World at Prayer blog from Family Rosary - Reflections of Family and Faith

Lara Patangan

Lara Patangan is a freelance writer and inspirational speaker. A wife and mother of two boys, Patangan spent a year doing works of mercy. She writes about the life-changing power of mercy at LaraPatangan.com in a way that is humorous, relatable, and rife with humility. Her book, SimpleMercies: How the Works of Mercy Bring Peace and Fulfillment, is available for purchase wherever books are sold.

Happiness | family life | prayer

Seeking Happiness in the Having

By: Lara Patangan July 8th, 2023

I’ve always liked to shop. The artfully arranged displays, colors folded into precise geometric shapes, and an assortment of curated merchandise make me feel hopeful. Hope that I could be more attractive. Hope that I would be enough. Hope that having something was the same as having it all together. Unlike the price tag, the promise of such things wasn’t explicit. It was in the garments hung in rainbow-colored order, the soft lighting, the scent of a lit candle, and the melodic music that lulled me into thinking I wasn’t just purchasing a shirt but an assurance of a better life.

Prayers for Family

Lara Patangan

Seeking Happiness in the Having