“Suffering! The reality which dehumanizes, weakens … how to go about it? No, we are not made to suffer even if suffering is part of our human reality!”
Dear friends!
I would like to tackle today, the question, “you do not lack smile on your lips despite what you are living as challenge! How do you make it, from where do you draw strength, courage, energy, etc., in all this suffering that you are going through?” that many have asked, ask and, not long time ago, father Jean-Marie VASSEUR, a former Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa ( White Fathers) {1974 – 1980}, asked me again before adding: “Your courage, serenity … in your misfortunes impresses. Do not lose that spirit in your life no matter the situation you find yourself in” and concluding: “Am going to visit a person suffering from eye cancer!”
Speaking about prayer in “crumbs … and miracles”, Father Lionel DION, a Missionary of Africa (White Fathers) shared this wonderful story:

A concerned parish Priest, said one evening to the sacristan of his church: “Have you noticed that old man, on the rasp cloths, who enters the church every day at noon and goes out without spending much time? I watched him through the window of the presbytery. That worries me a bit. You know, there are precious objects in the church. Try to find out.”
From the next day, the sacristan waited for the visitor and questioned him: “Hey friend, what makes you come like this in the church?” – “I come to pray” replied the old man quietly. – “Come on, you do not spend enough time for that? You only go till the altar and you come back. What does it mean?” – “You are right”, answered the poor man. “I do not know how to formulate a long prayer. Yet, I come every day at noon and simply say to him: Jesus … it is Simon. It is a short prayer, but I feel he hears me.” 
After sometime, the old man Simon was knocked down by a lorry and taken to the hospital. - “You are always happy despite all your misfortunes”, a nurse told him one day. – “How would I not be? It is because of my visitor.” – “Your visitor?” replied the surprised nurse. “I have never seen any. And, when does he come?” – “Every day at noon. He stands there, at the foot of my bed and says to me: Simon … it is Jesus!”
Yes, it has been some few years since I am in this situation which is difficult to manage even if, thanks to medicine, it has positively improved these days.
“You do not lack smile on your lips despite what you are living as challenge! How do you make it, from where do you find strength, courage, energy, etc., in all this suffering that you are going through?” I am afraid, I may disappoint you by saying: there are no clear / straight, mathematical, absolute … answers to all these questions. In suffering, pain … there are, to my humble opinion and focusing on my personal experience in the domain, choices to make and live, not in resignation, passivity, lamentations … but in commitment, acceptance, integration, etc.
Choices to make and live? In sufferings, challenges, misfortunes …, I hope it is not an exaggeration if I say no matter the nature; a large field (attitudes to adopt) of choices is possible. One needs only to be conscious of his/her existence and decide what to do. This field of choices comprises: pessimism, rejection, resignation, complaints, depression, suicide, being negative, acceptance, optimism, commitment against suffering, being positive, courage and motivation for change of situation, faith, etc. Please: in one or the other choice, there is no need to judge, to condemn, to compare, etc. It is necessary to clarify here that there is need for respect, understanding, support, challenge, compassion, etc., the one who, consciously or unconsciously, opts for one or another choice (attitude in suffering).
My personal experience in suffering is not exceptional. It is just a result of a long journey scattered with questioning, need of understanding, reflections … that, with time, led into grace of integration, optimism, serenity in what I am undergoing as challenge. 
Two factors: prayer and the choice opted for, allow me to remain positive, courageous, confident, hopeful, etc., despite suffering and pain.
Prayer: nothing as special as a simple prayer which is an expression of my surrender, confidence, hope, faith … in God who hears and is close to me. It is a prayer that resembles the one of Mr. Simon, a prayer which is other thing than trust and confidence in Jesus Christ who listens and hears: “Jesus … it is Simon!” Some spiritual readings, meditation on the daily life situation, etc., are the ingredients that enrich my prayer and make it to become gratitude, thanksgiving, blessing, intercession, praise … to God of life, love and mercy. 
Choice opted for: English saying that somehow resembles the hymn of life of Mother Theresa of CALCUTA says: “Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... It's about learning how to dance in the rain.” Living during some months in the storms of pain, I learned to dance in the rain of suffering thanks to this key interrogation that changed my life: “What will I change when I complain each time, be sad every moment, cry without stopping because of my pain, suffering, misfortunes …? What will all this help in my state? What impact do they have on me and my surrounding?” This interrogation results into: 
·	The realization of the fact that complains, sadness, crying … do not change anything in my suffering; they do not have any positive effect on my pains. They only have a negative effect on me and all those surrounding me to the point that, my suffering, pains, will finally make others suffer. 
·	The awakening of consciousness for another insight, approach of suffering. An optimistic and positive way of living suffering, way which allows to integrate and accept suffering for letting life flows and beams, not only for me, but also for all those surrounding and visiting me. 
Yes, prayer and the choice opted for, are the two tools that allow me to live this challenge with serenity, courage, patience, confidence, faith… while remaining positive and hoping that one day, I will recover the mobility, health, necessary strength for a normal life. Living then suffering in this way makes suffering become not only a springboard of trust and certitude that suffering is only a challenge to go through and not a life to live eternally, but it also motives and cheers those supporting, accompanying, treating… the person in suffering, pain, misfortunes, etc.
This is the journey I went through and still undergoing. It is not exceptional. It is maybe difficult to live but not impossible. As already said, never try to judge, compare … but support, encourage, motivate, etc. In all, never forget that it is God who gives to each person, the grace to face suffering, pain ... No matter what we can speculate, share, say … about suffering, it remains nevertheless evident that suffering dehumanizes, lowers, weakens, etc. No, we are not created to suffer even though suffering is part of human reality in this world.
Father MWISHABONGO MUKWANGA Norbert
Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers)