He took a little child and had him stand among them.  Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”     

My granddaughter Elizabeth said prayers with us before dinner last Sunday.  She held her hands pressed together and lowered her head as she gave thanks to God in the traditional prayer of “grace” before meals, and beamed with pride and a smile because she was able to recite it on her own.

After dinner, as we all sat down in the living room, Elizabeth shared a day-care experience with me.   “Grandma,” she said, “I said my prayers in school and Miss Kim told me I better not do it again.”  I felt my heart drop.  My wonderful daughter Anne, Elizabeth’s mother, said, “Can you believe that?!”   Anne encouraged Elizabeth by telling her how happy she made Jesus feel when she said her prayers.  I agreed and half-heartedly advised Elizabeth to continue to say her prayers silently at school.  Elizabeth in her child-like wisdom replied, “I will.  I will say them in my heart.”

Each time I think of this, I have to pause and let that sink in.  Like the last delectable bite of mouth watering chocolate cake, I savor the sweetness and purity of Elizabeth’s profession of faith: “I will say them in my heart.”

Her older brother scoffed at her and thought the idea of saying something with or in your heart was a physical impossibility and therefore ridiculous.  But Elizabeth had it so right!  God requires our hearts, not our minds or empty words.  “Rend your hearts, not your garments” Joel 2:13, comes to mind.

What a blessing Elizabeth is to me and to the world!  My daughter has done such a good job teaching her children about God.  I am aware of her struggles to provide in every way that she can for her children, especially as a single parent.  She brings them to mass every Sunday and spends as much quality time as she can with them.  I think she would put them in private/Catholic school if she could afford it on her own.  It is a terrible injustice that a four year old child cannot say her/his prayers before meals everywhere they actually eat, or for that matter, anywhere they want to.  This one accomplishment must be hidden because a teacher or school system, like Miss Kim, will make a child feel they have done or said something that is “wrong”.

Please join with me in praying for Miss Kim and all the teachers our children spend a good part of their days with.  Please pray for our nation and politicians, that God may rule over their hearts and minds.  Here is the answer to our problems: When the apostles could not heal a particular person and questioned Jesus about it, ” And he said to them: This kind can go out by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”  Mark 9:29 Let us pray with and from our hearts verbally and/or silently that God be present in each and every one of us, especially during these uncertain times. “People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them.  When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.  But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth; anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  Luke: 15-17

Copyright 2012 Teresa Scibelli

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks of a loaf of bread or a snake when he asks for a fish?  If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.”

When I think of my father, and how to describe him, I have a hard time accurately portraying a man I am so blessed to be call “Dad”.   I thank God everyday for him.   I also remember that God Our Father is my dad’s father too!  Dad has showed by word and deed that God does provide for our every need when we turn to Him in sincerity.

My earthly father has lived a life of modesty and demonstrated good stewardship in all with which he was entrusted. Before marrying my mom, he served in WW II.  When he returned home he married my mom and worked hard as a fireman serving and protecting the community.  He would not even accept a free bus ride on his way to work because he did not feel he should be treated differently than anyone else.  Over the course of his life he had nine children that he provided for, so he always looked for ways to improve his income.   Dad worked his way up to Deputy Chief before retiring to spend some quality time with mom.  Mom became ill shortly after and went through a long battle with cancer before passing on to God’s loving arms.  But through it all, Dad stood strong.  He may not realize how he was a source of strength during this difficult time and many others to follow, but he surely was and remains to be till this day!

Dad is the human example of our Heavenly Father’s love for us.  He took my brothers and sisters and me on many trips to museums, the World’s Fair in 1965 where he packed a bag of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches so we wouldn’t have to waste money eating out, to the beach where he would help us build sand castles or carry us on his strong shoulders into the crashing surf, and the park where we would sometimes play touch football, or lay on our backs in the grass and look for shapes in the clouds. We have ridden the train to Coney Island, and gone on family picnics when we would always beg to “stop by Grandma and Grandpa’s house on the way home”. These were just some of the special times we looked forward to.  After Mom passed away Dad taught religious instruction classes for our parish church and two of my children had the pleasure of being a student in Grandpa’s class!  What a gift!

Dad has always been a man of honor in every sense of the word.  A living reminder of how great our Heavenly Father’s love for us is!   Thank you Dad, for being who you are, and thank you Heavenly Father for the generosity and love you have shown for me by sharing Dad with me!

Dad is now ninety years young and has twenty-four grandchildren and I have lost count of the great-grandchildren!  I hope we honor him in the same way he has honored us.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, your children like olive plants around your table. Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion, And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Indeed, may you see your children’s children.  Psalm 128

I love you Dad!

Copyright 2012 Theresa Scibelli

Over the last 3 months my husband and I have gone through some major change.  It started with a back surgery which was nerve wracking in itself for me, and a painful experience for my husband.  We tried sleeping in a different bed that my husband felt was firmer and easier for him to get in and out of.  Just sleeping in another room was disorienting.  I had just started a new job; more change, but was grateful to God for it.  I began waking up with the sense of panic and worry about so many people and things.  The thoughts became overwhelming as I included my children and grandchildren to my list of worries and things I could not control.

It is so hard to stop the cycle of worry once we give it a chance to creep in.  Medical bills began rolling in to add to the ever increasing pile of bills to be paid. We decided we had to do something different in order to keep it under control.

Change. I kept telling myself that change was easier and we were more adaptable 20 years ago. This thought process keeps me stuck and stubborn.  Feeling too old to change and too tired and questioning where we went wrong.

If not for God’s word and the prayers of family and friends I don’t know how we would get through it all.  The passage from Philippians 3:14 put it all in the proper prospective.  He doesn’t say it is an easy road.  “Forgetting what is behind”, all the things that I want to cling onto, and “straining” toward what is ahead.  Straining, yes!  There is comfort in knowing that as I keep my eyes on God, even though I may be feeling the strain of everyday challenges, there is a goal to win, a prize for which God has called me.

