The Less Glamorous, the more Holy!

Gospel Reading today Luke 13:22-30
"Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

If you were in line to meet God with hundreds of others, where do you believe you would fall in place.  Towards the front or the back?  Say you were next to a woman from NYC who was outfitted straight from Barney's with a very high paying job, a high rise in Manhattan and a vacation home in Paris.  She had children but had her beloved "Nanny" who took care of them most of the time.  Then you were next to a mother who lived a very simple humble life.  She worked day in and day out to care for her family, exhausted by the end of the day.  She worked tirelessly for the sake of others and didn't yearn to feed her soul with the things of the world but with the things from above.  She focused her days on changing diapers, sweeping floors, doing dishes, putting up laundry, taking kids to school or schooling them herself, taking a loaf of bread to the neighbors and preparing meals to feed her flock.  She would sit for a few moments throughout the day to recharge her batteries through prayer, simple prayers...such as "Lord, give me strength to do my best this day to serve my family." Then on the otherside, you have a single mother who works two jobs to provide her children with food, shelter and clothing.  She doesn't have an ounce of energy left at the end of the day after providing and caring for her family and home.  She falls to her knees at night and begs the Lord to somehow provide with her little income.  All through the day, she is lifting up "cries of the poor and hopeless" while trying to raise good children in this corrupt world.   


No matter where you fall in line, the most important thing to remember is that we have ONE audience that we should be working for.  Some choose to work for the audience of society while others work for the audience of Heaven.  And the women who provide the basic needs for their family, they can't even think about what audience they are working for...they are just trying to survive.  However, their works are being lifted to the highest calling...taking care of the family.  The ones who choose to work for society, family is put on the back burner.  This is a very dangerous choice, for family is the vital cell of society.  If the family is put on the back burner, so is Heaven and the souls that are to be prepared for eternal life.  Lately, I have been thinking alot about hard work.  Hard work is from God.  Doesn't feel so good when you fall into bed at night after putting in a day of honest, hard work?  This is being lost in today's society.  The goal of most people is how much less can I work for more pay?  This is one of the MANY downfalls of our society in the current times.  No body want to work hard!  Women are leaving the home and their children in the care of others because it is just too hard!  College graduates refuse to take minimum wage jobs to slowly work their way up because they "de-serve" a high paying career, bi golly!  No body wants to do the nitty-gritty, "no-frills" work when in all actuality that is where the keys are to the Kingdom of God.  It is in the tough, hard work, no praise, exhausting duties that our salvation depends on.  So, therefore moms, roll up your sleeves, get tough and embrace the "hard as hell" work that we do day in and day out.  Don't look for thumbs up and pats on the back because the only audience that matters clearly see every move you make.  And when you are standing in that line someday, are you going to be rewarded for the frilly days of life or the dog days of life? Look to the women of the past and how hard they worked and find encouragement through their lives.  Most days they worked hard to put food on the table.....from gathering eggs, to catching a chicken to kill and prepare for supper that night (my grandmother did this!), to washing clothes by hand, to cleaning their homes THEMSELVES, to raising kids.  They were tough and you didn't hear any whines and cries from them.  They did what they had to do.


So today, take a look around at what you do daily and see where you fall into line.  Are you searching for the easy way out or are you rolling up your sleeves and doing as society sees as the "dirty work"of homemaking/child rearing.  It is not glamorous by no means but rejoice that it is not glamorous....that means you are climbing the "Corporate Ladder" of Heaven.  The less glamorous, the more Holy!


Blessings to you this Wednesday!

THE KEY TO HAPPINESS.....

