Monday, March 21, 2011

Let The Little Children Come to Me, Run to Jesus, and Come as You Are

It’s only an hour. I can do it! Heaven help me! Your turn, Daddy. Did I miss the Gospel? Stop taking off your shoes! Don’t lick the floor! Humility. Humility. Humility.
Melody wrote a must read about bringing kids to Mass. Click her words above to read more.

Let The Little Children Come to Me, Run to Jesus, and Come as You Are- the theme songs for this post.  Adding a third child to our mix has definitely brought it's share of humiliating moments- that and the fact that our little angel turned two and lost her halo!  She is giving us a run for our money inside and outside of church.  Last week she insisted on having one of her fingers up her nose.  I was holding her during Mass (because she was being a little rascal and wouldn't behave) and in went her finger up her nostril for some deep nasal exploration.  I took it out with my only free hand (note: I am holding her up with my other arm).  She puts her finger in from her left hand. I take it out.  She puts her finger in from her right. Left, right, left, right. It went on for five minutes at a time, then she would quite, wait a few minutes, then do it again.  What a scene! It even had people laughing in the pews on the other side of us.  At least everyone had a good sense of humor about it. That's one thing I like about my church.   People seem to be really understanding about little kids making noises and causing their parents lots of embarrassment.

As Melody pointed out in her blog post, nursing babies in church adds a whole new level of humility.  I'm OK with sitting in the pew nursing if there aren't people behind me standing up, or kneeling.  If you ever nursed, you'd understand why.   A couple of weeks ago, I had to nurse during the Consecration.  I thought I could finish before communion time, but Jude was not letting up.  As my pew started to leave for communion, I decided to stay and finish nursing--thinking all the while that Jude was almost finished and I would be able to hop in the line behind me.   Well, I completely overestimated how long it takes for about five rows of people to go through the communion line, because before I knew it, the priests were distributing communion to the last row of people.  I started to panic. I quickly detached baby, buttoned up my shirt and made a bee line for the priest.  But, just like every other time I am in a hurry, there happens to be someone in front of me, strolling along at the pace of an injured turtle!! I tried to get around him, but he kept moving and other people were coming at me from the other direction.  I quickly glanced at the communion line. There was only a few people left and I was still in the back of church trying to get past this man who wouldn't move!  Finally, I put my hand on his shoulder and gave him the sweetest look I could muster and said, excuse me, sorry! as I flew past him.  I literally ran up the aisle to communion- my heels clunking loudly for everyone to hear and see the crazy lady running up to communion. Eric saw the whole thing and said it was just awesome- especially how I was literally running to Jesus.  He also that the slow poke man gave me the most bewildered look when I put my hand on his shoulder. Oh well, sometimes, you just gotta run to Jesus, no matter who is in your way.

The story that tops the cake on embarrassing Mass stories is not my own, but my husband's.  I really shouldn't be sharing it, but it's just so darn funny.   About a month ago, we were so late to Mass, all the seats were taken and we had to stand in the foyer.  About half way through Mass, Eric bends down to help one of the kids with something and I hear this loud rrrriiiiiiiiiiip.  At first I didn't put two and two together and I asked Eric what that sound was.  He was holding back a grin and said "it's nothing".  A few minutes later, I realized what it was and we both started cracking up.  The hole was a full seven inches! It was probably a good thing the rip was in the front only- maybe.  In order to go up to communion with as few people noticing as possible, he grabbed our two year old and held her directly in front of him.  This was the first time she has ever directed attention away from something more embarrassing than her bad behavior!  This time we had to leave right after communion, or else there would have been a lot of people noticing a big hole where it shouldn't be.  All the way back to the car we were laughing so hard.  "Come as you are" got a whole new meaning that Sunday!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

The Abstinence Talk

I made the mistake of leaving my NFP stickers in reach of little hands.  The kids had fun sticking them all over themselves until Daddy came in the room and said,

"Hey, you can't play with those! And, (saying to Liam whose 4 yrs. old) you don't get any green stickers until your married!"

Monday, March 7, 2011

{please don't} Believe in Yourself

As I'm browsing through the newspaper, I happen upon an article entitled, "Universities educate tomorrow's...." I quickly fill in the blank, as you would, with the thoughts: Leaders, Visionaries, or Teachers. Goodness, no. I do a double take to read "abortion providers". "Universities education tomorrow's abortion providers".  Wow, I think. This is going to be good. Just as I thought, it was filled with a bunch of shallow rhetoric...family planning education, choice, women creating their own futures and opportunities, abortion care.  But the one that put the nail on the coffin was this statement:

"The new generation of female students [baby killers] "has more belief in themselves," said Lois Backus, 56, director of Medical Students For Choice. "They don't want to be told what they can't do." (Click here to see the full article and one of those leaders- she looks very inspired or something...)

hmmm...sounds like a certain fallen angel I know.  These are Satan's words; the words of a culture of death.

Believe in yourself.  Have confidence in who you are.   Are these innocent phrases to boost esteems?  I don't think so.  I was raised on this kind of garbage talk (not in reference to something my parents taught me) and I can say it is damaging.  To all you young people out there: Please don't believe in yourself. You will only end up egocentric and confused.  I think the first time I heard the words, "reliance on God" my body went into shock. culture shock.  Rely on something other than myself?  Shocking.  and life changing.  It's truly a relief to not have to constantly search inside of yourself to find all the answers.  Thank you, God for being all knowing, powerful, and omnipotent because I surely am NOT.  When I discovered Mary's fiat, it was also life changing. "Let it be done to me according to your will" is not something you hear in popular culture/school.   Do what you want. Be the person you want to be.  This was all I knew until my conversion.  I was egocentric, rebellious, and heading for the same fate as all the other fallen angels who coined these phrases.

Instead, we should be telling young people: Without God, there is nothing to believe in.  If you don't have God, you are NOTHING.  Do what God wants, not what you want.  People may tell us we are demoralizing our youth, but I can assure you from experience that these thoughts are nothing but moralizing.

Christ beside me, Christ before me
Christ behind me, Christ within me
Christ beneath me, Christ above me
Christ within me.
 
           ---St. Patrick's Breastplate

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

New for Confirmations and First Holy Communions

I've made a few new rosaries for the special Confirmandi or First Communicants in your life.  Click on the captions below the picture to follow the link to my website.   I know what my special Confirmandi and First Communicants will be getting on May!
Confirmation Rosary

Boy's First Communion Rosary

Girl's First Communion Rosary

Confirmation Bracelets

A Very Bad Day

A Lost Wallet
A Collection Notice
A Broken Alternator
A Crock pot of Food Never Turned On

Frazzled Nerves
Loosing Temper
Angry Words
Tears.

A Freezer Dinner
Husband's Helping Hands
Desperate Prayers
Bed At Nine

A New Day
Cup of Coffee
Good Morning Kiss
Forgiveness

God's Love
Grace Drizzling In
Smiling Faces
Found Peace


FYI: After some tear filled phone calls, the collection notice ended up not being anything and I'm actually getting a refund. The wallet is still lost and I'm getting new credit cards and a driver's license soon.  The new alternator in my husband's car is being installed today.   God is good. Now I just have to work on offering it up a little more gracefully!