I don’t know what the future will bring, but I do know that I cannot live in the past or change it in anyway.  I do know that God will see me through each and every situation that seems impossible to bear.  I remind myself that I am pressing, not gliding on, towards the goal in Christ Jesus.  If God is for us, who can be against us?

As we get slammed with family, health, financial and worldly problems, let us all hold fast to the truth that God has called us heavenward and that our struggles are not in vain.  Let us remember to pray for each other and even for those we do not know. Let us remember that we are not alone in our journey and our paths are all leading to the same great glory.

Dear Lord, help us to reach out to others and share our story with others.  We never know how we may be helping another person who thinks that they are alone in their troubles.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)

Copyright 2012 Theresa Scibelli

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” 

Luke 10:38-41

I can remember years ago, feeling the same way as my baby sister sat on Dad’s lap while I was helping Mom set the table and get dinner ready.  I was angry that she got to sit on Dad’s lap and enjoy his attention instead of helping me.   Whenever I read this passage about Martha and Mary I recall how I did not offer my gift with a free heart.

With the holiday season upon us, it is easy to get caught up in “Martha mode”.  We heap decorating, entertaining, extra shopping and holiday fanfare to our already overloaded responsibilities and quite often overwhelm ourselves trying to create the perfect “Kincaid” Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday.

In the bible reading of Martha and Mary, we can mistakenly interpret that Jesus was implying that Mary was better then Martha; “Mary has chosen what is better”.  Better then what?  Wasn’t Martha right in planning a meal to feed Jesus after inviting him into her home?  How could she sit and chit-chat when there was food to prepare?  We can easily miss the first part of what Jesus had said; “but only ONE thing is needed”.

What is that one thing?  I believe it is understanding your personal gift and joyfully giving it without expecting anyone else to help out with your offering.  Martha did what came natural to her.  She had the gift of charity and hospitality.  Where Martha went wrong, so to speak, was expecting her sister Mary to follow her plans.  Martha, so much like us, did not appreciate her own personal gift.  Martha’s gift to Jesus was to invite him into her home and prepare a fine meal.  This was her free invitation, not her sister Mary’s.

As it is explained in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, we are “One Body” made of many parts.  Just as the foot should not say to the body “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body”, we must recognize our unique gifts and share them with others because that is our mission.  Mary had the gift of listening which is another form of showing love and respect for another.  She focused her full attention on the guest in her home.   While Martha prepared the meal, Mary did not busy herself with the preparations and leave her guest, Jesus to sit by himself.

This bible passage brings up a great opportunity for each of us to recognize our God-given gifts and contributions, and to be fully aware and thankful for the opportunity to express ourselves through them.  To be ourselves and not resent anyone else, for being themselves as well.  To appreciate how we all work together as One Body with many parts in Christ.

God bless you all this Thanksgiving!  Relax and enjoy doing what you are best at and know that God appreciates a cheerful giver.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it:  1 Corinthians:27

Copyright 2011 Theresa Scibelli 

In these troubling times, when millions of Americans are unemployed, homeless, hungry, ill,and burdened by a thousand different problems, it seems to me we need a  true Savior. As Pink Floyd once asked, “Is anybody out there?”.

I know that without my faith in God, I would be hopeless. Without the realization that we do have a Savior and His Name is Jesus, this would be a miserable existance. This is not to say that faith comes easy. As St. Augustine said;” Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe”. And so I wait on the reward.

If I truly open the eyes of my heart I will see very good reason to believe that God is real and He is good. He cares for us even though we rarely take the time to acknowledge Him. We ask the President to fix our wearied souls.We expect the government to provide us with whatever false sense of security we derive here on earth. We continue to look for the wrong savior. As Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta said: “When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.”

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church it is written: 1808 Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmess in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of Fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause.

“In the world you have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”.

Are YOU in GOOD hands?

Copyright 2011 Theresa Scibelli

Editor’s Note: Today, we welcome new contributor Theresa Scibelli to CatholicMom.com. A wife, mother and grandmother, Theresa resides with her family in Florida and will be sharing her work with us monthly. LMH

I feel like I have been walking in a heavy fog since I lost my job a year ago,.  Unfortunately I developed bilateral carpal tunnel, had surgery on both hands, but was advised by the surgeon that I needed to find a new “occupation” as the repetitive pinching motion I had put my hands through could no longer continue.  Although, I knew this to be true, I also knew the timing was not the best as far as the economy went. I need an income and a purpose to my life. I need something to contribute.

I’ve had plenty of time to ponder what I’m good at and what I would love to do even as I have applied for numerous positions.  It has been a mind-boggling and somewhat depressing experience.  Last Sunday I purchased an audio cd on the way out of church.   The subject was about relationships.  In the course of listening, the author spoke about marriage and raising children.  I am blessed to be married 37 years and equally blessed with four adult children and six grandchildren.

The author mentioned that some couples focus on raising their children to such a degree that it becomes the main purpose of their marriage.  Sadly, when the children are grown, some of these married couples realize they have nothing else in common and hence they divorce or grow apart.  The author suggests we need a “common purpose” that does not change, not just “something in common”.  The world is ever-changing and so are we. We need a common purpose in life that doesn’t change.

The purpose is love. Called to love!   That was just what I needed to hear.  I can do that!

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law”. Romans 13:8

Love never ends. Now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

My kids are grown, I’m out of work and confused about what I can contribute to a company, and what I should even consider at this stage of my life.  So, what is my purpose?  To continue to follow God’s commandments. To love God and love my neighbors as I love myself.  God will take care of the rest!

Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Copyright 2011 Theresa Scibelli