This July 4th was quite inspiring with all of the celebrations and coverage of America’s 250th birthday. It was also exciting that CatholicTherapists.com is also celebrating our 25th anniversary this month! I’m so grateful for all God has done to allow Catholic therapists to impact the lives of so many over these years.
I hope you and yours got to celebrate and appreciate the magnitude of what our founding fathers did for us. My husband and I caught a couple of documentaries on George Washington and it was so interesting and amazing to see all he went through and accomplished. What was most moving was his faith and how his convictions fueled his actions to secure freedom for our nation. This was an unprecedented experiment in world history…and he didn’t do it on his own.
According to one longstanding tradition, George Washington reportedly received apparitions from a woman- believed to be our Blessed Mother- that warned and consoled him in the battles he faced. A painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary hung in his home in Mt. Vernon. Though not corroborated by historians, it is also believed that he was received into the Catholic church and died a Catholic. Pretty amazing stuff!
Five Lessons
First, what so many don’t realize in our world, is that it is actually a life of faith that frees us. Christian convictions about the dignity of the human person and the respect, nay, reverence, for free will is what ultimately creates a just world. In any relationships- be it marriage, with an employer or with a government, the respect for the free will of the other is the surest sign of a healthy relationship. Not license, mind you. Our current culture champions “freedoms” that ultimately enslave us. Freedom is the ability to do what we ought to do- what is good and healthy for the human person as God created us. License always degenerates into oppression and force against those who resist it. We’re seeing that now in shocking ways.
Second, growth and progress only happen with struggle. We are fallen creatures, living in a fallen world. To do good usually involves great effort and resistance. That applies in our personal struggles too. Simple things like conquering nail biting, losing weight, getting an education, or overcoming a negative mindset may involve herculean efforts. Good things rarely come easily. And once attained, require vigilance and perseverance to maintain.
Third, we rarely do great things alone. We need other like-minded individuals to join ranks. We need those with more experience or expertise to guide us. We need to learn how to lead effectively. That’s where coaching really comes in to achieve greatness, in our personal lives and endeavors, and in those bigger missions that will impact the world around us. We’re all called to greatness. We’re here now, at this time in history, in this crazy, upside-down world for a reason. God has a plan for each of us to accomplish. It may be global and affect the world, or it may be more local, and impact your family and community. Each matters, and it matters a lot.
Fourth, pride can take it all down, if we’re not careful. Hurt feelings and wounded pride can poison us and destroy. I’ve seen it happen in families. I’ve seen it in ministries…and let’s face it, we see it in politics quite regularly. Benedict Arnold was angry and thought he deserved better. He let that bitterness fester and betrayed his country- out of pride.
Fifth, like George Washington, taking our Lady as our patroness, seeking her guidance and praying for the grace of humility must be the foundation we rest all of our efforts upon. On our own, we’re nothing. But in our Lady’s hand, there are no limits for how she can use us to transform this sad and sorry culture. We just have to keep our egos out of the way.
As CatholicTherapists.com celebrates 25 years of serving the Church, I find myself more convinced than ever that authentic freedom is found only in Christ. Whether we’re helping a marriage heal, supporting someone through anxiety or grief, or coaching a person to live their vocation more fully, our mission has always been the same: to help people become the men and women God created them to be. Thank you for allowing us to be part of that journey. May God bless you and your family with a joyful, peaceful, and truly free summer.
Allison is also the Founder and President of www.CatholicTherapists.com, and CatholicLifeCoaches.com, which provide nationwide networks of screened and dedicated Catholic therapists and Catholic life coaches.
- Ep. 359 Life Changing Books: The Magic of Thinking Big - October 7, 2026
- Ep. 358 Choosing Connection Over Conflict - September 30, 2026
- Ep. 357 Why Knowing the Goal of Therapy Matters - September 23, 2026
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