Gospel Reading from Thursday Luke 11:14-23
"...anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering." Luke 11:17,21,23
Gospel Reading today Marke 12:28-34
"the most important commandment is this, love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second most important one is to love your neighbor as you love yourself." Mark 12:29-31
I have had a hard time writing this week because I have been off my normal ritual of getting up at 5:30 to pray and write. My 19 month old has had me up for 1-2 hours a night, I have no idea why; therefore, I have been struggling to have a few moments of prayer in the mornings. I do, however, want to touch on yesterday's gospel reading. As mothers, we have to gather our flock and keep them together and not let our little sheep scatter. How do families scatter? I believe by each family member going in all different directions. I see it all too often, families split with different activites, grabbing dinner through the drive through line on their way to the next practice, parents dropping off their middle school child at the local town square to go and do who knows what with there friends.... Especially in today's world, we have to keep our families together and not be too scattered. This is when the little sheep tend to get "lost" and directed on a different path than what God has planned. We have to be aware of these scenerios before they begin to take place so we are ready and equipped to make the best decisions when they are presented to us. I am going to try my best to NOT do what society accepts....having a scattered family.
On today's gospel reading, Jesus talks about the greatest commandment. I meditated on this commandment in regards to motherhood. We love our children with all our HEART....by doing this we love Jesus with all of our heart. We are to give our heart and SOULS to our families....in doing this we are loving Jesus with all of our soul. We are to constantly be using our MINDS in caring for our children...not getting side-tracked to world standards but keeping focused on the task at hand. By doing this, we are loving Jesus with all of our MINDS. We are to give every ounce of our STRENGTH to our family. By doing this, we are loving Jesus with all of our STRENGTH. Are you falling into bed at night completely exhausted? This is proof of loving God with all of your strength. The daily tasks of motherhood should zap you by the end of the day. It actually feels good when you know you have given every ounce of strength to the Lord by loving and taking care of your family..His flock.
The second most important commandment is to "love thy neighbor as you love yourself". Giving our lives up for Jesus by caring and loving our families, we are loving our neighbor as we love ourself. We live in a very selfish society and too often mothers and fathers are loving themselves more than their children. They are putting their family on the back burner while they seek self-importance & self-indulgences. This is dangerous living when you have been given a family. This is only teaching our children to go against one of the greatest commandments. This is teaching them to love themselves more than their neighbor. This again is reassurance that laying down your life for your family is building God's Kingdom.
So today, huddle your family back in. If you are being scattered in all different directions, pull the reigns and gather your flock. There is no better place for your children, even if they are 13, than with your family. Buck the system and keep your children close. Also, as you are losing your mind as all of your children are crying at once, remind yourself that you are obeying God's greatest commandment....you are loving Jesus with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength through your loving and caring for your family. And you are "loving your neighbor as yourself" by caring for your family 24/7. Rest in knowing today you are living God's greatest commandment in your everyday life as a wife and mother.
Blessings to you this Friday!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
No Cutting Corners in Motherhood
Gospel Reading today Mathew 5:17-19
"Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with-not until the end of all things." Mathew 5:18
We are reminded in the gospel today the importance of every little detail when working for the Kingdom of God. In a world that likes to cut corners, this gospel reading is a contradiction to the world's standards. It tells us we can not cut any corners when living up to God's standards & laws. In motherhood, how many women like to cut corners in raising their family and taking care of their family? It is in the nitty gritty details of what we do every day as mothers and wives that is teaching our families right from wrong, to have compassion for others by caring to the ones entrusted to us. There is so much of the Law of Heaven that we are teaching just through our little acts of service throughout the day. Mother Teresa said "Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies". She also says "There are so many little things which often go unnoticed by others, but are so important to the patients(children/husband) we serve. When done with love and compassion, those small things are transformed into something wonderful, priceless, and intangible".
We can't get this time back....we can't hold it in our hands or store it away. The time is NOW to use every minute given to you to do your best job in raising your children to love the Lord and to serve Him all the days of your life. By LIVING this, we teach our children to live this way. Don't think that someone else can do a better job in raising and teaching your children or that your husband is okay to fend for himself during these hard years of motherhood. It is in the little things where you find strength to rise up and be strong. To not let one day go by without trying with all your might to be the best mother and wife you can be. By doing this, you are tending the smallest details of God's Kingdom. You children and husband will be blessed abundantly for your selfless acts and service to them. Don't cut corners in Motherhood by living up to the world's standards. Build up a strong, steady and sure foundation for the Kingdom and your "home" will be secure and stand tall through the storms of life.
Blessings to you this Wednesday!
"Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with-not until the end of all things." Mathew 5:18
We are reminded in the gospel today the importance of every little detail when working for the Kingdom of God. In a world that likes to cut corners, this gospel reading is a contradiction to the world's standards. It tells us we can not cut any corners when living up to God's standards & laws. In motherhood, how many women like to cut corners in raising their family and taking care of their family? It is in the nitty gritty details of what we do every day as mothers and wives that is teaching our families right from wrong, to have compassion for others by caring to the ones entrusted to us. There is so much of the Law of Heaven that we are teaching just through our little acts of service throughout the day. Mother Teresa said "Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies". She also says "There are so many little things which often go unnoticed by others, but are so important to the patients(children/husband) we serve. When done with love and compassion, those small things are transformed into something wonderful, priceless, and intangible".
We can't get this time back....we can't hold it in our hands or store it away. The time is NOW to use every minute given to you to do your best job in raising your children to love the Lord and to serve Him all the days of your life. By LIVING this, we teach our children to live this way. Don't think that someone else can do a better job in raising and teaching your children or that your husband is okay to fend for himself during these hard years of motherhood. It is in the little things where you find strength to rise up and be strong. To not let one day go by without trying with all your might to be the best mother and wife you can be. By doing this, you are tending the smallest details of God's Kingdom. You children and husband will be blessed abundantly for your selfless acts and service to them. Don't cut corners in Motherhood by living up to the world's standards. Build up a strong, steady and sure foundation for the Kingdom and your "home" will be secure and stand tall through the storms of life.
Blessings to you this Wednesday!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
TEACHING OUR CHILDREN ABOUT BEING LAST
Gospel reading today Luke 16:19-31
"The poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the feast in heaven." Luke 16:22
This is a beautiful gospel reading today about the rich man and the poor man. We are reminded through this gospel that the poor and the lowly will feast at the table in Heaven. And the rich man who didn't even give the poor man scraps from his table on earth gazes at the poor man feasting in Heaven as he thirsts and hungers for eternity. The last will be first and the first will be last.
As mothers, I think it is crucial for us to teach our children to see Jesus in the less fortunate. To teach them how to dine with the Govenor but at the same time sit at the table with the poorest of poor and feel touched and humbled by the presence of God. Our children should NEVER feel they are above ANYONE. They will learn this valuable lesson from their greatest teachers....their parents. So how do we teach our children these gospel lessons? I am constantly asking the Lord myself. I believe they will learn through our actions. For instance, this past weekend after selling our breads at the farmers market, we had alot left over. Instead of taking it back to the bakery and tossing it, we were told there was the hungry unemployed across the street. As my husband moaned and groaned about going over there, I looked at him and said let's go. As these hungry and thirsty souls jumped on the truck and I watched in fear, I saw my sweet husband take control and told them in spanish "no work, just bread". He opened the big back door of the truck and started handing out beautiful artisan bread....the gift of finest wheat to these hungry and poorest of souls. They took the bread and raised it to heaven with the biggest smiles. My three children watched in amazement at all of these people begging for bread and they witnessed their father giving out the bread he had worked so hard to bake. I was overjoyed by what we did as a family and can't wait to do it again. These acts of generosity and kindess are life changing for our children. It is crucial we teach them these valuable lessons. Instead of being at the baseball field, my 4 year old son helped sell bread at the farmers market and then gave to the poor. Not they he won't play baseball (because he LOVES it) but he will do both. I refuse to turn from these ways of the past of working together as a family like the pioneers, to sit at the baseball fields and be filled with pride of how cute my son is and do this just because everyone else is doing it. Yes, children learn so much from sports, but we tend to think that is the only thing we are suppose to be doing on the weekends (especially in Texas). Are we teaching our children how to just be first or are we teaching them how to be last as well? Think outside the box and think of how you can teach your children work ethic and generosity at a young age. I'm constantly thinking outside the box because I refuse to do what is "standard" in today's society. For there is not alot of wisdom in this world who thinks we are so smart and wonderful.
The ways of the past, the ways of the past, the ways of the past......so much wisdom and insight. Think today about your ancestors who have gone before you. You will more than likely learn something very valuable this day just by pondering on the simply, faithful lives they led.
Blessings to you this Thursday!
"The poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the feast in heaven." Luke 16:22
This is a beautiful gospel reading today about the rich man and the poor man. We are reminded through this gospel that the poor and the lowly will feast at the table in Heaven. And the rich man who didn't even give the poor man scraps from his table on earth gazes at the poor man feasting in Heaven as he thirsts and hungers for eternity. The last will be first and the first will be last.
As mothers, I think it is crucial for us to teach our children to see Jesus in the less fortunate. To teach them how to dine with the Govenor but at the same time sit at the table with the poorest of poor and feel touched and humbled by the presence of God. Our children should NEVER feel they are above ANYONE. They will learn this valuable lesson from their greatest teachers....their parents. So how do we teach our children these gospel lessons? I am constantly asking the Lord myself. I believe they will learn through our actions. For instance, this past weekend after selling our breads at the farmers market, we had alot left over. Instead of taking it back to the bakery and tossing it, we were told there was the hungry unemployed across the street. As my husband moaned and groaned about going over there, I looked at him and said let's go. As these hungry and thirsty souls jumped on the truck and I watched in fear, I saw my sweet husband take control and told them in spanish "no work, just bread". He opened the big back door of the truck and started handing out beautiful artisan bread....the gift of finest wheat to these hungry and poorest of souls. They took the bread and raised it to heaven with the biggest smiles. My three children watched in amazement at all of these people begging for bread and they witnessed their father giving out the bread he had worked so hard to bake. I was overjoyed by what we did as a family and can't wait to do it again. These acts of generosity and kindess are life changing for our children. It is crucial we teach them these valuable lessons. Instead of being at the baseball field, my 4 year old son helped sell bread at the farmers market and then gave to the poor. Not they he won't play baseball (because he LOVES it) but he will do both. I refuse to turn from these ways of the past of working together as a family like the pioneers, to sit at the baseball fields and be filled with pride of how cute my son is and do this just because everyone else is doing it. Yes, children learn so much from sports, but we tend to think that is the only thing we are suppose to be doing on the weekends (especially in Texas). Are we teaching our children how to just be first or are we teaching them how to be last as well? Think outside the box and think of how you can teach your children work ethic and generosity at a young age. I'm constantly thinking outside the box because I refuse to do what is "standard" in today's society. For there is not alot of wisdom in this world who thinks we are so smart and wonderful.
The ways of the past, the ways of the past, the ways of the past......so much wisdom and insight. Think today about your ancestors who have gone before you. You will more than likely learn something very valuable this day just by pondering on the simply, faithful lives they led.
Blessings to you this Thursday!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
MOTHERHOOD MIRRORS THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Gospel reading today Mathew 20:17-28
"If one of you wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest; like the Son of Man, who did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem many people." Mathew 20:26,28
Well, here it is. My all time favorite verse in regards to motherhood. This verse says it all. If we mothers want to be great, we must be the servant of the rest. Christ did not come to be served here on earth. Instead, he was a humble servant and gave his life up for everyone else. Sound familiar? We, as mothers, constantly give of our life for everyone else. This is why motherhood, I believe, is the greatest vocation on earth. It mirrors so closely the life of Christ. As the mother of the two sons in today's gospel asked Jesus if her sons could sit at the left and the right of him in his Kingdom, she was asking for them to be royalty because in her mind, that is what she thought life would be like with Jesus, our King. And Jesus simply replied, "Can you drink the cup of suffering that I am about to drink?" Walking with Jesus daily and sitting on his left and right side is not easy. It is for sure not royalty on earth! We are told over and over in the gospel that we have to take up our cross to walk with Jesus. We are to lay down our lives for a friend/family....that is serving Jesus through the greatest act we can perform on earth, which is love. Motherhood=love. Love=self-sacrifice. Self-sacrifice=eternal rewards.
