National Council of Catholic Women Urges Participation in Fortnight for Freedom to Support Religious Liberty

(Arlington, VA)—At their meeting May 31- June 1, the Board of Directors of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) urged members and friends of NCCW to support the U.S. Bishops’ Fortnight for Freedom,June 21 – July 4, through personal and family prayer and active participation in their local churches and dioceses.

On June 5, NCCW President Rebecca Woodhull met with members of the Knights of Columbus staff to finalize plans for NCCW’s participation with the Knights and the USCCB for the Fortnight for Freedom. Participants in the meeting at the Blessed John Paul II Shrine included Timothy Saccoccia, Knights of Columbus (KC) Policy Coordinator; Garret Girmus, KC Fortnight Coordinator; Rebecca, Scott Lloyd, Sr. Policy Coordinator; and Patrick Kelly, Executive Director, Blessed John Paul II Shrine.

“NCCW and the Knights of Columbus are logical partners in the observance of the Fortnight of Freedom,” Dr. Woodhull noted.  “Lay women and men all over the country want to express their support for the U.S. Bishops’ principled stand on religious freedom and conscience protections. And many of those women and men belong to parishes whose members affiliate with NCCW, the Knights, or both. I am confident that our members will actively support their diocesan and parish observances of the Fortnight and partner with the Knights where possible.”

In preparation for the Fortnight for Freedom, NCCW sponsored an advocacy call for its members on June 5. During the conference call, NCCW members suggested and endorsed a number of ways to participate in the Fortnight including: ask Adoration Teams to devote an hour to this intention, pray the Rosary for religious freedom, read the bishop’s document, “Our First, Most Cherished Freedom” (www.usccb.org), sign up for the alerts from the USCCB via their website, write a letter to the editor from your diocesan or parish council stating the NCCW position on religious liberty, ask your pastors to have a Mass for the protection of religious freedom, and pray as a family.

Other ideas encouraged by individual members of NCCW included:

• Use this as a “teachable moment” where the basis of our faith beliefs can be explained more fully and focus CCW meetings on religious freedom and the consequences of ignoring threats to it.

• Hold a potluck or BBQ with a program on the need to stand up for our faith. This is an opportunity for people to grow in their faith.

• Most important, call your representatives in Congress when key decisions or votes are pending. It may be easier to send a postcard and that is good method of contact.  But when you call, your call is recorded immediately, and mail can be delayed. Don’t worry, your representatives in Congress will not be answering the phone, and you don’t have to say anything but “I would like Senator [name] to vote NO/YES on bill #____.”

Dr. Woodhull summarized by saying, “We are so blessed in this country that we think nothing will really change or harm us in the practice of our faith…but we are wrong.  If ever an issue needed the attention and action of NCCW members–this is it!”

My Heart is Not in Stuff

A  month ago,  a WordPress Daily Prompt asked writers if we could only take five objects from a burning house, what would be the most difficult things for us to leave behind?  Well really, the only objects I consider to be important are photos of family, my computer, passport and ID, a bible and bank card, assuming that I am wearing my wedding ring and gold cross like always. That’s it.

As for regrets, I really do not think that my heart is in things. Since I was a little girl, I have felt content with what I have materially. Even now, when my nine kids ask me what I want for Christmas, I pause for a moment with a blank mind. I have to search to come up with a list.

Rather a strange state to be in because this is not the result of spiritual striving, fasting or prayer, it is just how I am. Living with little people has only strengthened an innate tendency to enjoy the little things, to be grateful to be alive and in communion with the Spirit. In addition, as a large family with barely enough cash but many blessings, we have experienced many incidents of God’s providence. This scripture resonates within all of us.

MATTHEW 6:25-34

DO NOT WORRY

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Kids understand these words, reminding me that the key to happiness and joy is not stuff but thankfulness and appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us. There is much to be grateful for if we will simply stop for a moment and really see what actually surround us every day. Children delight in the plethora of tiny details all around them. They are born with a sense of wonder and the ability to enjoy simple pleasures.  Perhaps it is because they are closer to the ground when we tried to go for a walk but they stopped at every flower and bug, especially a bug on a flower. As  they look, touch, smell, even lick each wonderful new discovery, all their attention is riveted on that one thing. At first it was difficult to slow down during our walks and let the toddlers set the pace but it was a wonderful instruction in how to relax and become fully present to the moment.

At first I was only capable of enjoying whatever captured my children’s notice bu t now I realize that they were experiencing so much more than I initially thought. In their silent, non-verbal attention to nature, they were in deep communion with God Himself as He is present in His creation. Adults struggle for years to merely glimpse the intimacy that little children have naturally with God. They do not need to strive or work for this state of contemplation because they are without guile, prior opinions or expectations; they are open and look with trust, ready to absorb the love, joy and peace that envelopes them. Children are grateful for everything.

Ah, to live in a constant state of gratitude and thankfulness is a taste of heaven. Even if I were to live in the midst of a concrete jungle, I could at least stop for a moment, look up and give thanks. I simply need to remind myself to glance upwards, above my little busy world and enjoy the sky. The sky alone is an extravagant present that continually fills me with the joy if I remember to take a break from my ‘important’ business. Every time we attend mass, we are constantly reminded to give thanks to a Heavenly Father simply because life in, with and through Him is a joyful experience no matter what our situation.

“The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all his benefits, for all that he has accomplished through creation, redemption, and sanctification.  Eucharist means first of all ‘thanksgiving’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1360).

Copyright 2013 Melanie Jean Juneau

When a person is beatified, it means they are blessed. But wait – aren’t we all blessed? Yes…but we are blessed in a different way than the how it is intended here. To be considered truly blessed, a person must not only have lived a life centered around Christian values but they must also have performed a miracle.

Now, while getting home from work in less than thirty minutes on a Friday night may *seem* like a miracle, there are also specific regulations around what constitutes a true miracle. For something to be a miracle, it has to be instant, comprehensive, and lasting. There’s a good chance our Friday traffic will be back the following week, so it is neither comprehensive or lasting.

Once it is shown that a person has led a solid Christian-focused life and has performed a miracle (or were martyred for their faith), they can be venerated in their local diocese. (For more information on veneration and worship, click here).

To become canonized, a second miracle must take place. Only a pope can issue the decree that a person is indeed holy and in heaven with God. Once canonized, a person can be remembered at liturgies through the year at any parish and not just the one in their hometown. They can also have a church dedicated in their name without consent of the Vatican.

So, it really comes down to a few key differences:

So, now that we’ve cleared that up, back to the original question: do all popes become saints? The answer is no. While more popes have been canonized than those that remain “only” beatified, becoming a Pope does not guarantee you will become a saint.

Copyright 2013 Jen Frost

I assured her we did. And I assure you that she’s as techie as they come, though I think she’s not quite in touch with labeling herself as such.

Martina Kreitzer is part of the awesomeness known as Catholic Sistas. She’s a cradle Catholic, wife, and mother who was part of creating Catholic Sistas to continue the camaraderie of an existing women’s group. You’ll also find her blogging and on the board of Austin Catholic New Media and all over the social networks.

Martina may not consider herself a techie, but I think you’ll see why she’s a perfect fit for this interview…

Tell us about yourself in five words or less.

Motherhood-ing and blogging with one hand.

Of your pursuits, what’s your favorite?

I always feel like I should say God and my family first…because it’s true. But, that’s a given. After that, I’d have to say the iPad mini my awesome husband got me for my birthday last month has become my THE dedicated all things Catholic Sistas device.

At first, I wasn’t sure how I would incorporate it into my already device-filled apostolate – between my iPhone and MacBook, I sometimes feel like I have social media bleeding out of my eyes. Can you relate? So, I was a bit of a skeptic. If you know how Mac products work, you have to bring all your existing apps and goodies over to your new device.

It ended up being a clean slate and before I knew it, it became my absolute sole blogging {and all other apostolates} device. I can tweet, pin, Facebook, create memes, post pics – especially for our ongoing prayer campaign – on Instagram, and even do half-decent photography {as a photographer for 20+ years, saying half-decent is major props to the ever-improving technology of these devices}. I had ZERO experience going into this blogging gig, so that I am able to do this all on one device and – here’s the best part – it all fits in my purse is…amazing. Simply. Amazing.

When you think of the New Evangelization from your approach as a “Catholic Techie,” what excites you? What makes you want to continue?

I look around and see so much inspiration from others who are working hard at their particular craft and apostolate. I look to their enthusiasm to help me brainstorm ideas and projects that are both relevant and needed for the specific audience that Catholic Sistas tries to capture. There is no worry of an over-saturated market, and that allows us to dream big and do big things – with the help of the Holy Spirit – when it comes to proclaiming the core Gospel message.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your work?

I receive e-mails and prayer requests frequently from readers because we keep an ongoing prayer list. Knowing that the blog is having a positive impact on someone’s spiritual life is edifying and fuels the desire to continue doing what we’re doing. And there are a lot of rough days when the Evil One would rather I quit altogether, so the communication with readers is very valuable and always appreciated.

In your spare time, what are we likely to find you doing? Do you have a gadget in hand or do you go native and screenless?

Spare time. Does not compute! Haha! Ok, since we moved last year, I have become a bit of a project hound. I like small projects that don’t take long to complete. You can usually find me in the garage with my iPhone in hand {playing music, of course!} and digging through boxes and asking my worker bee kiddos to help move stuff into the house. I also love to be in our yard and have some vegetables growing, despite my brown thumb. Because of my love of photography and humor, I usually have my phone handy to snap funny pics of the kids, but I do like to go “screenless” when possible.

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Sarah Reinhard

-Isaiah 66:11

Baby Joseph

Until I started breastfeeding my first child about six weeks ago, I don’t think I fully understood this verse. I remember when I was younger I thought this verse was awkward and I sort of skipped over it if I was in something I was reading. Classic teenager…

Anyway, since beginning to beast feed, I have learned a lot about sacrifice, the genius of the human body and the comfort a child feels when being fed. It’s incredible how Joseph can be screaming at the top of his lungs and seem inconsolable and yet, as soon as he latches on, the crying subsides, his breathing slows and his little body relaxes. He feels safe and secure. He feels comforted. As adults we don’t remember his experience, but feeding a young one or watching one find consolation in his mother can easily remind us of this reality. It really is incredible what God had planned for the human body. A completely natural way of connecting mother and child. A way which reminds us that in God we can find comfort and consolation as deeply and as quickly as a small child who nurses at his mother’s breasts. This verse wasn’t just a nice piece of poetry, but is instead a glimpse into the truth of our existence and dependence on God.

Gods beautiful plan for breast feeding also explains why the verse says suck fully. This was really the part that struck me as I read up on the science behind breast feeding. I am the type of person who needs to know as much as possible about everything I am involved in and that knowledge usually leads me to a deeper understanding of my existence…this time it was no different.

When a child nurses, there are actually two different types of milk which come from the mother. At first, the fore milk is released. This usually comes quickly when he starts the feeding and is pretty abundant. As he continues to nurse, the hind milk comes down. This milk is not as plentiful but it is much richer with all the nutrients he needs. It also helps to keep him fuller longer. The downside is that to get to the best milk, it takes patience and perseverance.

And that is where the lesson for today lies. At the beginning of our walk with the Lord,  everything can seem easy and grace can seem to be so abundant. There are still challenges of course, but we feel Gods presence and seem to be growing so quickly in our faith. This, however, is not the end of the story. God asks us to continue to be faithful and to persevere. It is often difficult to continue the path set before us and it can require a lot more work and sacrifice. On the other hand, we can also find that the toughest parts of our journey are the most rewarding. Just as a child must persevere in nursing to get the most nutritious milk, we too must persevere in the spiritual life to see all that God has planned for us!

It really is a wonderful path that has been set before us! Yes, there are many hardships. Waking every two to three hours to feed my newborn is not easy (mostly because I rank sleep near the top of the list of things I enjoy most on life), but there are many moments when I hold Joseph at two in the morning an I thank God for the times he has given me with my precious child. In the end, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Taking the easy way out would not be nearly as rewarding.

May God be praised!

Copyright 2013 Stephanie Gulya

Not Lukewarm

I have the privilege to be on a team for a Cursillo weekend later this month.  As part of building our team and getting to know each other each week we answer a question about ourselves in regard to our faith.  One week the question was “What is your favorite scripture verse and why?”