Today's First Reading Ephesians 4:7-16
"So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ." Ephesians 4:14-15

I loved this reading this morning and had to write a quick meditation.  I have a quiet home for the moment but on my way to a soccer game! My question for you this morning is do you feel "tossed to and fro"? I am witnessing it more and more .....mothers that are tossed to and fro from what Christ calls us to do and what the world coveys we "need" to do.  Speaking the truth and acting on truth is getting harder and harder in today's society.  With each day through prayer and conversation with God, I see it clearer and clearer.  We mothers/women have to be strong, get tough and answer the call.  We have to step down from this "ME" mentality and give ourselves as Christ calls us to do.  The key to happiness is quite simple.  While people are lost, being tossed to and fro, searching for the meaning of true happiness, the answer is so simple.  SERVING OTHERS is truly the key to happiness.  While so many are out serving themselves and saying "what is in it for me", going to counselors, seeking materialism, this little secret is in their midst and they don't even know it.  When a person digs deep, rolls up her sleeves, does the "dirty work" as we mothers do daily, and serves others gently and lovingly, all of the sudden the weight of the world is lifted. You start to have a skip in your step and you start to smile a little more.  What is this feeling I have inside of me that feels so good?  It is Heaven's JOY, love and grace descending upon you for all the good works you are providing for others.  God is a simple God and desires for us a simple and humble life.  It is our world that has made trying to find the key to happiness so complicated.  It is the mother tucked inside the walls of her home constantly serving her family, picking up things around the house, cleaning the messes and creating a loving and cheerful environment for her family ....it is this very place where the Angels want to dwell.  Where Heaven descends and transforms the ordinary into extraordinary.  It is this very place where the souls are developed for Eternity and a mothers heart grow in her conversion.  Miracles take place in these simple places where a heart serves endlessly for the Kingdom of God.

So my advice to all mothers this morning who are weary and tired of carrying the heavy loads of toddlers, the home and the same old, same old......you are in the very place where Angels dwell!  You are not missing out on the ones who are searching for happiness while being "tossed to and fro" in the crowds of Nordstroms or the group of women who think they "de-serve" (can't stand that word) a girls day at the Spa sipping on champagne and being served.  Yes that is all fun and great but it is NOT the key to happiness as the world tells us.  Rest in knowing you are exactly where you are suppose to be in God's plan.  Why would a person want anything else then Heaven's design?  True happiness is right in your midst so get a new attitude (I  have to tell myself this weekly) and embrace the servant's heart that dwells inside of you.....when you do this you will feel the giant hug of Jesus and feel a feeling you have never felt before......a dose of "happy medicine" from Heaven!

Feast Day of the Archangels!

FEAST DAY OF THE ARCHANGELS!
First Reading today in Mass: Revelation 12:7-12
"Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven."

Goodness, it has been way too long since I have written.  I miss reflecting and writing on the daily gospel dearly; however, I still don't have my own computer!  Life has been just trying to keep our heads above water....with our own growing business, three little ones and another on the way.  I know you ALL understand what I am talking about. :)

Today is the Feast of Day of the Archangels!  What wonderful intercessors we have in these powerful, strong armed Angels of Heaven.  I ask for St. Michael's help daily to defend my family and our home against the evil one.  My son, Benjamin, loves to talk about St. Michael's sword and how tough he is.  I have already been teaching my children about the difference between light and dark and how they should always strive to walk in the light. It is important for we mothers in today's society to become educated and aware of the Spiritual Warfare that goes on.  The constant battle, not between flesh and blood, but between good and evil.  Souls are at stake....our children's souls and we have to do everything we can to defend them in this battle.  Thanks to our Archangels, we have the most powerful intercessors fighting for our families! A wonderful resource to become educated on Spiritual Warefare is Father John Corapi. 

Off to take care of my little ones.  Hope you all have a blessed day!

Cuddles and Kisses from God....we are children too!

