Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin

Finally Understanding Married Life as a True Vocation

>> Friday, May 22, 2009

Today's Guest Article is by Deborah from Journey of a Soul


-------------------------------------------------------




Married women of this modern culture are encouraged to do everything we can to avoid the role of wife and mother. We add tremendous amounts of other "fulfilling activities" to our schedules in order to meet the expectation that "you can have it all!" Serving our families is considered demeaning work and we are encouraged to use all of our gifts and talents outside the home.



Modern women may be more educated, more liberated, and more independent than our counter-parts of 100 years ago, but in essence we are the same. Our predecessors had the same talents and creativity, the same drive and ambition. They had the same desires and the same fears. They may not have had as many options as women of today, but they faithfully raised the next generation. In fact, married women of 100 years ago put all of their gifts and energy into that one over reaching task and no one said, "You're too smart for that."



When my husband (a widower) asked me to marry him I freely chose to become his wife and a step-mother to his 5 and 8 year old sons. I was 30 years old and almost finished with my master's degree but chose to put it aside for a higher call. I said "yes" to marriage and to what I believed was God's will for my life.



For 14 years, I've tried to live out this gift of marriage and motherhood faithfully. I didn't let it bother me when other women (working full time), with whom I worked part time, seemed to be on the fast track to career success. I knew what I would have to give up in order to have a "full time career" and that was not my calling. However until these last few weeks, I wasn't truly aware of how special this gift of marriage and motherhood is. I've always respected other mothers and felt satisfied that I was sacrificing career for family but did not value the sacramental nature of marriage. Instead I would hear about a woman like Sarah Palin or a CEO of a major corporation who had a family and a career and think "Wow, now there is a woman who is truly successful!"



Since attending a recent vocations retreat, everything has changed in my understanding of marriage as a vocation. In addition, I continue to meditate on the whole concept of what makes an ordinary person into a saint. Through studying the life of St Therese, I've realized that the way to sainthood is not by being or doing what I see other women do. It's surrendering to the little way that God has put before me. It's the little "yes" I say all day long following the big "YES" I said on the day I got married. It's doing the dishes and folding the laundry. It's giving extra kisses and encouraging words to my husband and children. It's surrender and sacrifice as Mother Theresa said "doing little things with great love."



Today I've been thinking about what Mary did to earn the title "Queen of Heaven." Surely she was the greatest woman who ever lived and to think that I have been given the awesome privilege of having the same earthly role as the Mother of God! Mary's little way to sainthood was to completely embrace her role as a wife and mother. Why would I ever think that role is not quite as special as some other title like "Dean of Students" or "Governor of Alaska?"



All of that said, it's still a battle and I do need help because everything in our culture fights against this belief that Mary's Little Way is the path to sainthood and the glamor and excitement of other pursuits is forever tugging at my soul. So I will continue to pray and hide myself in Christ and trust that through the intercession of Mary and all the Saints, I too will journey faithfully to the end, joyfully surrendering my will to His.



Today's Guest Article is by Deborah from Journey of a Soul

photo by Crazybananas

Read more...

New Blog Roll Members - May 20th

>> Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Why not take the time to drop by the blog of one of our new members to welcome them today? Supporting each other within a community helps to make each of us stronger!

Read more...

How To Be An Active Pro-Life Mom

>> Saturday, May 16, 2009

Today's Guest Article is by Tara from Modern Catholic Mom.

-------------------------------------------------------

As a stay at home mom I often wonder how I can be an active member of the Right to Life movement. I know I am called to be a voice for the voice-less but amidst diapers and applesauce my time is limited. I have had the opportunity to be an active member of the movement from age 13 on. I attended the Washington D.C. March for Life for many years, was the president of my high school Pro-life group and became a side-walk counselor in college. The opportunities presented themselves and I wanted nothing more than to be active.