We began and I saw a pattern quickly emerge until I shared my verse.  The pattern re-emerged as the other ten or so women answered the question.  Each woman gave a lovely verse, filled with peace, love, dedication or seeking God in the stillness.  Except me.  My favorite verse is, “So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)  Why? It is my goal or guiding principle of my life to be not- lukewarm in my life, especially in my faith.  Think about that verse for just a second and imagine being spit out of Jesus’ mouth.  It is not a pretty picture.  I do not want to be spit out, literally or figuratively, from Jesus’ mouth.

While I stand by my verse, it still made me feel un-womanly since it is such a strong sentiment.  All the other verses were gentle, positively leading you to God and a deeper relationship with him.  Am I afraid of Jesus and his reaction to me if I fail? No.  I take comfort in his love and mercy, knowing that failure is part of my journey as is asking for forgiveness.  I think this verse speaks to me because it is practical and gives me a sense of action.  It compels me to live out my faith in the world in a very active way.

What is your favorite verse and why?

Copyright 2013 Deanna Bartalini

We Are There

We sit in the sun, in the pouring rain, in the cold with blankets, on the hard metal bleachers every Saturday and Sunday and on evenings scattered throughout the week, we sit and we watch. We are the parents who choose to be in those stands watching, cheering and supporting our children on the court and on the fields of any and all sporting events that happen. Some of us are screaming and cheering and others just watching but no matter how loud or quiet our voice is we are there. We are there not to be entertained, although many times we are. We are there, not to socialize with other parents but it is a great way to get to know others. We are there to support our children whether they are the stars of the team or the bench warmers. We are there because we love them.

Our being there does so much more than at this moment we could ever know.

As a child my parents were always there but many of my friends were just dropped off. My parent’s presence gave me confidence and belief that what I was doing mattered to them and was important. They built my self esteem and hugged me and let me cry when I was horrible and hugged me and smiled when I was not.

We are parents and we are there on those bleachers because our presence signifies love support and confidence for our children for the rest of their lives; simply because we are there.

Copyright 2013 Lori Hadorn-Disselkamp

Here are the Tech Talk highlights from last week.

Catholic Blogger Elizabeth Scalia

It’s the first in a new series of interviews we’ll be doing as part of Tech Talk: Catholic blogger highlights! This week, Elizabeth Scalia wows us and delights us.

Puzzlejuice Addiction

Do we thank the folks at Starbucks for the addiction they’ve introduced with their free promo card for this app, or do we hunt them down? The jury’s out.

My Consecration App

It’s not a brand-new app, but it is the one we like best so far. Here’s why.

Using Lists to Manage Your Twitter Time

Here’s one easy way we’ve found to manage our time on Twitter better.

Getting the Most out of Online Homilies

From a master connoisseur of homilies, some advice for both those who upload and share homilies and those who listen to them.

Read all of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Sarah Reinhard

Why Call God “Father”?

A hundred years ago this month, Father’s Day was first observed in Spokane, Washington.  This June not only the USA but 55 other countries around the world will honor the roles fathers play in the family and the community.  This modern secular holiday invites us to ask a very important question – what does it mean to call God “Father?”

Most of the great religions of the world believe in one God and teach the gist of the Ten Commandments.

But that the supreme Being is not just “King of the Universe” or  “Master” but “Father,” that he desires us to have a close, familiar relationship with Him–these ideas you don’t find anywhere outside the teaching of Jesus.

To call God “Father” does not mean to say, of course, that he is an old man with a white beard.  Only the second person of the Blessed Trinity wedded himself to a male human nature in the womb of Mary.  The Father and the Holy Spirit are pure Spirit and transcend male and female, masculine and feminine (CCC 239).  This is no new insight brought to Christianity by the feminist movement.  It has always been taught that the word “Father,” applied to God, is used by way of analogy.  Analogies tell us something very true despite being imperfect.  Until recently, the father was recognized by Western society as origin, head and provider of the family.  To call the first person of the Trinity “Father” means that he is the origin and transcendent authority of all and cares for the needs of all.

But we all instinctively know that a father who does no more than bark orders and pay the bills is leaving something out.  We expect a dad to have an intimate, affectionate relationship with his children, to spend “quality time” with them.  To call God “Father” means, then, that he is near to us, intimately concerned with us, fond of us, even crazy about us.  He is not the distant, clockmaker God of Thomas Jefferson and his Deist friends.   This aloof God of the philosophers created the world to run by virtue of its own natural laws so that he could withdraw and occupy himself with more interesting pursuits.

No, the God whom Jesus calls Father cares about us and knows us intimately.  “Every hair on your head is numbered (Matthew 10:30).”  He loves us more than we love ourselves and knows us better than we know ourselves.

Now, this does not mean that He makes all things go smoothly for us.  He loves us so much that He made us in His image and likeness, which means He made us free.  And through the free choice of the first man, evil and death were invited into our world.  God does not shield us from all the troublesome consequences of this “original sin” which each of us, sadly, has ratified with our own personal sin.  But He sent us prophets, like Jeremiah, to wake us up and warn us of the horrible consequences of disobedience.  And finally He sent his firstborn Son to be a new Adam, to pay the price of that disobedience and give the human race an undeserved new start.

The most horrible consequence of sin, eternal death (Gehenna), has been graciously removed for all who accept the free gift of salvation that comes by way of the cross of Christ.  But evil is still at large in the world, and evil brings trials and tribulations.  Our Father will not shelter us from these anymore than He sheltered Jeremiah (Jer 20:10-13) or Jesus.  A good father doesn’t protect his children forever from the harsh realities of life, but helps them as they progress through various stages of development to face the challenges and grow through the difficulties.  Scripture says that even Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered (Hebrews 5:8-9).  How much more do we need to learn and mature, and some learning can only take place through suffering.

So as a true Father, he loves us too much to take us out of the fray.  But there’s one thing we can be sure of–He’ll never leave us to fight our battles alone

This essay is offered as a reflection upon the readings for the 11^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, liturgical cycles A,B,and C  which normally occurs on or near the secular observance of Father’s Day in the USA and 55 other countries around the world.  It is reproduced here with the permission of the author.

Copyright 2013 Marcellino D’Ambrosio, Ph.D.

What I Love about Being a Mom

The hubby and the kids are asleep and I thought I’d wax sentimental for a bit and write about why I love being a mom. Indeed, motherhood really does change you — in more ways than you realize — not just for one day, but forever.