Gospel Reading today Luke 15:1-32
"I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants. And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." Luke 15:18-20

Lately I feel like I have been in a spiritual wilderness.  This verse brings such refreshment to me.  As I am so tired and grouchy, pregnant with my fourth and chasing three little ones, I admit that I haven't been on top of my game of motherhood/wifehood.  Last week I was maybe the worst mother on the planet and I fell to my knees in tears before the dishwasher.  I asked God, "and you think I am cut out for this?  Well, let me just tell you....you have chosen the wrong person!" ( I love that we sometimes think we know best! :) I think sometimes during our spiritual pilgrimage on earth, there are times we might feel distant from God.  One of the fruits from this, I believe, is that it makes us yearn for God's presence even more and it is a good thing when we realize that we are wondering lost in the dark.  We realize that all we need is God and nothing else.  He brings us the peace, joy and self-fullment that the world can not give to us.  I am so excited to receive spiritual nourishment from Heaven this morning in Mass.  What a gift we have in the Eucharist.  Not knowing what is going to happen in our crazy world in this lifetime, I am so comforted to know that if all I have is the Eucharist, than I have everything I need.

I am so happy to know that even though we are all sinners and fall from time to time, we have a loving God who will run to us with compassion and a kiss the moment we repent of our sins.  This sounds familiar in motherhood as well.  These little souls are so forgiving.  The moment I ask for forgiveness or put myself in the naughty corner for acting up, they embrace me with a kiss and say, "it's okay mama!"  And we do the same as mothers, the moment our child says they are sorry, we kiss them and forgive them and move on with the day.  Forgiveness is also such a gift.  What would our hearts and this world be like without it.  Forgiveness brings such freedom of the heart.

Through quiet prayer time this morning and reading the gospel today, I already feel embraced by Our Loving Shepherd.  He cuddles us and kisses us, just as we do to our little ones.  We are not alone on our walk of motherhood.  He gently picks us back up and leads us back to Him. Rejoice today in our loving and merciful God!  We can learn a great lesson from the gospel reading today....being forgiving of ourselves and of others.  None of us are perfect and we are all going to stray and fall to our knees but lift your eyes to Heaven and be thankful, for when we repent, all of Heaven rejoices! 
Have a blessed Sabbath.

Mothers Speaking with Authority By Our Actions

Gospel Reading today Luke 4:31-47
"He was teaching on the Sabbath and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority." Luke 31-32

The part of the gospel "speaking with authority" stuck out to me today when I read the scripture.  I tend to be "too nice" at times and do not speak up for the truth; however,  I am working on this.  I have a dear friend/spiritual mentor who is in her forties and has six children.  She is a very wise and knowledgeable woman.  She has taught me to speak truth.  She is originally from Ohio and she said we Texans can sometimes be just too niiiiice.  We tend to tell people what they want to hear instead of what they should be told.  Jesus spoke with authority, so therefore, we disciples should speak with authority for what we believe in.  As one of the Saints said (I can't remember who it is...) "Use words if necessary", meaning that speak truth by our actions,not words. Our society has gotten too lax and should be held accountable for things that are just not right.

Instead of nodding our heads in agreement with what everyone is doing, we should plant the seed in their mind that "hey, maybe that isn't okay".  We are called not to be judgemental, but we are also called to stand up for truth.  Changing society and the way it thinks start within the family.  If we take a stand and not follow the "standard", then others will start re-thinking the choices they are making.  For one, families being scattered in all different directions all weekend tied up with activities is not healthy in my opinion.  What happened to the old-fashion Sundays of going to church, sitting down to eat a meal as a family and resting.  Now families are scattered in all different directions.....one child playing basketball here, the other playing baseball there....the father is at one game and the mother is at the other.  This is not "keeping holy the Lord's day", which is one of the ten commandments.  Slowly but surely society and the ways of the world is eating away family time.  Everyone else is doing it, so should we.  Life continues to get more complicated.  Jesus and His blessed mother calls us to live a simple life.  What does that entail?  I am constantly asking myself this question as we are bombarded with activities and being "on the go".  One of the ways in keeping life simple, I believe, is the family staying intact.  To stop the nonsense of being stressed trying to get everyone to certain places and just saying NO!  I don't know about you all, but I didn't start sports and cheerleading until 7th grade. I didn't go to school until Kindergarten.  Life was simple.  I spent summers playing make believe, barbies, and out in the fields making wheat gum during Harvest.  My mom was in the kitchen cooking for our family and taking care of the home.  She wasn't consumed with entertainment for us.  She had work to do.  Now mothers are constantly enrolling their children in all kinds of activities, thinking it will help them be better, have more confidence, become more intelligent.  My opinion, all this will do is not let the child be a child.  We have got to get back to the mentality of keeping life simple. The best place for a soul to take beautiful form is in the home.  For the more scattered our families are, especially the mothers, the more weak we become and let havoc enter our homes and our hearts.  Who do you think is behind this?  Take a wild guess!?!

