02/22/2026
🥾 Even though I walk through the dark valley…
☀️ Small steps back to 'Hope' ... one gentle step at a time
In a world where many quietly carry the weight of despair, the Franciscan way gently whispers a different story: you are not alone, you are not forgotten, and your life is a gift.
Following the path of St Francis reminds us that God’s love is not reserved for the strong or the certain, it meets us in our fragility, our questions, even in the moments when we struggle to believe we are loved at all. Francis embraced the wounded places of the world with tenderness, showing that meaning can be rediscovered in small acts, simple days, and honest companionship.
The Franciscan spirit does not deny darkness. It walks with it, choosing presence over isolation, gratitude over despair, and fraternity over loneliness. In community, in prayer, in caring for creation and for one another, we remember that hope can be quietly rebuilt, one gentle step at a time.
🔹 Pause and pray
➡️ Even a few honest words like “God, stay with me today” can open a small space for peace.
🔹 Reach out to someone you trust
➡️ Friend, fraternity member, spiritual guide, or counsellor; you don’t have to carry it alone.
🔹 Keep one small rhythm
➡️ Walk, a cup of tea in silence, reading a psalm; simple routines can gently steady the heart.
🔹 Practice gratitude for one thing
➡️ Notice a small good (sunlight, a kind word, breath) to remind yourself that light still exists.
🔹 Choose one act of kindness
➡️ Serving or encouraging someone else can reconnect you with meaning and belonging
If you or someone you love is struggling with dark thoughts, please reach out. Speaking to a trusted friend, a spiritual companion, or a professional can be a courageous first step. You are worthy of care, and your story matters more than you know.
May we be people who carry peace, and who remind each other, again and again, that God’s love is wider than any darkness.
