The grace of suffering

I would like to share this story with you.

Vera Feodorovna lost the use of her right kidney. A stone had moved from this kidney into the urethra and had blocked it. The pain was unimaginable. She lay in great suffering. An X-ray showed that there was a stone causing the blockage. Doctors gave instructions to the hospital to carry out an operation immediately in order to save her life. Vera asked her brother to ask Matushka Alypia for a blessing for the operation. Matushka prayed for a long time before the icons but did not give an answer. Vera asked her brother to go again to get a blessing for the operation. This time Matushka replied: "No! Don't do it. They will butcher you and they will take away the grace - and don't worry you will not be crippled but able to walk normally."

The pain was so bad that she did not know what to do with herself. She was convinced that she would be crippled and not able to walk. After two to three days, she realized that she could walk quite normally although the pain remained. She spoke with Matushka about the pain and Matushka prayed. The pain lessened but did not go away. To this day Vera can still feel the stone. A scan confirmed the presence of the stone in the urethra. However it had been assimilated into the tissue. Vera realized that although earthly doctors might be able to help her, it was more important to place her life in the hands of the Heavenly Physician so that she would not lose grace.

God is nearer to us when we suffer without complaining. Whether that suffering is physical, psychological or spiritual, or a combination of all three. The moment we despair we lose the grace that comes with suffering. Many of us are sick at the moment and I ask you to pray not only for a speedy recovery but that those who suffer may not lose the grace that God gives to His children in need. Please pray for me - I have gout in both feet and am unable to stand, for Alla, Lena, Seraphim, Nina and Inna and any others that need our prayers.

A young man went to Matushka Alypia to ask for a cure for his migraine. When he arrived he found Matushka lying on her couch with a towel wrapped around her head. She was suffering from intense migraine. The young man was scandalized believing that Matushka was a healer and could not understand how she could help him when she herself was suffering in the same way. He turned to leave and suddenly discovered that his migraine had gone.

Let us wonder at the spiritual feats (podvigi) of Blessed Alypia who was able to bear the suffering of others while we can hardly bear our own.