So today, as we end the month of August and look to the Fall, try keeping a simple minded heart with what is ahead.  Don't think your child needs to be in every activity.  Less is more.  Children truly are the happiest when the family is together, living a simple life and enjoying each other's presence.  As mothers, we can speak with authority by our actions. We can stand up for living a simple life and start by standing up for one of the ten commandments-Keep holy the Lord's day.

Blessings to you this Monday!

Keeping Our Hearts Picked Up along with the toys.....

Today's Gospel reading Mathew 24:42-51
"Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." Mathew 24:42

What if a friend you haven't seen in forever, or your mother, or a perspective buyer of your home was to show up at your door step unexpected.  What if you did not know the day or hour they were to come.  I would be a stress case for sure!  I am one of these who likes to have my house pristine when I have a visitor. (one of these days I am going to get over that....)  I like to have candles going, coffee brewed, music playing and for sure toys picked up.  However, you should see my house daily around 3:00 PM.  I love to see my children use their imagination and play till their hearts are content. Therefore, one might find around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, tents and forts built in the middle of the living room, baskets stacked up that were made into little houses, legos upon legos put perfectly together by these precious minds.  It is a zoo!  As I sip and drink my afternoon coffee and say some prayers, I love listening to their conversations and make believe world.  I,however, would be mortified if someone that has never been to my home knocked on my door to see my home in such a disarray.  I take pride and joy in my little home and would never want anyone to think I don't properly care for my home.  But the most important thing is to know in my heart that I care for my home properly but I also let my children be children and play.  Too many families are scattered in all different directions and overscheduled.  Too many children are in school at such early ages and don't have the luxury of playing peaceful as a child in their home.  So the person who arrived at my door would just have to either walk away or embrace the love and happiness this humble abode.  They don't need to know that by 6:00 everything is put back into its place, dinner is on the table and mom is plum worn out.  The only person that needs to see this is Our Lord. 

So the moral of this story is.....no eyes matter but Jesus' eyes.  He is the one we should be living for every minute of the day.  If he showed  up at my door step around 3:00 in the afternoon, I truly hope and believe He would tell me "Well done, My good and faithful servant.  Enter into my Kingdom."  For He knows my heart and my heart is to serve He and my family and this house alone.....nothing else in this world. He doesn't care about having a pristine home at all times and the way the "surface looks".  He cares about what is in the heart.  He wants us to have a pristine and beautiful heart. He doesn't want to find us mothers looking perfectly outside the home and playing the "one-up game" with our neighbor of who has the bigger home and fancier car and more perfect life.  He wants to find us on our knees hugging the child in "mourning" when they get hurt, folding the huge pile of laundry that clothe the naked, feeding mac and cheese to the "hungry" and giving sippy cups of water to the "thirsty". Giving hugs to the "pure of heart" and being the "peacemakers" of sibling rivalry. He wants us showing "mercy" to the little one who breaks your favorite piece of china.  He wants to embrace us as we are "poor in spirit" facing another day of a sick child.  And finally He brings great joy to see our "humility" in the work we do as mothers and blesses us when we receive "persecution" from the world.

There you have it....the Beatitudes all wrapped up in the Vocation of Motherhood.  Jesus tells us through this work, we will inherit the Kingdom of God.  As mothers, we are wealthy in Gods eyes by the work we do.  Nothing else in the world matters.  So today, as the toys are scattered and your home seems a bit unpeaceful at the moment, rest in the arms of Jesus.  For His work is happening right before your eyes.  Souls are being formed for Eternity through the forts, and legos and baby dolls......The formation of your children's souls that will live forever happen inside the walls of your home.  What more could we ask for as mothers than to witness the Kingdom of God as hand?  So forget about impressing the unexpected guest.  For the only one we need to live to impress is Jesus.  He sees our homes when they are perfectly picked up and clean.  The question is.....how does He see your heart?