It is a crying shame that motherhood has become such a deminished vocation that was once looked upon in the highest regards. The more children one had, the more blessed they were. Satan has had his hand in all of this I guarantee you. If he can break up the family and deminish the vocation of motherhood, than he is deminishing the holiness of society. I believe this is why so many women look outside the home for self-worth as well as materialistic pride. If Satan can gradually take women out of the home and make them think they need to be served instead of served, than he is winning in the battle against the family. However, it is not too late. This is one of the very reasons I am devoted to writing this blog every morning. To remind mothers that the work they do is the holiest work on earth. Is it easy? No. Is it glamorous and thought of as royalty? Heck no! But is it similar to the work of Christ? Yes. Will motherhood bring you face to face with Jesus someday? Yes. Will souls be saved in our care? Yes. THIS is what motherhood is all about. TO SERVE christ by serving others.
So today, as you are going about your daily routines of carpooling, laundry, grocery shopping, sweeping crumbs, breaking up arguments, standing at your holy alter (the kitchen sink)....whatever it is, know it is nothing short of Holy. You are walking in the midst of Heaven by serving God's Kingdom on earth. You may be a "servant" here on earth, but your rewards are abundant for eternity. Life is short, so serve with all your heart!
Blessings to you this Wednesday!
"If one of you wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest; like the Son of Man, who did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem many people." Mathew 20:26,28
Well, here it is. My all time favorite verse in regards to motherhood. This verse says it all. If we mothers want to be great, we must be the servant of the rest. Christ did not come to be served here on earth. Instead, he was a humble servant and gave his life up for everyone else. Sound familiar? We, as mothers, constantly give of our life for everyone else. This is why motherhood, I believe, is the greatest vocation on earth. It mirrors so closely the life of Christ. As the mother of the two sons in today's gospel asked Jesus if her sons could sit at the left and the right of him in his Kingdom, she was asking for them to be royalty because in her mind, that is what she thought life would be like with Jesus, our King. And Jesus simply replied, "Can you drink the cup of suffering that I am about to drink?" Walking with Jesus daily and sitting on his left and right side is not easy. It is for sure not royalty on earth! We are told over and over in the gospel that we have to take up our cross to walk with Jesus. We are to lay down our lives for a friend/family....that is serving Jesus through the greatest act we can perform on earth, which is love. Motherhood=love. Love=self-sacrifice. Self-sacrifice=eternal rewards.
It is a crying shame that motherhood has become such a deminished vocation that was once looked upon in the highest regards. The more children one had, the more blessed they were. Satan has had his hand in all of this I guarantee you. If he can break up the family and deminish the vocation of motherhood, than he is deminishing the holiness of society. I believe this is why so many women look outside the home for self-worth as well as materialistic pride. If Satan can gradually take women out of the home and make them think they need to be served instead of served, than he is winning in the battle against the family. However, it is not too late. This is one of the very reasons I am devoted to writing this blog every morning. To remind mothers that the work they do is the holiest work on earth. Is it easy? No. Is it glamorous and thought of as royalty? Heck no! But is it similar to the work of Christ? Yes. Will motherhood bring you face to face with Jesus someday? Yes. Will souls be saved in our care? Yes. THIS is what motherhood is all about. TO SERVE christ by serving others.
So today, as you are going about your daily routines of carpooling, laundry, grocery shopping, sweeping crumbs, breaking up arguments, standing at your holy alter (the kitchen sink)....whatever it is, know it is nothing short of Holy. You are walking in the midst of Heaven by serving God's Kingdom on earth. You may be a "servant" here on earth, but your rewards are abundant for eternity. Life is short, so serve with all your heart!
