--- title: Stillness description: God has gotten Deanna Bartalini's attention; foot surgery will force her to learn how to be still, but his plan may be something else. She believes that the grace to bear all things will come as a fru --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/11/19/stillness#) # Stillness Nov 19, 2015 3:00:52 PM  |  by [Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/deanna-bartalini) [![Jupiter sunset by DBartalini, created in PicMonkey. All rights reserved.](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/be-still.png?width=720&height=540&name=be-still.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/be-still.png) Jupiter sunset by DBartalini, created in PicMonkey. All rights reserved. Does it sometimes seem that the very thing you desire is always just over there, a hairsbreadth out of reach because of your very own nature?  For many years now I have craved, like some people crave coffee and chocolate, stillness in my life. Yet it is elusive and seemingly unattainable though I try and try. What can make it happen? For me, it is happening because of foot surgery! Specifically, my right foot, which means I cannot drive or even put any weight on it for up to two months. I keep telling people I did it to get out of doing dishes but in truth, my husband usually does them anyway. My concern over this surgery is not the surgery itself or the physical recovery. I have rides to work and my husband is no stranger to shopping for food or cooking or laundry or any other housekeeping task. My concern is that I will be very dependent on others to help me take care of things I normally do myself and that I will need to be still. I am working on convincing myself that I will learn lessons in patience, humility and stillness. Mostly I am praying for the grace to accept what God has planned for me to learn. My greatest desire may be to learn how to be still, but his plan may be something else. I believe that the grace to bear all things will come as a fruit of stillness. I have quite a list of projects to accomplish while I am not fully mobile including writing, reading and sewing. Knowing my own tendency is one of busyness, I need to guard my to-do list lest I crowd out time for stillness with tasks. God has certainly gotten my attention with my foot. Now that he has my attention, what will happen next? ***What has God used in your life to get your attention focused in a different direction? *** Copyright 2015 Deanna Bartalini ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F11%2F19%2Fstillness%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F11%2F19%2Fstillness%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F11%2F19%2Fstillness%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Stillness) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F11%2F19%2Fstillness%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F11%2F19%2Fstillness%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Deanna%20Bartalini%202025-1.png) ### [Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/deanna-bartalini) Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed., M.P.A. is a certified spiritual director, retreat leader, speaker, and writer with decades of experience serving the Church. She is the founder of [LiveNotLukewarm.com](https://LiveNotLukewarm.com), works on the retreat team at Our Lady of Florida Passionist Spiritual Center, and is an Unbound prayer minister. Deanna writes from her experiences of over 40 years of marriage, children and grandchildren. ## Related Blog Articles [ The One Thing Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/05/21/the-one-thing-2) [ I Want to Trust God, But How? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/i-want-to-trust-god-but-how) [ Mercy Overflows Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/12/30/mercy-overflows) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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