Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.    Mark 2:4

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My mom is a devout pray-er. If anyone asks her to pray for them, or she hears of anyone in trouble, that person goes onto her list and never comes off. To date, she prays for over 400 people, by name, each and every day. Her faith and prayers have had an immense impact on so many people.

She knows there is power in numbers. So, a few years ago, she began asking others to pray with her for special intentions. Her Prayer Warrior email group is now over 40 people strong.

A new request came out this week that is tearing at my heart. Continue reading →

I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.    Proverbs 5:13

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For the past few years, my family has been copying my friend, Jess Weller, by doing her Kids in Service Family Interview on New Year’s Day. It’s a short worksheet that helps us capture what’s impacted us during the previous year. At the same time, it inspires us to set our sights on what we hope to achieve in the upcoming year.

One line asks who our teachers are. I’m no longer in school, of course, but I do have a spiritual director and close friends who teach me new things all the time. I always put their names on this line.

Reflecting more on that question, I realized I’m limiting myself immensely. Continue reading →

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In Haggai 1:1-9, the people have left God’s temple in ruins. Yet, they manage to put up fancy panels in their own homes. The passage goes on to say that they sow much, yet reap little; eat but aren’t satisfied; clothe themselves and still aren’t warm.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve felt all these things: Working so hard but feeling as if I’m just spinning my wheels; binge eating junk food, yet always craving more; putting on layers of clothes but still feeling a chill so deep I can’t stop shivering.

Twice, the passage says: “Reflect on your experience!” Both times with an exclamation point. This is the point in our own motherhood where we’d put our kids in Time Out for not heeding our warnings when doing something wrong.

So, what’s the connection between Haggai’s time and now? How does this passage pertain to us in 2020? Our churches are beautiful with stained glass windows and cushions on the kneelers. There’s no need to rebuild God’s temple today, or is there? Continue reading →

A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of The Great. Proverbs 18:16

My MOSAIC Moms Group has been meeting for over six years. For our December gatherings, we skip reading a chapter of whatever book we’re using for reflection and discussion, and do a Yankee Swap instead. Because we’re all moms, and we’re overwhelmed and crazy at this time of year, we swap re-gifted or gently used items so we don’t have to add one more thing to our shopping list.

This year, I decided to add a new element to the gathering. Continue reading →

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  Jeremiah 29:13

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Sadly, my friend’s parents have both passed away. Despite her loss, Judi not only feels their love and presence still, she physically sees them in the form of their favorite birds: red cardinals.

Every time she needs her parents, a male and female cardinal miraculously appear. Whether it’s outside the window of her apartment, or out the window of her car, the sight of those red birds brings her immense comfort and peace.

I’ve heard a lot of these stories. The physical presence may vary (be it a butterfly, dragonfly, etc.), but the concept is the same: When people look for what they need with the eyes of the heart and an unwavering belief, God responds.

The same holds true during Advent. Continue reading →

In just the same way, it is not the will of your Heavenly Father that one of these little ones get lost.  Matt. 18:14

We all feel warm and fuzzy when we reflect on the story of the lost sheep and the shepherd who won’t rest until he finds it. We imagine a cartoon-like shepherd, with a big smile on his face, hugging his fluffy, white sheep.

It isn’t until we lose our own child in a shopping center that raw, hard emotions enter the picture. Nothing can describe the fear clawing at our insides as we frantically race around, taking shallow breaths for a heart that’s pounding in our chest and ears. With a voice bordering on hysteria, we beg for help, as our mind races ahead to all the horrors that could befall our innocent, little one. Continue reading →

Published on CatholicMom.com

“This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.” Matthew 13:13

Photo Credit: Photo by  Alev Takil on  Unsplash

My kids go in and out of phases of entitlement. When they’re in one, and they’re acting as if the world and I owe them something, the hammer comes down. That’s when I resume my, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch” speech, and make them work for everything, including their meals and screen time.

Depending on how far off the tracks things have gotten, this “hammer time” method could go on for days. Eventually, they figure out that I’m not going to hand them anything on a silver platter, and they drop the entitlement attitude. Furthermore, they start appreciating everything more because they’ve invested themselves and have, in essence, earned their meals, screen time, etc. Continue reading →

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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Like any household, things go in cycles in our home. The cycle we’re in lately seems to be a Yes one: Whatever my kids have been asking for recently seems appropriate and doable. So, I’ve found myself going along with them. Needless to say, there’s been a lot of joy and gratitude.

I’m trying to capitalize on this phase as a teaching moment. Continue reading →

After a crazy-busy week, enjoy this Flashback Post from 2016 while I step away and into my boat…

He told His disciples to have a boat ready for Him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush Him. Mark 3:9

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We’ve all been there: that crazy line up of everything happening at once. For us, it was a two-and-a-half day span with a school concert, a spelling bee, karate, piano, band practice, a MOSAIC Kids event, a MOSAIC Moms group , a conference call, and Friday playdates. All that was just leading up to my husband’s Fun Run on Saturday morning at 7 a.m., at our home, where we fed a group of 30 runners a hot breakfast after their morning run.

During that whole time, I kept hearing the refrain in my head from an old television commercial about bubble bath. In it, the mom is run ragged with calamity after calamity. She turns to the camera and says, “Calgon, take me away.” It ends with her in a luxurious bubble bath, eyes closed, head laid back, and a look of true serenity on her face. You envied the fact that she found her peace, and you were willing to pay any price for a bottle of that Calgon. Continue reading →

“On that day, a person who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them”   Luke 17:31

In September of last year, over seventy homes in Massachusetts caught fire due to gas leaks. Living just over the border in New Hampshire, we heard stories of people watching their homes burn to the ground. There just weren’t enough emergency personnel to respond.

When you think about people who have lost everything, you can’t help but imagine yourself in the same situation: If my home were to catch fire today, what would I grab? What would I leave behind? Continue reading →