A lovely Catholic blogger, Colleen Duggan, wrote a beautiful and timely post, “How to Manage Family Life and Writing…Or Not.” Today would fall under the “Or Not” category for me. On days like this I am reminded of our Lord’s words to St. Peter, “Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (John 21:18)
From the moment most mothers wake up, our hands start stretching…to pick up a baby, make a bowl of cereal, braid hair, tie shoes, write a check, sign a permission slip, pack a lunch, pat a back, make a to go cup of coffee for our man, feed a dog, throw in a load of clothing, hold a steering wheel… Our days are filled with others grabbing our apron strings, the hem of our skirts, our belt or our hair. And all of those people holding on is a good thing, it’s called our vocation. And all of those places we are taken are good places, we are to be the feet of Christ. But just because something or somewhere is good does not mean we want to go there all the time.
Some days we just want to sit and do anything–something–nothing. Some days we want to reflect and write about Matthew 11 before eight o’clock at night.
Blogging/photography are important to me, but damn the baby has a poopy diaper and Patrick is out of clean underwear and I don’t know what we’re having for dinner and have you ever had to deal with seven hangry people? Not fun…guess that post will have to wait…
This careful balance of working when I can and spending the remaining time caring for my children (which, let’s face it, is MOST of my time) is not unproductive.
Rather, the constant invitation to serve others over doing what I want is planting seeds for something even greater.
Colleen Duggan
And momma nailed it! So here I am, eight o’clock at night…still planting after a long day, only in a different field…until the other fields need my care and attention.
POWERfule Bible Journaling: Matthew 11
P –You are so good. Even in the ordinary, everyday. I don’t want to miss you in the day in–day out. Please help me practice being in Your presence always.
O –Jesus gave Himself freely, but that does not mean our freedom is free, as the saying goes. He really gives what for to the unrepentant cities! I do not want to be like an unrepentant city.
W —vs 29…Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
E –You know what Lord? I cannot imagine one of the characteristics of a gentle and humble hearted person following You is eye rolling and sighing…ahem. When I come grab Your yoke with a prideful “can do” attitude, it’s not so easy and light and there definitely is no rest.
R –Philippians 4:13 does not state, “I can do all things by myself or because I am a Christian.” It states, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I need You to be the filter I go through before and in order to get anything accomplished; living out my vocation, all for Your glory.
Please share your POWERful reflections in the comments.
Michelle says
I want to be meek and humble too.
Meek: submissive, yielding, obedient
Humility: St. Thomas: “The virtue of humility”, he says, “Consists in keeping oneself within one’s own bounds, not reaching out to things above one, but submitting to one’s superior”
Colleen Duggan says
Fist bump. Solidarity. Right there with you, Jenny. Pray for me and I’ll pray for you.
deb00 says
P- Dear Lord, I’m feeling rushed today, so much to get done. I was going to skip or at least put this off then felt the little nudge “why would you skip/put off the most important, most rewarding thing you do all day?” So here i am Lord I come to do your will. Thanks for pulling me back on track.
O- Just as the chosen people of God took for granted that Christ was living among them, leading them to His Father, I think, sadly, we as Catholics miss the boat too. We have it all clearly laid out before us, passed down from generations, but we still miss the goodness of Mother Church. Even though we have the fullness of the Faith, could Christ be saying to us “Woe to you Catholics, you hypocrites, called to be the ONE HOLY UNIVERSAL APOSTOLIC Church leading others to ME. It will be easier for our non Catholic brethren to enter the Kingdom of Heaven”? And yet He gently invites us “Come, find rest in me”.
W_ Mt 11:28-30 Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and i will give you rest. take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves, for my yoke is easy and my burden light.
E- I need to remember despite all the world throws at me; all the immorality and lack of dignity for life & marriage, persecution of the Church and our beliefs, God is always there with open arms to give us rest.
R- Lord let me never become lax in my Faith. May i find my rest in You and may others see joy in me because of the great gift of my Catholic Faith.
Jenny says
Oh gracious how often do we miss what is right in front of our eyes…um how about every.single.Mass!