The other day a friend told me a story. Her son came home with a note for Santa written by a classmate. She hoped that he could give it to his elf to bring to Santa. The writer of the letter explained that she is a 6 year old Egyptian girl who does not celebrate Christmas, but went on to say that she believed in Santa and asked if Santa would bring her something to show that he is real. As we laughed about this conundrum that my friend found herself in, she said that Christmas has become such a huge, commercialized thing that everyone celebrates Christmas nowadays, and this…
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Do You Know that You Are Set Apart to Be Holy?
Earlier in the month, I sat in front of the computer searching for a Christmas card. I noticed many that say something like, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Best Year Ever,” “Counting Our Blessings,” and, most annoyingly, just “Blessed.” And each was followed by a picture of an impossibly gorgeous family, with just the right clothes, frolicking in a bucolic field of evergreen trees. Honestly, it frustrated me. As I called myself a Grinch, I reflected about why these sentiments bothered me. I realized that these cards seemed like just another opportunity to shout our “blessings” to others. It’s the social media pitfall in Christmas card form. “Blessed” has become…
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Does God Take Delight in Your Garden?
In my last post I wrote about being gardeners in our children’s lives, planting seeds of faith in their hearts. But as I thought about that analogy, I realized it could be applied to our own lives also. So, let’s take a look at our gardens. What is planted in our gardens? How is it doing – dying, surviving or thriving? And how can we help it to flourish? Maybe yours is a garden that was once planted well with choice veggies. You were given good seeds, and they were put into a well-nurtured environment. But as life took over, you forgot to tend to the garden. Now, even though…
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Tending Our Garden of Little People
A few weeks ago I took our daughter to Confession. I really wanted her to get it in before school started, get her a jolt of grace. (As a side note: my spiritual director had recommended quarterly Confessions for a child her age.) But she did not want to go, AT ALL. Anyone else surprised by this? No, I wasn’t either. Anyway, in the chapel with her, I was lamenting (ok, downright complaining) to Jesus about how hard parenting is and how we’re trying to teach and pass on our faith to our kids, but I just worry that it’s not sticking. I was intrigued by the answer I got…
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Opening Our Hearts
Last post, I wrote about being open to the possibility of Jesus transforming our hearts, being open to a real and personal encounter with Christ, and being ready to accept his Love. We need to let Him find that crack in our hearts of stone and give us new hearts. But how can we be open to Him? Honestly, much smarter minds than mine have tackled this question. But it seems to me that the desire to want to know and be with God is enough. He will find you, like the Good Shepherd that He is. It is our job to accept Him – but to accept Him as…
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Made for Something More
So branching off the last post when I gave you a brief intro, another bit of information about me: I love to listen to Catholic podcasts. I don’t have a ton of time for reading (although I try at night and I’ve gotten really good at sleeping upright holding a book), but I usually can find 10 minutes in the car to listen to podcasts. I like them because they help me stay focused, feel inspired and energized and keep my thoughts on holy and good things. Recently, I listened to an episode of a podcast called Abiding Together, which is hosted by three women around my age, one being…
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A Little About Me
The other day I wrote about why I’m starting this blog. I want to begin this post giving you a little introduction to me – not because I think it’s especially interesting, but because it sets the tone for more interesting stories, hopefully. And I love witness stories. They move me, and touch my heart and they inspire and show us how God is moving in other’s lives. Of course, I don’t want you to focus on what I have been blessed with, or how your life is different, and start comparing. (Actually, I plan to eventually tell you some of the uglier stuff about my life for the express…
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Why Start a Catholic Blog Now?!
I’m sure I know what you’re thinking. Why would you start a Catholic blog now, TODAY, in the midst of crisis and outrage and such a low point in our Church’s history? And I see your point. But personally, if I don’t do something right now, I might burst from the pressure. In this climate in the church, many of us are feeling heavy feelings, anger, bitterness, despair, disappointment and more. But at the same time there are other heavy feelings – those of responsibility, and a compulsion to do something. That is what I have been experiencing. The thought “what can I do?” keeps running through my head. In…
