Catholic faith Archives |

Easter Reflection (by Laura)

April 26, 2011 By Laura 2 Comments

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they

entered,they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ~Luke 24:2

I am still very much growing, in my faith, and particularly in my Catholic faith. I imagine I always will be. Or I hope that will be the case, anyway. For every Liturgical Season that I live through, I find a little more seeps in. I grasp a familiar Scripture a little more than before, as the clarity of the story is as real as a movie playing in my mind….I am there, I see, I smell, I feel. I forget where I physically am. And then the message of it all, speaks to me on a personal level, in regards to my own life, it’s current circumstances, and my own self. The moment of Consecration; when the bread and wine transforms into the living Body of Christ, and Cup of Life, makes my heart leap with excitement, and my spirit crave approaching His table once again, and becoming one with Jesus. With every passing season, I find I am falling deeper, and deeper, in love with my Catholic faith.

But there is no denying, that the connection and attention I earnestly pay to my faith, ebbs and flows from day to day, week to week, and month to month. It depends on how much is going on in my life, what is going on in my life, what kind of focus I have had lately anyway, and what Liturgical Season we are in. How much I have so weakly let myself become distracted with earthly matters and struggles, which are only temporary, as we all know.

So it most always starts out with Lent, as is did this year. Not every year – but some, and maybe most. Certainly this year. Ash Wednesday approaches, and I think, “Really? Already? When is Easter? It’s only 40 days away?”

So naturally we attend this Holy Day of Obligation, Ash Wednesday, and our Lenten journey begins. By then I have reviewed with the children once again, in our morning Scripture study/prayer time together, about this period in our faith and life that comes every year, and how important it is to prepare ourselves for the coming events. And I have also made my Lenten choices to live by, in hopes of ultimately growing yet a little closer still, to Christ, by the time Easter arrives.

But as I do all of this, at the start of Lent (certain years), it’s admittedly all too much like mere obligations. Motions I go through, as it is just time to do these things. I am shamefully aware of how emotionally or passionately disconnected I am, from this annual journey I am embarking on once again. As the days pass, I stay true to my Lenten choices, and try to take the time to reflect on how they should be helping me grow. But I fleetingly question it, brushing away the weight of guilt I feel inside. I know I am not paying enough attention, and I am struggling with truly giving the attention and time needed, to invest my heart as it should be.

The more Easter draws closer, the more I fear; I am really going to blow it, this year. I’m down on myself about it, yet I don’t do enough, to really change it, really. Maybe because I am afraid it won’t help anyway. Or maybe because I am, again…..too weak and distracted to switch gears as I know I should. Whatever the reason, I acknowledge I am lacking inspiration, for THE-most-important-season of my Catholic faith. Instead of seeking the inspiration, putting the time in, giving it a chance to all come together, I carry on as I have been. With a piece of me inside, quietly puzzled, confused,…..maybe lost?

Then comes Holy Week, and everything changes. It’s as if my Father loves me too much, to let me, let myself down.

The call gets louder, and my spirit and heart respond more readily. The Holy Spirit invades me with a vengeance, with no denial of it’s presence within me, and gets my attention once and for all. I find myself alive. Intrigued. Eager. PRESENT. In heart and mind. Not much else matters to me through the next Triduum of days, as we attend Mass daily. Not much else, can keep my attention. I’m all but mesmerized by the events of these days in Jesus’ life on earth, that played out exactly according to the Scripture. Emotions are at their surface, for me during this time. My mind is focused, and my heart is full of so much,….ever changing. Holy Thursday; Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, the betrayal to come, the agony in the garden, as he sweat drops of blood. His knowing what lied before Him. All that would happen to Him. His acceptance of it as the command of His Father, and His love for us. Good Friday; the deep sadness inside, the thoughts of helplessness I knew His mother must have felt, like others who loved Him and believed he was in fact, the Son of God. The visions of Him being tortured, scourged & spit upon. The heavy cross. The pain and thirst. And mercy. His death. It’s a day of much silence and prayer for us all, as a family. And as I (we) fast, I am filled with such nourishment and satisfaction. I treasure that day with my family, in so many ways. Then Good Friday evolves into Holy Saturday, as we continue to grieve and feel so sacrificed for, with the ultimate price. His life. We find ourselves so thankful and encouraged, that we will celebrate His Resurrection soon, as He said He would, and have good reason to sing ALLELUIA!

