Saturday, April 25, 2009

The Feet of Jesus


As I began to string rosaries this evening, my 'checklist' of things I accomplished and things I need to accomplish today popped into my mind and I immediately began to assess my day's worth on my accomplishments.  It made me stop to think- this is not how God assesses my day. He does not care a thing about my checklist and how many errands I've accomplished. I should really stop thinking about my checklist and more about how much I've loved today.  I think this is a very common struggle among homemakers. We have so much on our list of things to do that we quickly lose sight of what is really important. In my mom's group, I recently shared an article my mother sent me. It was on St. Francis de Sales.  In this article, it quotes St. Francis's writing, "Do as little children who with one hand hold fast to the hand of their father and with the other gather strawberries or blackberries along the hedges.  In the same manner, while gathering and managing the goods of the this world with one hand, hold fast with the other hand of your heavenly Father, turning to him from time to time to see if your actions or occupations are pleasing to him."  Wow. I need to remind my self of this several times a day. I love how he makes it seem manageable to be a saint and a busy mom. He goes on to say, "Be both Martha and Mary. Diligently carry out your duties, and often recollect yourself and put yourself in spirit at the feet of our Lord. Say, "My Lord, whether I'm rushing around or staying still, I am all yours and you are all mind. You are my first spouse and whatever I do is for love of you."   Needless to say, EVERYONE in my mom's group loved the article and thanked my mom for sending it.  From now on, whenever I'm making rosaries, especially, I will put myself at the foot of Jesus and forget all those silly checklists.

Monday, April 20, 2009

clay rosary tidbits

The Saturday before Palm Sunday, I received a phone call from a woman I sold a rosary to. She had ordered it as an express order, which costs $17.00 dollars just for shipping. I noticed that she lived in Maryland also, but I didn't recognize the name of the city she lived in. She called to say she recieved the rosary and that she noticed I lived in Bel Air, on Wheel Road. She said that she lives 15 minutes away and had driven down Wheel Road a couple times that day (right past my house!). As if that isn't a moment to say, "What a small world." She goes on to tell me that she is becoming a full member of the Church this year at the church I go to! I really wish I could have gone to the Easter vigil to witness it. I love to see new members come into the church. She said that she was blown away to see that we lived so close. She said she looked all over the internet for the "perfect gift" for a family member who is also coming into the church with her. And to think, that perfect gift was made by a parishiner of her parish. It was meant to be! Congratulations, Angel and your family!



I also received an email recently from a friend from Minnesota, near my home town. She said she had been at a funeral of a coworker, and noticed that the rosary she was buried with, was the rosary that had been that woman's favorite rosary for many years. It was one of my first clay rosaries. What an honor for me. When I hear these stories, it's at these times, I realize that I am doing what God wants me to do. When I make my rosaries, I always try to remember to pray for the person receiving them. That somehow, the rosary I make will help them to heaven. (and maybe help me to heaven!)

Friday, April 10, 2009

Good Friday

It's Good Friday today. I am trying extra hard to remember Jesus's sacrifice and I plan to say a Merciful Jesus Chaplet around 3:00pm. Well, I haven't written on this blog in a few months because 1. my computer crashed, and I mean completely crashed. We lost every picture, every document, every piece of data on it. It was so defeating that I thought about throwing the towel in on my rosary business. Thankfully, I was able to make copies of my bead meanings, so I didn't to start from scratch with those. So, in the end, I decided to keep going.

And the second reason I haven't blogged in a while is that I had a beautiful baby girl named Analee Juliet Harkins who was born on February 5, 2009. She is now two months old and I love her to death!