Blessings to you this Thursday!  I will be getting a new computer soon.  I miss writing daily.

The World Can Wait, Your Family Can't!

Gospel Reading today Mathew 19:23-30
"But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first."  Mathew 19:39

This morning as I watched the sun rise and was meditating on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary (the Passion of Christ) tears streamed down my face.  To think of what Jesus went through for us and to see our disgusting soceity and how so many have forgotten what Christ did for our sake.  Mothers are killing babies inside their wombs, couples are disregarding the sacrement of marriage and the holiness of two bodies becoming one, people are living for the things of this world by obsessing about possessions and status, parents are disregarding their most important job on earth....raising children....the greatest gift given to them by God himself.  Me, me, me...."What is in it for me?" is the question this society is constantly asking. Where has society gone wrong?  I once heard it said that Satan's work is slow rotting.  He has slowly rotten away the very core of society. 

I truly believe we are living in very urgent times.  It is up to our generation to change hearts and minds back to Christ.  It starts in the heart of the home.  Mothers, by giving our lives to our family and focused on the most important job at hand, raising disciples for Christ, is truly or greatest work we can do for the Kingdom. By fathers loving their wives and working diligently and hard to provide for the family can help witness to our children strong work ethic and devotion to family.  For husbands and wives to be open to life and not be selfish in their thinking..."with two we can travel and have more finances available"....ya da ya da ya da...the lies of Satan of why we shouldn't be open to more life.  Nothing else is eternal that we do on earth.....the ONLY tangible work that is eternal is giving life.  Children are the greatest gift we have on earth.  Anymore, a family is considered CRAZY if they have more than three.  You can't even imagine the comments I have already received by being pregant with my fourth.  This is so sad to me.  I even received a "joking card" from my sister-in-law saying that we were white trash.  As humerous as she thought it was, this is how society views bringing more life into the world.  We are so excited for our fourth but it is so disappointing how I have already felt the stings of satan through this anti-life world.

We mothers have to realize the power we have from God in saving this corrupt world.  Through our daily work of shaping and molding souls for eternity and the mundane tasks of keeping our homes orderly and holy will help the whole world turn around.  By offering prayers up throughout the day...simple prayers, one liners can help in the Master Plan of this world.  Pope John Paul said, "The family is the vital cell of society".....what more do we need to know about the importance of marriage, motherhood, and homemaking? Satan is sly and smart...he knows what he is doing.  He took women out of the home to create chaos and havoc in society by luring them into worldy success and fullfillment.  Now, parents aren't around body or mind when their children are at home.  The women are stressed, running around trying to be all and do all....bring in a salary, cook, care for the home....in turn this leaves the heart of the family frazzled and stressed.  And we all know when mama is stressed and frazzled, the home and family are the same.

So today, ignore this noisy society that states, "What do you do? Oh, you JUST stay at home?" And if you have a career, try finding balance. Always keep centered in your mind that your family and home are the MOST important tasks at hand.  Get rid of distractions!  All of the extra phone calls, emails, outside influence, activites....get rid of them!  Just tell people you don't have any extra time in this season of your life.  Your plate is full trying to balance work, home and family.  If you seem out of touch with friends, they will understand.  If they don't, you don't need them as friends anyway!  I feel overwhelmed at the time being strictly giving my whole mind and body  to my husband, three toddlers and a little one in my womb on top of caring for our home.  I am not worried about anything outside this task.  Friends who I don't talk to for awhile will just have to understand.  Emails that go un-answered....sorry! :) The outside world can wait, my family can't. 

Okay, off to have a cup of coffee with my sweet husband.  Have a blessed Tuesday!