Blessings to you this Wednesday!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
It takes a WOMAN to be a MOTHER
Gospel Reading today Mathew 23:1-12
"The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever makes himself great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be made great." Mathew 23:11-13
It takes a real woman to become a mother and have a servant's heart. In a world that is described in the gospel reading today....."they tie onto people's backs heavy loads that are heavy and hard to carry, yet they aren't willing even to lift a finger to help carry these loads. They do everything so that people will see them. They love the best places at feasts and the reserved seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect at the market place..." Mathew 23:4-8 IF this doesn't desribe our world, I don't know what will. People are consumed with having a "maid", a "nanny", "reserved seating or suite", "second homes", "a name in the town so they will be treated as royalty", these are all things people work towards their whole lives. I frankly can not stand it when a mother/woman says her "maid" is coming to her home. How about "Anna, who helps clean my home is coming today". NO ONE is beneath us....not the sacker at the grocery store, not the non-english speaking waiter who fills your glass with water, not the bellman who helps get your bags in. More than likely these people will be exhaulted and the people who treat them as lowly servants will be humbled before the Lord.
In regards to motherhood, anyone can be a "mother", but it takes a real strong woman to truly be a mother that God has called mothers to be. Women have to dig down deep and get tough and look at themselves as a servant to the rest of their family. Whoo, what a contradiction to the world that is! It is the day-in and day-out exhausting, selfless work in motherhood that makes us great. We humble ourselves before our family and the Lord and when we leave this earth we will be exhaulted. Our work is not of this world....it is Eternal. We live in a world where everyone is looking for the easy road out. For alot of women, motherhood is just too hard. I get asked all of the time, "I just don't know how you do it." The part time moms always ask me this and I simply say, "because it is what we are all called to do." Some of us are tough enough to do the job, others are too weak. Many mothers search to be great outside of their home and choose to be self-fullfilled while someone else does the dirty work. However, I have dear friends who are called to be both outside and inside their homes, not because it is too hard but because God gives them the grace to do both. If you think about it, anything great in this life, even down to The Passion of Christ, is hard. Nothing easy turns out good. In a world who wants to immediately be CEO after graduating college, a "mother" who wants the sassy stroller, nursery and nanny because that is what is "society chic", the child who inherits the family's business and immediately has everything handed to him is looked to be "blessed".....this all is very sad if you ask me. These are the people who look down upon the lowly and exhaults herself. These are the weak souls of society that is making our wholesome country disinegrate. It is the mothers who are tough and take on their job fully and do not complain and perform heroic duties daily in their homes where no one sees. These are the humble servants of today's world that is the backbone of our society. For when you humble yourself and become a servant of the rest, you have taken up your vocation from the Lord fully and will be blessed.
Keep up the hard work, mothers, and don't back down to this pagan world.
Blessings to you this Tuesday!
"The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever makes himself great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be made great." Mathew 23:11-13
It takes a real woman to become a mother and have a servant's heart. In a world that is described in the gospel reading today....."they tie onto people's backs heavy loads that are heavy and hard to carry, yet they aren't willing even to lift a finger to help carry these loads. They do everything so that people will see them. They love the best places at feasts and the reserved seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect at the market place..." Mathew 23:4-8 IF this doesn't desribe our world, I don't know what will. People are consumed with having a "maid", a "nanny", "reserved seating or suite", "second homes", "a name in the town so they will be treated as royalty", these are all things people work towards their whole lives. I frankly can not stand it when a mother/woman says her "maid" is coming to her home. How about "Anna, who helps clean my home is coming today". NO ONE is beneath us....not the sacker at the grocery store, not the non-english speaking waiter who fills your glass with water, not the bellman who helps get your bags in. More than likely these people will be exhaulted and the people who treat them as lowly servants will be humbled before the Lord.