Now that I am a blessed parent I find that I don’t have the same time I did before. I can hardly get the laundry, cleaning or cooking finished in one days time! But truthfully my heart desires more. In our turbulent society, amidst the culture of death, I cannot count on ‘someone’ else volunteering. But I can pray that God will reveal my time and talents so that I may use them in a way that glorifies Him and helps put an end to abortion. I know that I am a wife first, a mother second and an activist third. And my activist heart desires to volunteer some of my time for those who are not able to fight for themselves.

Here are a few suggestions to help you get started:


1. Join your parish Right to Life movement. Don’t have one? Start one!

2. Join other moms for a rosary-playgroup and pray for the end to abortion.

3. Volunteer a few times a month at your local pregnancy center.

4. Donate old maternity clothes and baby items to pregnancy centers.

5. Keep updated on the political aspect of abortion. By keeping educated you can be a better defender of the faith.

6. Study and memorize what the Catholic Church says about why abortion is wrong. If you know your facts you will have a better chance of helping to educate someone who is pro-abortion.

7. Refuse to say ‘Pro-choice’. Instead say ‘Pro-abortion’. There is no ‘choice’ for the baby.

8. Educate yourself about all aspects of the Pro-life movement- stem cell research, In vitro fertilization, etc.9. Join 40 days for Life. Check out www.40daysforlife.com

10. PRAY AND FAST. AND THEN PRAY AND FAST SOME MORE!

Tara is a stay at home mom and nanny who loves blogging about mommyhood and Catholicism over at http://moderncatholicmoms.blogspot.com.

Read more...

New Blog Roll Members - May 11th

>> Monday, May 11, 2009

Please take a moment to welcome at least one new member to the blog roll by visiting their blog today and leaving them a message!
Our newest members:

Read more...

Capturing Kitchen Prayer Moments

>> Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Today's Guest Post is by Katie from Kitchen Stewardship.


I will be the first to tell you that everyone needs time for silent prayer during the day. I will also be the first to admit that this is oh! so hard for me to accomplish! Therefore, I am a huge advocate of what my friend calls “moving prayer.” For mommies and other people on the move, it is essential to remain connected to God throughout the day, even as you engage in other tasks.

I am especially aware of the available mental energy for “moving prayer” as I work in the kitchen. The multitude of mundane tasks that I work my way through while making a meal include: chopping vegetables, setting the table, gathering ingredients, storing leftovers, washing dishes…and the list could go on. I make it a point to harness some of my surplus intellectual space during these times, and I pray.

How often do you find that you have something repetitive “in your head”? If you’re a parent, it’s likely to be the ABCs or “Elmo’s World” theme song, and if you’re a normal person, perhaps the song you last heard in your car is stuck in there. Your head, I mean, not the car.

When I find my mind doing something repetitive, that’s my cue to switch over to the prayer station: I convince my mind to pray a repetitive prayer instead. We Catholics have lots of them. Honestly, the Hail Mary is a bit long for me while I’m working. I get distracted! My favorite is, “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.” It’s from the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and it has just the right rhythm to chop food by. I don’t count ten of them, I just go until I have to focus my brain on dinner again.

If you’re not Catholic and not comfortable with these prayers, I would encourage you to try something like this:

~ A favorite praise song
~ “Lord, have mercy”
~ “Christ, have mercy”
~ “Jesus, remember me”
~ Repeat the Name of Jesus
~ “Bless my family, Lord”
~ Any phrase that you feel is worthwhile to tell the Lord rather than your ABCs!



I want to challenge you to be prayerful in the kitchen. If you can harness your repetitive mind and turn it towards God with this method, please try it! The world needs our prayers.



Katie blogs at Kitchen Stewardship about being good stewards of our time, money, family's nutrition and the environment, answering God's call in the kitchen and sharing tips to help you find the balance and integrate prayer into your cooking.


photo by RyanDianna

Read more...

About This Blog

  © Blogger templates Shiny by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP