still have to accept this . All because love gives one the freedom not to love .

Ahhhhhhhhh the Holy Spirit just hit me with a semi truck. Thank you Fr. Mike for being the wonderful instrument of God.

Yo know Father Mike, not only do we look a lot alike. But I read Hatchet as a kid as well. I think we're about the same age.

The people who disliked it were seeing upside down

Amen.

Beautiful reminder of God's unconditional love! I so needed this. Thank you!!

Does this mean we shouldn't change ourselves for the better and just accept who we are? How do we know what to accept and what we can change?

Where did the Romano Guardini quotes come from?

Thank you. This is been so hard for me. God bless you

Thank you Father Mike, your words have provoked thought. Your words I am sure will help those who are misunderstood (homosexuals) I am happy that you used the example of the gay man and acceptance. And from reading some of the comments in response to that I would like to share one of my favourite quotes: “Those who fail to understand need the love of God as much as those who waiting to be understood”

Great videos - keep them coming!!!

Thanks a lot for your words Father, I am from Spain and I didn´t understand the book´s tittle that you mention at the beginning. I´ll apréciate if anyone can tell me. God bless you!!

I needed to hear this right now. Thank you Father Mike. ❤

This is one of your best discussions I've heard. Thank you so much, Fr. Mike. Shared on FB as well.

Thank You. I needed this.

Everyday, God's WORD utterance from Ephesians.

Thank you Fr. Mike, God bless you!

This is excellent Fr. Mike. Thank you so much. It has blessed and helped me a great deal right at this 'broken' and sometimes scary and daunting time in my life. Thank you!

Thank you. That was FABULOUS!!!