@Y2AM

Department of Y2AM

When I have a lot of stress and am sometimes upset, I don't realize it but I'm upsetting my family also by taking it out on them. How can I work on being the bee and doing as God says. "To honor my father and mother". Please help!!! - thank you

Feeling stress can be so draining. May God grant you peace of heart.
And don't worry too much about the mistakes you may have made in the past. Remember, we're all imperfect, and we all need God's help. So God came to help us, to reach out His hand and lift us up! Because He loves us, no questions asked, totally and unconditionally. Mistakes happen, and God is ready to forgive when we're ready to turn back to Him!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7zCEfnbK8AY2AM’s Video 107866517575 c7zCEfnbK8A
No one does His will perfectly, but we can try to get a little closer to Him everyday, patiently, bit by bit.
Why do you think you're feeling this stress? Is it something at home? At school? If you figure out what's causing the stress, you can then take steps to lessen it.
It can be hard to love people when other stresses are bothering us. Different people find different strategies work. Some people try to find quiet time, alone, to wait for the stress to go away. That way, when they're back with their family, they're in a better mood.
You may want to talk with your family, explain to them that you're under a lot of stress, and apologize for taking it out on them in the past. Seeking forgiveness is a great way to draw closer to people, and to God. And this can open the door for your family to help you with your stress, so you can all work together to create a more peaceful environment at home.
Maybe you can all set aside special family time that's totally stress-free: you can play games together, have dinner as a family, talk about your day, say evening prayers together. That way, you're all ending your days together, in a loving and peaceful way, and keeping your hearts centered on Christ.
May God always bless you and your family!

Latest answers from Department of Y2AM

Thank you for the venerating icon video and for the work you do making God's love visible. I have found the Be the Bee videos to be a great resource for my journey to become an Orthodox christian and reconnecting with God.

Thank you so much! May God bless you and guide you!

I’m attempting to convert to Orthodoxy and was wondering if Y2AM was looking at doing some videos on that process. Questions I have is why we kiss the priest hand, how does one venerate an Icon, and understanding the liturgy. I would ask father but I’m still timid to ask such basic questions

Don't be afraid to ask whatever you want! As for icons, check out today's episode of Be the Bee!
https://youtu.be/o8iFOgppS6YY2AM’s Video 120326812231 o8iFOgppS6YY2AM’s Video 120326812231 o8iFOgppS6Y

Any links to websites where I can listen to homilies ? Thank you!!!

You can find a lot on AncientFaith.com. They have lots of great podcasts, and also some video series, including Be the Bee!

Hello! I was wondering , why aren't the saints smiling in icons? Wouldn't they be smiling because they are with Christ in His kingdom? Thank you! -Evangelia

That's a great question! The saints are swept up in the joy of Christ, it definitely makes sense to think about them smiling. We even see this in pictures of modern saints; someone like St Porphyrios is smiling all the time!
On the other hand, icons also try to show the peace the saints experience in Christ. A smile might give the wrong impression in that sense. The saints live something much deeper and longer lasting than a smile can show.

What's your opinion on all the Goya pages?

Sorry if we're not understanding your question, but we think every GOYA at every parish should have a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. It's a great way to stay connected with your parish, and preach the Gospel using technology!

Question continued----- can you please make a video on why orthodoxy is awesome and so rich! Thank you so much

Great point! That's a lot for just one video, we hope every episode of Be the Bee gives a little taste of why Orthodoxy is so awesome!

Hello Y2AM! I was wondering if you could recommend any good books for young adults (16+) for teens who are orthodox and want to learn more about its traditions, where it originated or even about the founder of the church, Jesus, himself. If you have any valuable advice that would be great. Thanks!

Thank God, there are a lot of wonderful books out there! There are great books like "The Orthodox Church" by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, and "The Orthodox Church" by Fr. John Meyendorff.
It's also important to learn about the beliefs of the Church. There are a lot of wonderful books by Fr. Alexander Schmemann, like "For the Life of the World," though his books can be a little challenging.
Of course, don't forget the books of the Bible. We can learn a lot about the Church by reading the Gospels and Epistles.
And don't forget that there are wonderful podcasts that can teach you a lot about our Faith and history. Fr. Thomas Hopko has several wonderful podcasts on Ancient Faith Radio.
Happy reading (and listening)!

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