Easter is most always a memorable occasion, that we as a family have always enjoyed. But this Easter in particular was the best, most beautiful, most perfect Easter, ever – for me. I was truly rejoicing in my heart the entire day, relishing in the amazement of what Jesus Christ did for me, for you, and for you, and for us all! Realizing, in yet another layer of understanding and truth, just what that means for us all. And cherishing my family, as we celebrated together, knowing how very blessed we are to have each other, and the people in our lives. Loving, how we continue to grow in our Catholic faith, as a family. Happy, that our efforts to keep Christ as the center of the 6 of us as a family unit, no matter what, has been rewarding and given us strength when we have most needed it. In times when others have let us down, time and again, or turned away. He is there. He is always there, always understanding, always forgiving, and with love that does not and will not ever end.

We have all we will ever need.

We have each other.

More importantly, we have Him.

He, who gives us nourishment, strength, and hope.

And has given us the GIFT, of ever-lasting life.

ALLELUIA.

**********

Hoping you had such a blessed & beautiful Easter as well.

(A small collection of photos of the kids, from Easter Day, to come. )

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Just Some Things That Make Me Smile….| In Photos

October 24, 2010 By Laura 4 Comments

Me.

I’m always taking random photos, that I love to have because they made me smile. But they wouldn’t necessarily make a whole post. So I thought I’d try putting them in bunches sometimes, and doing a post now and then, about some of these little things that make me smile. Then I may happen to throw in a couple of others too, that were not random photos, but do indeed make me smile anyway.

Just a photo-happy little post.

So here are just some things, that make me smile……

birthday-pancake This beautiful pancake my husband and kiddos surprised me with on the morning of my birthday, even though they knew I would never eat it in a million years. They made it anyway, because ‘number breakfasts’ are a tradition in our home on birthdays, and they can’t let the tradition go, even on my day. I’m not big on eating much in the morning. That is chocolate frosting they worked with there, by the way. (In the morning?).

This pancake masterpiece sat in the fridge for about…well, the million years.

And then Michael ate it. Really.

I know.
–

0021 ….How happy my kids are, whenever they can spend time with their Papa.

Or maybe it’s, ….how happy my father is, whenever he can spend time with his grandkids.

Basically, it works both ways.

And it all makes me smile, because I love them all, and I love to see them all happy.

Anytime. All of the time.
–

003 When I can just watch them play…..

tea-and-rosary-time …..or focus on our faith, together……

rosary-and-tea
….over apple-cinnamon tea, and banana bread.
–

kitchen-aid-mixer My Kitchen Aid Mixer. And it’s Sender. <3 You just had to have known that was coming.

And oh yes…..we’ve used it lots already. You’ll be seeing!
–

0071
How silly my boy gets. Every day. He’s a clown, for sure.
–

0082 My new/used lens. We fit like a hand in a glove, Baby.

Or is it hand and a glove?

Well, you know what I mean.

We belong together.
–

0092
My God-Daughter. Ohhhh the smiles she has caused on my face. Her expressions of love for me have made me cry, 100 times over. Can you even get over the freckles? When I see her, I try to kiss every one. She’s so precious to me.
–

homeschooled-siblings Our Autumn family hikes. The crispness in the air, the crunching of leaves under our feet, appreciating the beauty all around us, that confusing scent in the air (….Old leaves? Or dog poo nearby?….lol)….and just chatting, laughing, and being together, going nowhere in particular.

These are just *some* of the things that make me smile.
I encourage you to ponder the things that make you smile, too. And if you can, take photos of those things! They’ll make you re-smile in later years, when you find them.

Thanks for the visit today, Friends.

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We Welcome This Lenten Season!

February 23, 2009 By Laura 3 Comments

With the Lenten Season just 2 days away, beginning with Ash Wednesday, for once our family is ready. Usually, it seems to sneak right up on us, (despite the many reminders along the way), and we are scrambling to figure out what we will do for Lent. Of course, we all know, that with making such decisions so spontaneously and haphazardly, we didn’t truly contemplate in our heart how we would go about living the Lenten Season consciously, or how we can best grow closer to Christ, as we prepare our selves and our hearts for Easter. We did get into the swing of it, in the first few days of ‘too late’, managing to follow our Catholic obligations. But they were done almost just as that > obligations.

But this year, we weren’t letting it happen again. What’s more, I have heard Lent calling me for some time now. And by this time, we are all well prepared; armed with Lenten plans, and joyful hearts of anticipation.

I suppose Easter is time in which most ‘anticipate with joyful hearts’. And we certainly do as well! After all, Easter is THE most sacred and celebrated day of the Catholic faith. Even more so than Christmas. For in God’s Only Son, rising to life, rose with Him salvation that is ours, if we choose to embrace it.

But Lent is a time we are anticipating with joyful hearts as well, because it is a time we can best show our love for Christ. It is a time we are called to focus more on Him, sacrifice for Him, spend time with Him and grow closer to Him. Through reflection. Through prayer. Through Penance. As an individual, and as a family, we ultimately grow in strength and commitment to our relationship with Christ. How can these gifts be anything less than joyful? They are indeed gifts we are called to embrace. As Catholics, we are unquestionably called to embrace them in these 40 blessed days, until the celebration of Easter. And for the good of ourselves!

I won’t get into my (longer than usual) personal list of Lenten commitments, of which I have pondered with an attentive heart. But I will share with you a couple of other agendas on our Lenten list. As a family, we have decided to add a Mass to our week. And early morning Mass…..which, for anyone who knows us well, is a sacrifice in itself. We are not at all a morning family. We enjoy waking up when we do, and having our leisure morning—sipping coffee, (< definitely me), nibbling toast made of home made bread, starting our fire – to keep us warm as we wake and wash, and get ready to tackle our schooling and work agendas for the day. No…..dragging ourselves out of bed, after a crude alarm sound, and rushing to get ready to leave anywhere, is just not our cup of tea. Even a little. But, we figured…..Lenten sacrifices are not meant to be necessarily enjoyable. They are meant to be….a challenge. Difficult for us. A personal hardship, of sorts. And hey…..if we can make it to an 8:00 a.m. basketball game (we did TWICE this season!), we can surely make it to Mass!!

Attending and experiencing the Mass itself, ….not at all a sacrifice. But a BLESSED GIFT!

A couple of weeks ago one evening, my oldest daughter, {A}, and I, had come across a Mother/Daughter Quiz, in my FAVORITE magazine, Faith and Family. To begin with, the questions posed were for me, as the mother, to answer for my daughter. It was to see how well I knew her. One of the questions was : “What is her favorite day of the week?”. I knew the answer to that immediately: Sunday. She loves the Mass. But more than that, she loves to SERVE the Mass. As an altar server. She has expressed countless times, how much closer she feels to Jesus, being up on the altar, and serving Him. It isn’t just something she SAYS. It’s something EVERYONE can SEE. I can’t tell you how many times we have been approached by people after Mass, to be told how they are amazed at how reverent she is up there. Truly absorbed in every moment. Relishing in it, even. She is scheduled for certain Masses, (and always the most important ones), but gleefully and (very eagerly…trust me…) volunteers to fill in for anyone who does not show up at the Masses we attend. She jumps out of our van to go check and get ready, before our van is even turned off. So yes……clearly the answer was Sunday.

Ding Ding Ding!!! Another right answer for Mama. I scored very well, in the end, I might add. I know my kiddo.

At the end of the quiz, the daughter is to question the Mama. My answer was Sunday too – but for a different reason:

I VERY MUCH love receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. I look forward to until I find myself ‘at His table’ once again, and I receive with a joyful and hungry heart. It lifts me in such an indescribable way. The moment I consume the Eucharist, and Jesus once again becomes part of me, I feel whole. Alive more so than before. I am certain I feel the Holy Spirit flowing through my blood, and renewing every part of me. I feel an overwhelming urge to weep, out of the relief! It truly gives me strength to ponder or resolve the difficult situations/relationships in my life. (Although sometimes, it takes 2 to tango. lol). More than any other time, I can deal with them with at least some shred of grace. A Christian perspective that in all honestly, I know I am called exercise always. I am weak, and a sinner. I’m a constant work in progress. With the Good Lord’s help, I like to think.

My beautiful, freckle-faced, spunky little God-daughter, will be welcomed to Jesus’ table for the first time this spring. She is making her First Communion this May. I am SO excited for her, I can’t tell you. I will travel to be there, to witness her on this special, special day in her life. Oh, I know children don’t always fully understand the vast reality of what a gift this is, for them to be able to participate fully at the table of the Lord, from that day forward. I know they are a child, and have not yet experienced or comprehended all that this means for them. But it is, prayerfully, a very crucial milestone, in the spiritual journey we are called to follow. I have faith, and pray regularly, that she will grow closer to God, with each precious day of her life. And that one day, she will feel what I do, when receiving, and becoming one with Jesus. Perhaps she will feel something quite special inside. A magic she cannot explain. Some children do!! But one day, God-willing, she will be old enough, and have an open heart enough to know, just what that feeling inside is. It is not a figment of the imagination, or sugar rush. But the love of Christ and the movement of the Holy Spirit, renewing our very souls. It will be a beautiful day, no matter what the weather. (But let’s pray for sun! Remember?….He hears these little, petty prayers. He’ll decide if our petition is worthy of granting.)

Our own three little one’s will receive their Sacraments of Penance and First Holy Communion, next spring. We are preparing them, with SUCH excitement and anticipation. On both our parts, and theirs! They have waited for as long as they could talk….always asking “When can we go up too?” “How old will I be when I can receive Communion too?”. At each Mass, at Communion time, they sit back, and pull up their legs to ‘Sit like little Indians, so that all of the people in our pew can get in and out. And they seem to watch us longingly, as I glance back occasionally to check on them. What a day that will be, when we will not have little Indians in the pew any longer. My-oh-my!!

I also look forward, in this Lenten season, to spending more time with Jesus, at the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. My only quiet time with Him, is often spent half asleep. Because my children must be asleep, to have true quiet! So I intend to find the time to sneak away, and have that time with Him.

Our kids will also be taking part in this program called Lenten Adventures. In fact, they start later today! It is a free online program for kids that consists of videos, stories, prayers, activities – all as part of lessons on their faith during the Lent/Easter season. It’s free! All you need to do is sign up, and you get 3 e-mails a week, with links to everything you need. We can’t vouch for it yet, as we have never done it before, but it looks pretty good! If you are interested in checking it out for your own kids, just click on the link above. I hope it is fun and deeply educational, and helps them truly participate in their own age-appropriate way this season. I guess we’ll see!

May we ALL grow this Lenten season….as individuals and children of God…as families who hope to hold Christ as the center and core of their homes and families. May the light and love we called to, especially during this season, be a place we long to stay in each and every day, long after our 40 days are done.

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La Salette Shrine – Our First Day of the New Year

January 2, 2009 By Laura Leave a Comment

We finally got to the last activity on our Christmas-to-do list, on New Year’s Day; Taking another trip to Our Lady of La Salette Shrine. With everything else we were doing to prepare for Christmas, this trip was one thing that we just couldn’t find a day for. Because we truly needed a whole day. The Shrine is over an hour away from us. Decidedly, New Year’s Day was the perfect day anyway, in some ways.

But let me backtrack first.

On New Year’s Eve, all 6 us of us were going to stay up until midnight. Do you know HOW exciting that is to 6 year olds?? Ridiculously so. It was pretty low key–we were still feeling a little partied out from all of the Christmas excitement. But {A} was making treats, and the little ones were enjoying watching her. As the night went on, they talked more and more and more. I truly think they were afraid if they stopped talking, they would fall over in slumber. Except one of my little boys. He wasn’t tired, so he said. Surely did not want to go to bed. But….he was really enjoying the snuggle with me for a very-long-time. Perfectly content, still and quiet….watching the lights on the Christmas tree.

Now here comes the most pathetic thing you may ever have heard. By 11:20, most of us couldn’t take it anymore. I HAD to go to bed, and I wasn’t much sad about it. By the time all the kids were ready, and we were all in bed, it was 11 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT!! And I do believe every one of us were asleep my 10 minutes until.

So the next day, we all REALLY wanted to go to the La Salette Shrine. Time was running out, and I really need to do something that day. As Michael got all of the shoveling done, I contemplated and re-contemplated the VERY frigid temperatures of the forecast that day and night. Once Michael got in, we hemmed and hawed and discussed it until we were blue in the face, while the kids begged and asked repeatedly, to go. So I gathered in my head everything my father had ever told me about dressing warm in cold weather (he likes to talk about that topic), and dressed my whole family accordingly. (Well, not physically. But I’m the planner in the family. By default. lol) We were going, and the kids were ECSTATIC.

On Our Way

As we drove, we all answered 10 great questions that apply to the our own selves in reflection of the year behind us, as well as the year ahead. It helped us all better formulate what we have learned, how we can grow from it, and what we want for ourselves in the future. I was so touched by some of the kids answers.

