The perks to suffering

Suffering. We all talk about it, feel it, know it, and experience it. It's something we can all relate to. This trip is full of suffering and trials. From the lack of bathrooms to the sore feet and shoulders, we feel suffering. What we seem to miss out on sometimes are the amazing blessings and graces that are poured out for us. Sometimes people can be so preoccupied with their own pain that they look right over the beautiful gifts we receive. We wake up every morning before the sun. We put on our shoes usually in a dimly lit area and we head off down the road barely awake with mostly empty stomachs. Despite the pain Ive been stopping to notice the sunrise. A gift from God. Mid day we pray that Mary's mantle will shield us from the rays but in the morning, the very sight of it is comforting. This last few weeks have been a great test of patience, pride, humility, and all of our other virtues. Daily we remind each other of Gods gifts and love as we all grow in friendship with both each other and God. We pray for each other when we're weak and we offer the food we have even when we're hungry. We've been so blessed to experience the glory of God even through each painful step. We see the kindness of our Lord in strangers when they come up next to us on the trail. We feel comfort in a gentle smile from the peregrino limping a few feet away and we see the love of God in the smiles of the people we surround ourselves with, even if we can't speak the same language. This is how God created us to be. Even if we don't speak the same language or even share the same faith, we see in everyone we encounter that the foundation of our new friendships and conversations are based on faith. Some searching for it, some trying to deepen it and some trying to understand what faith even is. Either way each day it becomes clearer that we really are blessed as one body in Christ. Pray for us! We keep praying for you! Love, Maria