I have been a mean mom too many times since Lent began. In an attempt to “be all and do all,” I have forgotten again that my main purpose and mission in life is to mold my children’s little hearts and souls to be “after God’s own heart.” (Forgive me, Lord!)

Which is why I want to write about being a mom. And why, despite the countless days when I wonder what I ever did to deserve my kids, I am grateful to God for blessing me with them. Little Timothy and Therese, this one is for you!

10 Things I Love about Being a Mom

1. Motherhood makes me grateful for God’s perfect, unconditional love (and aware of my oh-so-imperfect-conditional love) every day. And makes me yearn for Him even more.

2. After having given birth naturally to both kids and breastfeeding each child for more than two years, I know for a fact that God created us male and female for a specific purpose and divine design. Being a mom has made me love being a woman more.

3. No matter how many times I scold, shout, spank (oh yes! we sometimes spank our kids but not much anymore), spit out commands and unkind words and sin, at the end of the day, I am forgiven. By my kids and by my God. (As long as I sincerely and humbly seek their forgiveness.)

4. Hugs, kisses, smiles, whispers, 20 (and more!) questions, hours of reading books aloud become the highlights of my day (when I am not at the office).

5. Seeing the two kids snuggle with their Papa while he’s reading them a favorite “Dad-and-Child” book makes me fall in love all over again — with all three of them!

6. Funnily enough, being a mom has opened up a whole new world for me — writing. Not just on my personal blog but elsewhere online and offline. Motherhood has helped me discover my core gift, my true passion for communication. And life has never been the same again.

7. Motherhood connects you with other women who are also moms — suddenly, you’re part of this “unofficial, worldwide club” of women who have borne the gift of life in their wombs and are {shakily, reverently, cluelessly} doing their best to raise their children. And you know that you are not alone in this journey.

8. Being a mom gives you the excuse to have those few extra inches on your waistline (Hello?! I grew an entire person inside of my body, so it has a right to be stretched and imperfect in some places!). Because no matter what you look like on the outside, you will always be beautiful in your kids’ eyes.

9. I love that I can witness how my children learn, absorb, pick up, apply everything they see and hear around them (not always a good thing, I know! Especially when Mama is not being kind or patient). Although we have been quite lax many times with our homeschool lessons, learning seems to never stop at home, and the kids, by God’s grace, are growing in wisdom and knowledge every day. At least I hope they are!

All these I consider to be pure grace and God’s miracles - simply because I am an unworthy, broken, sinful mother, and by my own strength and {lack of} virtues, I cannot do much.

10. The last, but certainly not the least (and certainly not the very, very last) thing I love about being a mom: I am constantly reminded that I am here on this earth for a very special purpose; I am not here by accident; I am called to be a parent (and wife) for eternal life. And everything I think, say and do should be in accordance with this calling, which, admittedly, I am often guilty of not doing, but, by God’s grace, I know I can do it.

There are so many other things I love about being a mother — both big and small, some seemingly insignificant. Yes, I thank God every day for calling me to be a mom to my children (and a wife to my husband). Although there are dark, difficult days where I despair and fail and fall and lose sight of this call, I am forever grateful.

How about you, dear friend? If you’re a mom (or dad), what do you love about being one? If you’re not a mom (or dad), what do you love about the life you have now? God created each of us for a special purpose. May He lead you to know what that is and bless you as you strive to fulfill it. (Do pray for me, too, that I may live out my role as a mother to the best that I can, by God’s amazing grace!)

Copyright 2013 Tina Santiago-Rodriguez

Rapunzel Let Down

Like her other novels, Regina Doman’s new book is based on a fairy tale, this time Rapunzel. As usual, Doman puts a modern spin to the story.  To her credit, though, she is able to give us a totally different story filled with twists and turns while at the same time keeping it close enough to the original tale.  In the summary of the book, the author asks “Can sex destroy love?”

Hermes and his family are spending the summer in their New England summer house.  Hermes is 18 and has been raised in a faithful Catholic family and his father is a prominent politician. Hermes is “sick and tired of sharing his life with his father’s political career and his overbearing older brothers.” He and his brothers eventually discover a house nearby with a tower; one of his brothers dares him to climb the tower.  The dare ends up with Hermes falling, but not before discovering there is a girl in the tower.

Hermes eventually climbs the tower successfully. He meets and becomes infatuated with 15-year-old Raphaela, a girl with unusually long hair, smart but innocent. She is kept in the tower supposedly for protection by her adoptive mother, a radical feminist doctor who is part of “Womyn,” a group that believes men are the reason for whatever is wrong in the world.

However, Hermes can’t seem to stay away from Raphaela, despite the fact that visiting her is dangerous for a variety of reasons.  This attraction leads him to make selfish choices and the couple eventually become sexually active (these scenes are brilliantly done, without graphic description). The answer to the author’s question “Can sex destroy love,” is illustrated as we journey with the characters throughout the rest of the story.

Surprisingly enough, Hermes’ secret visits to Raphaela continue for weeks; that is, until Raphaela begins exhibiting nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness. Her mother, the radical feminist doctor, recognizes the symptoms, asks her when her last period was, then gives her a pregnancy test which turns out to be positive.  Knowing that an unknown male has made her daughter pregnant, she sets a trap.  Hermes is eventually arrested and Raphaela taken away.  Raphaela, the previously sheltered naive girl, is surprised to be pregnant but happy until her mother and feminist friends convince her that she should have an abortion.  The mother’s friend is the local District Attorney and convinces Raphaela to file charges not only for statutory rape of a minor, but of violent first degree rape and kidnapping.  Raphaela does not want to have the abortion, so she makes an agreement to sign the complaint and statement, knowing that the statement is not true, that Hermes did not violently rape her or kidnap her against her will.  Eventually, she comes to realize that, despite her signing the papers, her mother is going to force her to abort.  So she escapes to keep her unborn baby safe. She disguises herself and spends times in various places in order to stay hidden from her mother and her radical feminist friends.

In the interim, Hermes becomes blind and is put in prison to await his trial.  The courtroom sequences are well done and believable. When the trial takes place, Raphaela does not show up, so most of the charges are dropped and Hermes is only found guilty of statutory rape.  With time served, he will need to serve less than the year.

Eventually, Raphaela visits Hermes in prison and they agree to start their relationship over. This time, Hermes promises her that there will be no sex until they are married.