So, the National La Salette Shrine is quite a place. It’s a Catholic shrine, honoring Our Lady of La Salette, with beautiful grounds, a church, candle sanctuary, gift shop cafeteria and bistro, and even a carousel. We all just love to go there. We went last Christmas for the first time, and knew we’d be back this year.

So on our agenda once we got there was Penance for 3 of us, Mass, lighting a perpetual candle for my mother in the sanctuary (for her birthday, and the repose of her soul), walking the grounds to enjoy the festival of lights and huge nativity IF we could stand the cold, going to the gift shop so the kids could spend some money burning in their pocket from their uncle, and dinner.

We were devastated to learn that Penance was over being received at 3:00. But by the grace of God, and a conversation with a deacon who was drawn to talking to us, a priest was beckoned, and we were all able to confess with great relief. Honestly…..it was a very-big-part of our trip, and our hearts just really wanted it by then, being overdue and the first day of a whole new year. So we were very, very grateful to the priest.

Mass and the Crucifix

From there we happily went to Mass. It was a holy day of obligation anyway. But we would have gone anyway, being my Mother’s (and the kids’ Mémé’s) birthday, and the first day of a new year. IS there a better way to start a new year, than with Mass? We think not. The church at the La Salette Shrine is just beautiful, too. Architecturally fascinating. But the kids were absolutely taken with Jesus crucified over the altar. They have seen Jesus crucified in many forms, but this was the most dramatic they have ever seen….and I think it was hitting a little more home with them.

I think we (adults) all know, that most images of Christ crucified are very much ‘cleaned up’, as to not be too difficult to see. I think we also know that what we see is far from the reality of just how horrific, gruesome and brutal His death really was. A death he suffered, for each one of us. This cross of Christ crucified was closer and a bit more realistic though. (But not even close, really, as in truth, He was brutally beaten and tortured, beyond recognition.) I believe it’s made of carved wood. I couldn’t stop photographing it after Mass. Mass was very nice….filled with peace and hope.

Lighting a Candle for Mom/Mémé

After Mass we went and lit a perpetual candle for my mother / Mémé’, in the sanctuary, which is a non-heated virtually all-glass building…but so beautiful with the candles that encircle the Blessed Queen Mother and fill the whole building.

Last year, as I lit that candle, I was a mess as we tried to say a prayer for my Mother. This year, I was stronger, and it made me realize the grace of healing God has brought me. Of course I knew better than to push it, missing her so much this time of year, and being her birthday to boot….so Michael said a beautiful spontaneous prayer, {A} said a Hail Mary with the kids in a huddle, and we were on our way.

The center candle was lit and is burning for her. It will burn for 6 days.

Can’t Miss the Gift Shop

From there we went to the gift shop, and spent a good hour there. Helping little ones figure out for themselves what they want to buy can be a time-consuming and exhausting feat. And it certainly was this night. In the end, the little ones each chose a necklace, and a holy water bottle which they are chomping at the bit to fill up on Sunday at church. {A} bought a statue of her favorite saint, St. Michael the Archangel, and a pocket coin of some sort. All of the kids got in line, and paid for their own purchases by themselves. Which their Daddy and I loved to witness. The little ones were so darn proud, taking care of buying their own things, with their own money, and proudly taking their bag as they responded to the cashier, “Thank you, and Happy New Year to you too.”

The Frozen Shutter Hand Incident

We decided we were starving, and wanted to eat somewhere on the way home as the cafeteria options weren’t inspiring us. Daddy-Boy, {A} and some of the little ones also determined it was way-too-bitter cold to even think about walking around. (As in, dangerously low and frigid temperatures.) I agreed. However. I needed my photos of the festival of lights. It’s the highlight of the La Salette Shrine! Now understand….to really experience the festival of lights at this shrine, you just need to see it with your own naked eyes. To really take it all in cannot even begin to be done with a camera. (It’s not easy to photograph either.). But, I was taking photos anyway.

Thankfully, my family understands that taking photos sometimes IS a NEED for me, more than a want. So as starving and tired as they all were, Michael drove the van around the lot, and I hopped out here and there to attempt to photograph this and that. I started with the Bridge of Angels, and caught a couple on the way back to the van. It was BITTER COLD. Like…hard to breathe, can’t feel your face in 2 seconds, kind of cold.

Jumped back in the van, and thought I’d just open the door, stand out from where I was, and take a shot of this. Not sure I like it, as there were 3 kings on camels all lined up but anyway…….

Then we were coming around to the stuff I really wanted to try and capture. An amazing HUGE nativity scene, lots of stone steps, statues and light set ups everywhere. I especially love the light snowflakes everywhere. Now all of these were quite a hike for me from the running warm van with my family in it. Lots of snow, ice, wind, and sub-zero temps. But I needed my photos…..

As I came back around to the van, many parts of me were frozen numb. But before I climbed back in I had to take a shot of this one last statue……

And then I got in the van…..and began to experience THE most excruciatingly painful shutter hand thaw I have ever had to suffer! I am telling you….it was all I could do not to cry out loud. I tried to suffer quietly and get through it, but my little ones in the back kept asking me what was wrong, as I whimpered. To which our oldest daughter answered them “Mama is suffering her natural consequences“…with a hint of satisfaction in her voice. I talk to my kids ALL the time about ‘natural consequences that come with the choices they make.’. And I did HAVE to take photos, despite the sub-zero temps, right? How right she was, my little smarty pants. I really thought I was going to lose 3 fingers. In fact, if it would stop the pain, I was almost hoping they would just fall off. Finally, the pain subsided, and I was able to keep them.

We headed to dinner at a really nice pizza place, and then took the long ride home. It was another night we were happy to get to bed. But the next morning, (this morning), I had a photography gig very, very north. My daughter/assistant came with me, and it was a good job we were happy to do…despite how tired we were.

Hope in Faith For the Coming Year

So here we all are on the 2nd day of the year. I feel hope and happiness about the year ahead, in my heart. Excitement. That’s what the new year brings me every year, with maybe just a tinge of fear that the year may hold something not so good. But that is what our Catholic faith is for. Our Heavenly Father takes care of us. He always has, when we give all we can to Him. And doing so brings us greater faith, hope, and inner peace. So let us begin living the year of 2009, and when the year comes to a close, may we feel we have grown closer to Him, to each other, and be closer to the kind of people He created us to be.

Once again, we wish you all a new year filled with your own happiness, health, blessings, peace and every-growing faith.

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A New Crucifix for Our Home

October 17, 2008 By Laura Leave a Comment

We have a new crucifix for our home.

At Mass a couple of weeks ago, there was a guest speaker from Bethlehem. He had 2 tables full of beautiful, hand crafted, religious wooden pieces for sale. He explained to our parish how the families of Bethlehem make these items, as a means to support themselves. Yet it seems that the town of Bethlehem is very poor now, because of a great decline in tourists, which is due to the danger there now, such as war, violence, kidnappings and the persecution of being Christians. He had a very heavy accent, and so we could not understand all of what he said, but it seems people are afraid to travel and visit there these days. So in an effort to bring in more income for the families, they are traveling and selling the items they make.

Honestly, I wanted so very many pieces there. There were all kinds of statues, rosary beads, and this large, glorious nativity set. There was even a wooden star at the peak of the front of the manger, that you wound up to play music. Be still my heart! We need a real nativity set, badly, too. We never really had a place to put a nice one before, but we do now. Frankly, now that our youngest are 6, the Little People Nativity Set we have isn’t cutting it anymore. It served our little ones well, in it’s time though. Unfortunately, the large nativity set I pined after, there on that display table that day, was way out of our budget. Although the price was well worth the value of craftsmanship that went into it.

So, we decided on this crucifix, which we all really love. The craftsmanship is so amazing, and the wood grain in this particular piece really adds to the beauty of it. We do still need to get it blessed.

There has been a crucifix hanging in every home I have ever lived in. Naturally, it is a very poignant symbol of Christian faith, and is meant have a place in every home where strong faith prevails. So this crucifix represents that here in our home as well.

But when I look at this one now, hanging in a place of honor in my home, I am keenly aware of the new feelings I experience in the depths of my soul. Perhaps it is heightened awareness of the reality of just what Christ went through, for us. The way, as we grow older and gain the wisdom that comes with time, something we always knew is embraced in a whole new way-with greater appreciation, gratitude, and the gripping meaning of it all. As we raise our children, and try to do so while teaching them in the light that all things, all actions, all lessons, all of LIFE, revolves around, and are tied, in every single way…our faith. It is all sprung forth from God’s creation, and our purpose, as we live our lives, day by day, here on earth. Seeing this crucifix brings all of those things to mind and heart, in one impactful moment, at the very glimpse of Christ there, on that cross, on our wall.