In regards to motherhood, anyone can be a "mother", but it takes a real strong woman to truly be a mother that God has called mothers to be. Women have to dig down deep and get tough and look at themselves as a servant to the rest of their family. Whoo, what a contradiction to the world that is! It is the day-in and day-out exhausting, selfless work in motherhood that makes us great. We humble ourselves before our family and the Lord and when we leave this earth we will be exhaulted. Our work is not of this world....it is Eternal. We live in a world where everyone is looking for the easy road out. For alot of women, motherhood is just too hard. I get asked all of the time, "I just don't know how you do it." The part time moms always ask me this and I simply say, "because it is what we are all called to do." Some of us are tough enough to do the job, others are too weak. Many mothers search to be great outside of their home and choose to be self-fullfilled while someone else does the dirty work. However, I have dear friends who are called to be both outside and inside their homes, not because it is too hard but because God gives them the grace to do both. If you think about it, anything great in this life, even down to The Passion of Christ, is hard. Nothing easy turns out good. In a world who wants to immediately be CEO after graduating college, a "mother" who wants the sassy stroller, nursery and nanny because that is what is "society chic", the child who inherits the family's business and immediately has everything handed to him is looked to be "blessed".....this all is very sad if you ask me. These are the people who look down upon the lowly and exhaults herself. These are the weak souls of society that is making our wholesome country disinegrate. It is the mothers who are tough and take on their job fully and do not complain and perform heroic duties daily in their homes where no one sees. These are the humble servants of today's world that is the backbone of our society. For when you humble yourself and become a servant of the rest, you have taken up your vocation from the Lord fully and will be blessed.
Keep up the hard work, mothers, and don't back down to this pagan world.
Blessings to you this Tuesday!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Mothers of Compassion
Gospel Reading today Luke 6:36-38
"Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others and God will not condemn you" Luke 6:37
I can't write much this morning....my children are going and blowing extra early for some reason. The thought that came to my mind when I read the gospel is how judgemental mothers are on other mothers. Why do we think how we do things is the best and only way? For instance, my son Benjamin runs on different batteries than most children his age. This morning as I was pouring my cup of coffee and excited to have just one cup and say my prayers before I started my day with children....I heard footsteps coming into the kitchen. As I closed my eyes and sayed a prayer it was my husband, I turned around and saw it was Ben and the clock read 5:40 AM. I said out loud, "Lord, I give up". As most mothers are judging me at this moment and saying in their minds that I need to make him go back to bed, it just doesn't work that way with little Ben (believe me...I have tried it all.) He layed down next to me and I scratched his back while I prayed the rosary. My point is, what works for some children don't work for others. So instead of us immediately judging the child in McDonald's who is throwing a fit and thinking how terrible his mother is, have a little more compassion and pray for the mother and child instead of condemning them. We don't know anyone's background or circumstance. Every soul/child is different and we as parents have to parent each one differently I believe.
So as mothers raising disciples for Christ, let's stop judging and start encouraging one another. We are all in this together!
Blessings to you this Monday.
"Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others and God will not condemn you" Luke 6:37
I can't write much this morning....my children are going and blowing extra early for some reason. The thought that came to my mind when I read the gospel is how judgemental mothers are on other mothers. Why do we think how we do things is the best and only way? For instance, my son Benjamin runs on different batteries than most children his age. This morning as I was pouring my cup of coffee and excited to have just one cup and say my prayers before I started my day with children....I heard footsteps coming into the kitchen. As I closed my eyes and sayed a prayer it was my husband, I turned around and saw it was Ben and the clock read 5:40 AM. I said out loud, "Lord, I give up". As most mothers are judging me at this moment and saying in their minds that I need to make him go back to bed, it just doesn't work that way with little Ben (believe me...I have tried it all.) He layed down next to me and I scratched his back while I prayed the rosary. My point is, what works for some children don't work for others. So instead of us immediately judging the child in McDonald's who is throwing a fit and thinking how terrible his mother is, have a little more compassion and pray for the mother and child instead of condemning them. We don't know anyone's background or circumstance. Every soul/child is different and we as parents have to parent each one differently I believe.
So as mothers raising disciples for Christ, let's stop judging and start encouraging one another. We are all in this together!
Blessings to you this Monday.
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