On the day Hermes is scheduled to be released from prison, Raphaela is kidnapped by her mother and taken to an undisclosed location.  Hermes realizes something is wrong.  Of course, her feminist mother treats her badly in order to get her to give her babies up for adoption.  The climax of the novel was compelling and I was clicking ahead quickly on my Kindle to read.

The strength of this particular book is Doman’s ability to illustrate the consequences of immoral sexual behavior.  Even though this was the darkest of her Fairy Tale novels, this has become my favorite.  I had a hard time putting this book down. It is written beautifully, the characters are well-developed and believable, the story fast-paced.

Note to parents: this novel deals with mature themes and there are scenes of sexuality and violence (although not graphic). 

Highly recommended for 18 and up.

Order Rapunzel Let Down and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase 

Copyright 2013 Ellen Gable Hrkach

How Christlike It Is To Share!

As I write this, the lilacs are in bloom here in Michigan in all different shades of lavender and white. They smell heavenly. They look like purple candy. I’ve always loved the smell of lilacs, and every spring when I see and smell them, I am reminded of a story from my childhood.

I was a girl of about eleven or so when my best friend Jenny and I discovered a wooded area near our houses with the largest lilac bushes imaginable. And more than one bush; there were several that were absolutely covered in lilacs from top to bottom. We couldn’t believe our luck when we came across them, and in our youthful innocence, decided to bring some home to our mothers as a little present. We tried to snap off a few but realized that we needed scissors of some type. I had remembered seeing some clippers in our garage. We ran back to my house, retrieved the clippers, and hurried back to the bushes, eager to create lovely bouquets for our mothers. It was a beautiful spring day, and upon arriving back at the lilacs, we took in their sweet, floral scent. Happily, we snipped a few clips here and there and headed home with our treasures. My mother put hers in a little bud vase in our bathroom. She was absolutely delighted to receive them. She kept talking about how beautiful they smelled, and wondered where we had gotten them. The flowers made her very happy, which in turn made me very happy.

I told her about the wooded area by our neighborhood. In those days, kids would roam free for hours, so unlike today when parents barely let their children out of their sight for more than a few minutes. We had no cell phones for our parents to keep track of us, and you just sort of knew when dinnertime was, since it was the same time every day, when the sun looked a certain way in the sky. My brother’s friend would come home at the sound of a long, sharp whistle his dad would make around 6:00. Whenever you heard that whistle emanating through the streets, you knew it was time for John to go home for dinner. You didn’t think anything of it; it was dinnertime at John’s house.

Naturally, Jenny and I went back to the lilac bushes when the lilacs in our houses started to wilt after a couple of days, clippers in hand, to snip off a few more branches.

We arrived at the bushes and found ourselves face to face with an angry woman, hands on her hips.

“SO,” she said angrily. “You’re the ones who have been cutting my lilacs!”

We stood there in shock. I froze, clippers in hand, and glanced at the enormous bushes, so full of lilacs, enough for dozens of little girls to take home to their mothers. We had barely made a dent in the bushes, but apparently she had noticed some missing.

“I didn’t know they belonged to anybody,” I said, my lip trembling. “We thought they were wild.” I was very sensitive and could cry at the drop of a hat. Having this strange woman being angry at us was more than I could take.

“Well, they’re not wild; they are MY bushes,” she said, “and I don’t want anyone clipping them! Now go on home.”

Jenny and I walked away, dejected. Apparently we had stolen the lilacs, and we didn’t even realize it.

“We stole them,” I said, unbelieving it. “I thought they were wild,” I repeated.

This was a lot to take in. We were thieves, apparently. Lilac thieves. It was sad after that, because we had no more lilacs to smell in our homes. Neither of us had lilac bushes growing in our yards. Jenny’s mother grew swiss chard and zucchini, and my mother grew tomatoes and geraniums. None of those plants had the sweet, intoxicating smell as the lilacs.

Jenny and I both agreed that the lady was really mean for yelling at us like that.

“She has so many!” I wailed to my mom afterward. “What is she going to do with all of those lilacs? She can’t possibly use them all!” No more little lilac bouquets for the bud vases. It was so sad.

“Well,” my mom said sadly, “if they belong to her, then they belong to her. Nothing you can do about it.”

“But she should share!” I said. “Why can’t she share them with people? We didn’t even cut from the front of the bush; we cut from the back where nobody can even see them!”

It was a tough lesson in sharing—or lack thereof. I was used to generous people in my little world. Family was generous and gave of themselves. Friends were generous as well. Our neighbors were generous, letting us cut through their yards on our way to friends’ houses. We were generous with others in return. But you can’t force people to share. Not that I would want to. There’s something very wrong with forcing people to share.

To this day, whenever I see lilacs, I am taken back to that spring day when that lady would not share. It was her right not to, of course. They were her lilac bushes. I still think that it would have been nice of her to snip a few for us, in a gesture of springtime goodwill. How we would have remembered that about her!

And what if she would have told us how old the bushes were, how to take care of them, how many varieties of lilacs there are, what kind of birds are attracted to lilac bushes? That would have been such a pleasant memory. And what if she would have said, “You know, I don’t mind you girls taking a few, but please ask first, okay?” That would have been such a lovely memory. Instead, I think of her yelling at us to leave. What an opportunity she missed, to have shown compassion. There are people with so much who give so little. There are also people who have so little who give so much. And then there are the people in between.

I read a story of a chef who recently won a $10,000 prize in a cooking contest. His opponent was trying to win the money so she could visit her beloved dying grandmother in France, to see her one last time. He and his wife had bills to pay, so when he won the prize, he was ecstatic.

“What are you going to do with the prize money?” they asked him.

He smiled and asked for his opponent to come back out on the stage. He offered her enough of his share so that she could buy an airline ticket to see her dying grandmother, which she did gratefully. I was really taken by this show of Christlike compassion. It was a beautiful thing to do.

This is true sharing: sharing when we don’t have to, want to, or when it is not expected of us. It is not easy to do; I realize that. It is not easy to follow Christ, to love like He does. After all, He shares everything: He shares and gives us Himself in His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

There are some days we want to keep all of the lilacs, all of the prize money, for ourselves. But what happens when we hoard God’s gifts? I always wondered what that woman did with all of those many, many lilacs. I am sure most of them just died off naturally, giving joy to no one else but her.