More than that, it has already served me well in another way. It’s been a reality check for me, when I really, really needed one. A well-deserved slap in the face, if you will. Because there was a day, or maybe 2, that I was having a bad day. And by ‘bad day’, I mean one of those self-absorbed, not getting over-myself kind of days. A day when I felt needless stress, for all I had to get done in that day, and the interruptions (blessings in transparent disguise that day…lol), that hindered me from getting it all done quickly. A day where, in this failing economy, I was feeling I had too much work and obligations, (I know…slap me now), and not enough time or focus to get it all done. So on such a day as this, I once again caught glimpse of this crucifix hanging there. And it served that reality check: “THAT, is a bad day”, I thought, looking at it. I recalled the truth of the matter: Here was the Son of the living God, being called a liar for who He was, being tortured in ways that brought about pain none of us will ever truly understand, and giving up His life, after a slow and merciless death…………..not for Himself. But for US! For all of us. For all of mankind, or at least, for each of us who accept his sacrifice, and embrace salvation in our hearts, minds and souls, and live a life accordingly.

And yet here I was…in a bad mood over, ummm….what again? A to-do list that wasn’t really that long. Certainly not painful. And when I really looked at it honestly, it was all blessings, I chose to see in a selfish light that day. They were all, in the end, for good things for ME, when the purposes come full circle. I mentally complained that day because I was tired (though I slept in a cozy warm bed most of the night). It irked me to see that basket of unfolded laundry, knowing deep inside some people must wear the same dirty rags every day. I groaned because I had so much work to do – which brings in the income to support my family, through the gifts God Himself gave me, and of which is a passion (sometimes of service)I feel in my heart. Because I didn’t feel like taking the time, to prepare meals, forgetting to be grateful for answered prayer when we say “give us this day, or daily bread”.

Shame on me, and I meant it, and felt it, when my eyes landed on that cross.

I live a life focused on gratitude, most days. I try to make a habit of starting each day in prayer ( a few times before noon), and counting our abundant blessings. I know in my heart, and remember 95% of the time, that nothing comes to me, to us as a family, that which is not first through the Father. And I feel, and fear, that when you forget to be grateful, the Good Lord tends to get us back on track with a swift and difficult life lesson, which makes us appreciate what we should, once again. Indeed, ALL GOOD comes through Him. We know this to be true. We have simple needs, as a family. As individuals. Yet we are very, very blessed. I would even go so far as to say, we are rich, really, when you consider what is really of value. He provides for us. He always does. He even gave the life of his own Son, as Christ did for us as well, so that we could have MORE, and eternally. It reminds me of that hymn, Whatsoever You Do. For we also know that what is ours, we must share with those in need.

So I think this cross will be hanging in our home for a long time to come. For all it means, for all it symbolizes, and just in case, for the reality check I may need someday again, when I am wrapped up in ME, and forget momentarily, that I have all I will ever need. I have woken up and smelled the coffee, after my partial day of ridiculous, unjustifiable pity. There is work to be done, which we quite enjoy, because work/income is coming our way, in a time some people can’t find a job, or despise their job, and in a time of a failing economy. There are meals to prepare, because we have food. There is laundry to fold, because we have clothing, and a washing machine in which to clean them. We have a home to clean, because we have a roof over our head. And beautiful, healthy children to tend to, because they are the very existence of our answered prayers, and joy of our life! They are just LOVE, making themselves known, all over the place. And all we need to do is remember to be thankful for such immense blessings, and sincerely follow a few other simple rules, and on top of all that we already have, we can then even enter into the home, of Our Father.

Easter Reflection (by Laura)

Just Some Things That Make Me Smile….| In Photos

We Welcome This Lenten Season!

La Salette Shrine – Our First Day of the New Year

But let me backtrack first.

On Our Way

Mass and the Crucifix

Lighting a Candle for Mom/Mémé

Can’t Miss the Gift Shop

The Frozen Shutter Hand Incident

Hope in Faith For the Coming Year

A New Crucifix for Our Home

We have a new crucifix for our home.

Shame on me, and I meant it, and felt it, when my eyes landed on that cross.

Amen, I say to you, Amen.

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