A Flashback Re-post from Thanksgiving of 2015

“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”  Proverbs 31:29

There’s a social worker at Jocelyn’s school who talks to each class about “bucket fillers” and “bucket dippers.” She explains that when someone is kind, they “fill” your bucket. On the flip side, if someone is unkind, they “dip” into your bucket. I think her objective is to teach the kids to be “bucket fillers” so they make this world a better place.

Thanksgiving has me thinking about, and grateful for, the bucket fillers in my life. I am incredibly fortunate to have a long list of them. But hands down, my mom is my #1 bucket filler. Continue reading →

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.  2 Timothy 2:22

I went on a private, silent retreat a few weekends ago for my annual reboot. Trying to get a new perspective, I chose a new location. I ended up at Mary House in Spencer, MA.

I was unable to arrange spiritual direction until later in the day on Saturday. That morning, I sat with my Bible and coffee, trying to hear, on my own, where God was trying to lead me. As crazy as it sounds, I found one of His messages in the bedspreads! Continue reading →

I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.     Luke 15:7

I used to be a helicopter mom when it came to my kids’ homework. I monitored what was due when, and tried to teach them organizational skills, time management, and good study habits. I played it that way for years. Consequently, both my boys had straight A’s because of it.

But there comes a time when our kids have to fly. Last September, I pushed them both out of the nest. Zack was in eighth grade; Mason was in sixth. I felt they were ready to apply all I had taught them, and strike out on their own. To inspire them, I dangled the idea of a big reward at report card time if they stayed straight A students. Continue reading →

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“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…”              John 6:44

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When my kids were little, they were never exposed to advertisements. They only watched videos or commercial-free shows On Demand. Once they were old enough to work the remote themselves, they started watching network shows. Suddenly, our world was filled with commercials every eight to twelve minutes.

It was hysterical: Watching them get sucked in. They would literally come running into the kitchen to tell me about this great laundry cleaner that got out stains but wouldn’t bleach colors, or a floor cleaner that left a great shine. It wasn’t so funny when they fell victim to the commercials convincing them they truly needed every toy and gadget advertised.

Clearly they didn’t possess the wisdom to discern the difference between a want and a need. I was hoping that would come with maturity. But when I look around at our world today, I realize that battle is far greater than just an age thing.  Continue reading →

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him…  Romans 15:13

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It’s hard for Jocelyn: being the younger sister to two brothers who have a mind-meld going on. The poor girl can’t get a word in edge-wise. They never seem to listen to her.

In my house, the dinner table is supposed to be where everyone gets heard. In fact, we’re all required to listen well so we can prepare and ask curiosity questions when the speaker is done. However, the other night, when Jocelyn was super excited to share something, the boys ignored our rule, and her. She lost it. Continue reading →

I’m reminded of your authentic faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. I’m sure that this faith is also inside you. Because of this, I’m reminding you to revive God’s gift that is in you through the laying on of my hands. God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving and self-controlled. 2 Timothy 1:5-7

Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com

I know it’s time to work on an aspect of myself when a particular word or phrase keeps getting repeated, one that resonates deep within. The word that keeps crossing my radar lately, via a discussion with the newest MOSAIC Moms Group, articles, and the book I’m reading is “authentic.”

Dictionary.com defines the word authentic as “not false or copied; genuine; real.” When I look at my life, the area where I’ve been the least genuine lately is in my motherhood. Continue reading →

And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  Matthew 3:17

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With a failing septic leach field on our hands, I went to the Town Planning Board this week, desperately hoping they had the schematics for our system. When they did, I was almost giddy with relief. After the guy photo-copied the plans, and did so to include the scale, I gushed in gratitude: “Ooh! You even included the scale! Nice job!”

He seemed surprised and taken aback by my praise. Then he asked me, “Are you a teacher or something? Is that why you said, ‘Nice job?'”

It struck me as sad that he wasn’t used to being complimented, and actually questioned my motive. Continue reading →

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.  Ephesians 4:29

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Now a teenager, my son is following his job description to a “T.” He pushes the boundaries, and pushes, until he breaks me. Between that, my raised expectations now that he’s older, and hormones (his and mine), I seem to be yelling at him a whole lot more than ever before. There are days when the tension in my house is pretty thick.

Unknowingly, he gave me a knife to cut it with the other day. Continue reading →

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You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.  Song of Songs 4:7

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A new family came into church the other day. It was just the mom and her three young children. My best guess is the kids were one, three, and five-years-old.

The layout of our church is almost theatre-in-the-round. When the mom chose a bench opposite ours, I had a direct view of this family for the entire Mass.

Her kids were dressed immaculately, right down to the completely straight part that divided the 3-year-old’s pigtails. But that’s where the “immaculate” part ended.

The mom looked a wreck. Her hair was thrown into a lopsided ponytail that was falling out. Her clothes were leggings and a long, rumpled t-shirt that may have been slept in.

She was too far away for me to see her facial expressions, but her body language said it all. Exhaustion and exasperation exuded from her as, time after time, she got up and down and in and out of the pew to grab her kids. Either they were climbing over the bench or running up and down the aisles for practically the whole Mass.

As I knelt at the Consecration, and glanced left and right to be sure my own kids were kneeling and praying for that miraculous moment, I finally understood why I was so fixated with this young family: We were them, and I was her years ago … Continue reading →

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted.  Isaiah 49:13

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The other day, I escaped to my refuge: Panera Bread. While there, I saw a young, twenty-something girl with a broken ankle. Instead of having crutches, she had one of those scooters where you rest your cast on the seat and push yourself along with your good foot.

Clearly she had a challenge she was dealing with. However, she was handling it with such style! She had adorned the basket of her scooter with vibrant, silk sunflowers and blinged-out the rim of her cast with big, stick-on jewels. Every time I passed her to refill my water, she and her scooter caught my eye. Every single time, the flowers and jewels made me smile.

It got me thinking about how I handle my own struggles. Continue reading →