Yes, had we known the lilac bushes belonged to someone, we would have asked first. You don’t just go clipping flowers from people’s property.

But it sure would have been nice—and so Christlike—if that lady would have shared her abundance with us.

Copyright 2013 Nancy Carabio Belanger

A Father Who Needs Our Love

I used to get the same request twenty times a day: “Mommy, can we cuddle?” It always came at the most inopportune of moments. When bits of raw hamburger were making their way up my arms as I mixed a triple batch of meatloaf, for instance. Or when I was tearing apart the couch, searching frantically for the ringing phone to catch the long-awaited call-back from the pediatrician. When somebody was late for something and somebody else was missing a shoe. When the dam broke on a five-week stretch of writer’s block, letting loose a torrent of inspiration that needed to be immediately pounded onto a computer keyboard or stand the risk of being lost forever.

I realized the other day I haven’t had the “problem” in quite some time now. My youngest will be eight next month, and I find myself missing that cuddle time with my little ones, who are not so little anymore and would rather be playing baseball or making music videos. The fact of the matter is, I didn’t know it back then, but I needed to cuddle as much as they did. I’m sure the children didn’t know it either. No doubt, we all thought the parent was doing the child the favor.

The other day, I was slurping down my chai latte, enjoying the heck out it, which right away should have been a sign that something was not right with the world. I have an undying allegiance to coffee and felt a little like I was cheating. Anyway, I looked at the clock and realized it was 11:42, which meant I had broken the one-hour fast before the weekday noon Mass.

“I’m not going to be able to receive Communion!” I lamented.

Our pastor doesn’t give a homily at the noon Mass, so the final blessing often comes by 12:40. I couldn’t believe I had ruined my chance of receiving Jesus all for a cup of tea. Tea, for crying out loud.

I had resigned myself to the very real possibility that I would have to skip Holy Communion. All during Mass, I kept glancing at the clock behind me, (not a good way to spend a Mass). At 12:33, I offered a whispered explanation to my 13-year-old son of why I wouldn’t be joining him in the Communion line. He started praying that “time would slow down” so I could receive Jesus. And then, the consecration was complete, and I remained kneeling in my pew as my son got in line. He gave me a sympathetic look as he returned and kneeled to pray. By the time most people had made their way through the line, I started to realize I just might make it to the one-hour mark, (yes, I was still fixated on the clock) so I joined the end of the line, hoping for a slow enough procession of communicants. I offered up a silent hope, from my heart to God’s ears, that I was indeed doing the right thing. Then, I kneeled and received. When I got back to my seat, my son whispered, “Mom, your knees hit the kneeler to receive Communion at exactly 12:42.”

My oldest daughter, who had been sitting with a friend, later told me that for some reason, she felt like Mass that day seemed to take a particularly long time. This is the daughter who would rather go to Mass than do anything else, and sometimes sings at three or four Masses on a weekend.

So now, I have to ponder all of this. Is it possible? Could it be? Does Jesus want to be with me as much as I want to be with Him? Why would He go to such lengths to arrange our union? It is obvious that He did something. Either He made every part of the Mass last just long enough to get me to Communion at 12:42, or knowing how long Mass was going to take, He sent my angel to whisper in my ear to quit gulping chai just in the nick of time.

Maybe, somewhere in the depth of my being, I have always viewed my friendship with God as somewhat one-sided. If you would have asked me about it, I would have told you that God desires your friendship every bit as much as you desire His. But nobody ever asked. So I never gave it much thought. And yet, it makes perfect sense. He is, after all, a Father. No, not just a father. The Father. The perfect parent. And if parents need the love of their children, then a perfect parent has nothing less than a perfect, absolute, complete need for the love of His child.

I have never really thought of wishing God a happy Father’s Day, but this year, I am not going to forget Him. I’m going to try to remember what many children often forget about their parents, and what I have too often forgotten about God the Father. Namely, that He longs for my love as much as I need His.

Copyright 2013 Sherry Boas

Watch this video on YouTube.

Pork Chop Supper

Find more great family recipes and meal planning assistance at Dine Without Whine

Pork Chop Supper

Makes 6 servings

6 pork loin chops (3/4 inch thick)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 large potatoes (about 2-1/4 pounds)
5 medium carrots, sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
3 cups beef broth

1. Place flour in a large Ziplock bag. Add pork chops and shake.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet; brown the chops on both sides. Sprinkle with thyme, salt and pepper.
3. Peel potatoes and cut into 3/4-in. cubes; add to skillet along with the carrots and onion. Pour broth over all; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 40-50 minutes or until pork and vegetables are tender.

Find more great family recipes and meal planning assistance at Dine Without Whine

Stopping and Smelling the Berries

Wow. It’s been quite a while since I update this blog. What’s the point of doing something for pleasure if it becomes a chore — and that’s how I was looking at this little ole site for some time. A chore.

I was feeling pressure (that I created for myself, by the way) to somehow entertain or be clever for an audience. I forgot I was writing for myself because I enjoy it. The task is, of course, to figure out what is making me happy…writing? Not writing? Something else?

When I woke up this morning I took my coffee out on the porch while the dog was out doing whatever it is dogs do in the morning when there’s a big yard full of rabbits, squirrels, and birds to terrorize. There was a terrible rain last night that tore up our freshly laid mulch, and all the work was destroyed. It can be fixed, of course — restored if you will, maybe even better, but in the moment it was disappointing and frustrating to see.

As I was sipping my coffee and sighing over the mess, I caught sight of all the berries turning bright red on the vine. I’m totally aware of how many tweets and facebook statuses have been about the raspberries that are growing so abundantly in my garden, and I am amused by it. This is the same woman who tried to kill an African Violet twenty-eight years ago, and embraced the brown thumb responsible for killing every houseplant I came near since The Great Crispy Violet Episode of 1985.

I guess I was busy keeping little people fed.

Now I’m busy keeping myself fed — with fresh ripe raspberries plucked right off the vine.

Perspective is everything, I suppose. I could focus my camera on the mulch mess or the raspberries. I think I chose wisely.

Copyright 2013 Maria Morera Johnson

Spiritual Direction: Two by Two

Recall the moment as early as Chapter 6 in Mark’s Gospel when Jesus commissioned the Twelve Apostles and sent out “two by two”. They were to take only one tunic and staff, but no money or a sack. They were to go where they were welcomed and to shake the dust from their feet where they were not. More astoundingly, we hear that they drove out many demons and healed the sick. So great is the power of redemption from its very first installment.

As we take leave from our “High Holy Days” and move into the “Ordinary Time” of our days to plans for vacations and other forms of retreat, who accompanies us and empowers us to continue God’s work in our midst? One such companion for this type of journey is a Spiritual Director.

One of the invaluable aspects of my religious education was the encouragement to seek spiritual direction as part of my program of study. This type of relationship with a person was both complementary and distinct from classroom learning, practical or professional experience or even the personal experiences with one’s family, friends, or individual self.

At first, selecting a spiritual director was intimidating. There were ample contact lists and religious traditions from which to select a person. It was also easy enough to arrange a mutually convenient time to meet each other. But, having never experienced such a dynamic before, I didn’t know what was supposed to happen next. So, I began by starting.

I met several different types of people during that initial period. They all seemed competent, willing, and available. Yet, each came (as did I) with a set of assumptions. Each encounter was an opportunity to work through those assumptions to get to the essential part of spiritual direction, often simplified by flat statements such as “How is your prayer life?” or “How is your relationship with God?”

I suspect, for the average person, these questions might sound trite. But consider what kind of life one would have if no one ever asked you such questions and further, no one ever journeyed with you as you began to respond, not so much to those simple questions, but to the presence of God growing in your life. Imagine how impoverished life would be if you never spoke about nor were ever asked to talk about God in your midst.

Each of us has a wellspring of spirituality that we are able to access at varying degrees of comfort and freedom. Spiritual direction allows one to concentrate without other distractions or obligations upon us. Much like one might have a personal trainer in a gym to isolate and develop certain muscles, spiritual direction enables the growth of the whole person by re-focusing our outlook and experience of our lives back into right relationship with God and others.

While God is the center from which the power of spiritual direction is focused and from which it flows, there are certain skills that a good spiritual director has and can pass on to those working with him or her. Chief among these skills are the abilities of a deep listener: empathy, non-judgment, and open discernment.

Over the years, I have welcomed and stayed with as many spiritual directors as I have met, thanked and never crossed paths with them again. Each encounter was a generous gift. Overall, the depth of my spirit increases so that the prayers and people in my life become a better relationship with God.

It is easier to get up off the ground and shake off the dust again and again. But to journey “two by two” casting out demons and confronting our own unhealthy situations is perhaps the longer, more important journey we do with each other and with persons blessed to journey with us.

Copyright 2013 Jay Cuasay

We Win!

What are Christians to think when thousands of atheists gather and make plans to mock and belittle them?  There’s only one thing to think:  We win!

In an intellectual debate, logic and evidence are the stuff a winner relies on. For Christians, prayer and love are added in.  But making fun of your opponent?  That is not an intellectual tactic.

That is, however,  the advice Richard Dawkins, author of the best-selling The God Delusion, gave to an estimated twenty-thousand fellow atheists who showed up at the National Mall in Washington, DC last March for the Reason Rally. It was billed as a coming out rather than an anti-religion rally but it seems that being anti-religion is the glue that holds them together.

As reported in  USA Today, five hours into the event, amid a constant drizzle, (Yeah, it makes me want to cry too) the British scientist and rabid atheist appeared. The article stated:

“Then Dawkins got to the part where he calls on the crowd not only to challenge religious people but to ‘ridicule and show contempt’ for their doctrines and sacraments, including the Eucharist, which Catholics believe becomes the body of Christ during Mass.”

To clarify just what he meant, Dawkins modeled an example of how to use dirty tactics. According to the The Christian Post

“Exemplifying how he would approach religious persons, Dawkins said, ‘Do you really believe, for example if they’re Catholic, that when a priest blesses a wafer, it turns into the body of Christ?”

“Mock them, ridicule them in public,” he urged. “Don’t fall for the convention that we’re all too polite to talk about religion.”

The Art of Debate

This is an odd coming from a scientist. Debaters are taught to know their stuff and argue the facts, not stoop to making fun of an opponent.  According to a study published by The Journal of Technology Studies,  teaching students to debate hones their critical thinking skills. There is no mention of name calling skills.  “Debate requires you to think on your feet and respond to tough questions with knowledge and grace, and the skills you acquire through this discipline will improve your ability to communicate in everyday situations,” the study stated.

So what are we to think of Dawkins’ instruction to his flock?  It would seem that relying on reason is not their strongest suit but rather resorting to bullying is more their style.

I have always been taught that when one side starts to ridicule, it’s because he’s run out of intellectual ammo and has nothing left but intimidation. I believe it’s why so often, when people are praying in front of an abortion clinic, drive-by obscenities are shouted from car windows. On one side is a group of self-sacrificing people, standing and praying for others:  the unborn, their mothers and even the abortionists. The group is calm but firm and willing to engage in conversation with others. On the other side is the “F-You!”  Oh, there are those wanting to engage in serious debate—often angry and lacking in information.  But only one side employs ridicule and name calling—the side that comes up short on logic and good will.

In the case of atheists, what is it they are so angry about?  Why does one of their leaders unabashedly encourage followers to skip the logic and make fun of people?

Great Move

I am somewhat glad to hear Dawkins advocating these tactics. It means that more people will experience an epiphany moment:  Something is not right with this picture.  More people who blindly followed and fell for the argument that atheism is based on science and logic, will perhaps feel something stir in their hearts when they find themselves in the middle of a debate that ends in name-calling.

Given we are all people of faith—some believe in God as creator and some believe nothing created us—perhaps the difference in tactics will appeal to hearts and minds. The rally cry to Godlessness has such a hollow ring. Making fun of opponents carries a sharp and angry feel.  It is why we must take care not to lose our cool. Christian leaders offer the exact opposite advice. They appeal to the faithful not to name call, lest a debate end with:  “You’re stupid! …No, you’re stupid!

If this were a cartoon strip, I might almost laugh. Think about it; an educated scientist who scoffs at religion shares his secret weapon:  Let’s make fun of people. Does this sound childish?  Not even in grade school would kids admit publicly to such a plan.

But you’ll not see me laughing over any of this. Only praying and praying hard.

Copyright 2013 Patti Maguire Armstrong

I’m a HUGE-O-RIFIC fan of the Youcat. (You don’t have one? DO NOT DELAY. GET ONE TODAY!)

It has done something that almost no other book I’ve found has done: it has made the teachings of the faith accessible to people who have a marginal interest and a low reading level.

Mind you, the big green Catechism is great. (I still haven’t made my way completely through it, but I’ve read most of it at one time or another.) However, it’s scary-looking and huge and intimidating.

The Youcat, though, with its yellow cover and Q&A format, is pretty low-key. It transmits important information easily, painlessly.

I’ve been using it during our parish’s Confirmation Boot Camp and in any class I teach since it’s been released. You might say I’m a shameless fangirl. You’d be correct.

It’s as important (and as easy) for parents to read as it is for the youth for whom it’s written. Over the years, I’ve noticed a mantra that seems to come around and around and around, coupled with the “you’re a convert so of COURSE you’re a better Catholic” myth that seems so prevalent. It’s the “I can’t POSSIBLY teach my child! I don’t KNOW enough.”

I’m a catechist. I want to help. But what I do isn’t primary catechesis (except with my own kids). What I do is similar to what all the farmers around me do: I plant. I might even cultivate. The growing, though, is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Much of my job as a catechist (and as a writer of things catechetical in places like this) is to encourage and equip parents. YOU CAN DO IT. And here’s a tool that will help.

As I told my Confirmation students this week: it’s okay to ask questions. It’s okay to doubt. It’s okay to stomp and scream and shake your fist (unless you’re my two-year-old, and then we have a different set of standards). God can take it. It’s NOT okay to walk away, to give up, to toss in your hat and chalk it up to “the Church needs to get with the times.”

Obedience, the bad word of our times. It’s also something we don’t appreciate enough. I can ask and ask and ask (and I do, just ask my priest). Seeking knowledge isn’t bad. And here’s part of the arsenal you need to be ready for that part of the job.

So, all that said, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the newly-released Youcat Prayer Book, and I wasn’t even sure how I would review it. Even if *I* love it, is it something I’ll share? Give? Promote?

As it turns out, I had nothing to fear. It’s done just as well as the Youcat and it’s already a book I’m dog-earing and loving!

The first section is a two-week prayer book. The second section is a series of prayers.

You think it’s an accident that as I struggle with my prayer routine that this gem showed up? Me neither.

After the introductory letter, entitled “You can pray,” there is a “Little school of prayer.” It was written specifically for me, thank you very much. There are ten tips/steps and they’re written in the vein I’d expect from the Youcat. They’re helpful but not complicated, simple but not down-your-nose, insightful but not so deep my brain cracked in two.

The format of the two-week prayer book, the first section, includes a morning and an evening option. They include ancient prayers, traditional prayers, and psalms. Each one takes approximately two minutes, depending on the number of interruptions you have from people under four feet tall.

The second section is one part treasury, one part awesome. There are categories such as “Praising the Father” and “Adoring God,” but there’s also “Being called and responding” and “Calling in time of need.” These prayers are the ones you’d expect, but there are also scripture passages, writings of mystics and saints, and much more.

This is a book I’ll be using myself and sharing with quite a few others in my life.

Praying means entrusting yourself to God with everything. Praying means being silent and listening. And it means letting him into your daily life, into your flesh and your memory, into everything you say, think, and do. God has already taken the big step toward you. The path into prayer begins for you with only a small step. We invite you to take it.

- From the introduction, “You can pray”

Don’t consider yourself youth? Well, don’t let THAT stop you. You won’t be sorry you picked it up and let it lead you closer to God.

Be sure to check out our Book Notes archive.

Copyright 2013, Sarah Reinhard

As for Me and My House

…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

My good friends Helen and Sarah from Kansas came for a visit and they brought a beautiful plaque for my mantle with this verse from Joshua on it. I love this verse! Last night as I was peeling through the living room like my hair was on fire, the plaque caught my eye and stopped me in my tracks. Ya see, I was zooming around trying to get supper ready, paperwork for a meeting finished, laundry off the line, the kitchen floor swept and a dozen other odds and ends tied up before we had to leave the house. In all my rushing and cramming…I don’t think I was doing so hot in the “servin the Lord” department. Truth be told, I was muttering under my breath and spittin and sputterin about the amount of dirty socks my family could produce, the proper identification of the petrified food on the inside of the microwave and about how much less sweeping I would have to do if we could just blacktop the lawn!

In this passage from Joshua, he made a strong declaration about who his people would serve. That statement should be the same one we are willing to make today, but let me tell ya…there’s more to it than plopping a plaque on your mantle. Being a house that serves the Lord is easy to do when things are calm, everyone is cooperating and things are going according to schedule. Ok, stop laughing…that COULD happen! God tests us with challenges and trials every day, He wants to see how much we’ll talk to Him, trust Him and ask for His guidance. I think we could all agree that the test and challenges we face are far easier to deal with than wandering in the desert, facing a seven year famine or being plagued by frogs and gnats. If some of God’s early children could survive those hardships and make a declaration about who they would serve, surely my house can do a little better job serving as we fumble through car pools, barn chores, ball games and a small mountain of laundry!

When I crawled in bed last night feeling like a big ‘ole heap of wilted lettuce, I thought about my house and what our “serving the Lord” looked like. I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t just about what happened inside our house, but it also included what we took with us when we walked out the front door. Phew, I was comforted by that thought because I don’t often mutter to people other than my own husband and children about tracking in mud and barn straw or leaving cabinet doors open. The bottom line is, we teach each other how to serve the Lord by the example we set in our own home. Each new day gives us a chance to ask God to help us become better servants. Our constant effort toward this end does two great things, first, it tightens up our relationship with Him and second, it sets an example for those we share our home with. The best way I can think of to create a society that serves the Lord is to start with some houses that do!

I recently got a picture from a college student showing her beautifully decorated new apartment. The caption read “My new home”. On the wall I saw a crucifix hanging and I was impressed that in her “new house” she was already preparing to serve the Lord. I smiled and thought of her parents and realized they were definitely a family that lived this verse. I was inspired!

A seed to plant: Find a plaque or make a card with this verse from Joshua to share with three people. Together we can flood the neighborhoods with houses that “serve the Lord”.

Blessings on your day!

Copyright 2013 Sheri Wohlfert