Catholic Mothers Online: November 2009

The Eleventh Hour

>> Sunday, November 29, 2009

Today's guest post is by Tima from Living Water.

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Why is it that only when we are preparing to say “good-bye” we come to realize the true value of what we have?

Last week I managed to organize our storage area and get rid of some items we no longer need or use. A few days later something came to mind that I feel compelled to share.

Among the pile of items we no longer use, we found an old favorite toy of the boys that we obviously forgot we still had. This toy had been put away for a few years (that’s how long it’s been since we went through our storage space) When we dug out the toy, we were discerning whether to donate it or sell it, but as all of you Mom’s know, our boys wouldn’t hear of separating from this toy, so they are now enjoying their reunion and playing with it again.

It struck me that at times we treat our faith the same way. Especially for those of us born and raised in a Catholic family. I have witnessed a few times, among my family & friends that only when they are facing the end of their earthly lives do they come to appreciate the faith that was instilled in them as children. Somewhere along their adolescent and adult life they felt their faith life wasn’t as important, but once they deal with a serious illness, or come face to face with their mortality they realize that clinging to God and preparing for heaven is much more important than any accomplishments they may or may not have had in their earthly life.

I am not meaning to undermine or insult anyone. In fact, I am so grateful for God’s mercy, that He allows us this opportunity to be saved, even at the 11^th hour of our lives. I have come to also appreciate what it means to have a good death. A good death is when we are given time to prepare, when we are given time to reconcile with God and with our family and friends.

The sad part about this reality is those poor souls who are waiting for the 11^th hour, but instead face their mortality suddenly. What of those who are not given the opportunity to reconcile with God and their loved one’s prior to departing from this earth. We have to trust in God’s mercy, since He knows their hearts and the condition of their souls.

Are we waiting for the 11^th hour to put things right with God and our family or friends?

In recent years I have to come to appreciate the value of a single soul. We look at the life of Christ and realize that many see His mission as a failure. The only time Christ’s mission can be seen as a failure is when a soul dies without Him. Then it’s like Christ’s blood was poured out for nothing.

Through my friendship with Christ, I know that Christ’s mission was not a failure. I know the peace I have found and the difference He has made in my marriage and in my family.

If you feel compelled, this is a great time to meditate on “The Good Thief” found in Luke 23:39-43

This has been written in loving memory of my family & friends who have gone ahead of us; I pray you are interceding for us from heaven.

More of Tima's musings can be found at: http://livingwater-rcmom.blogspot.com/

photo by StarrGazr

New Blog Roll Members: November 23, 2009

>> Monday, November 23, 2009

Welcome to our newest blog roll members! Please pick one to visit, and let them know how you found them.

Filled with Joy

Elisa Loves...

Pro-Life PA by Sue Cirba

The way of the upright is a highway

Our Little Ways

fortysomething

Burning the Candle at Both Ends

Life at the Stable

My Little Flower

Curmudgeonry

Traditionally Vintage

Life From Inside the Wheelbarrow

St. Monica's Tears

Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs

>> Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Today's Guest Article is by Elizabeth from The Divine Gift of Motherhood.

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"Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs”, is written by Jeni Stepanek, mother of the hero of the book, with Larry Lindner. It includes a foreword by Maya Angelou. It was released on November 3, 2009, by Dutton, a division of Penguin Books.

Mattie J.T. Stepanek was this amazing kid who just happened to suffer from a rare disorder that later came to be known as Dysautonomic Mitochondrial Myopathy. His three siblings all died by the age of four of the same disorder, and his mother was diagnosed with the adult onset form after having given birth to them. They are the only five people ever diagnosed with this particular form of the disorder.

Told from the first person, Jeni is one of the main characters of the book, as the mother who cared for her son and supported his efforts, yet Mattie is the focus. She sees him as a gift from God and is thankful for the time she was able to share with him and her other children on this earth.

From the beginning you know that he is going to die at the age of thirteen, and the suspense of the reader in seeing how he is going to live his life in between crises, and when he is going to die, is a faint echo of what you know Jeni and Mattie lived through in real life time. Jeni is very descriptive of all that they went through, but the book is much larger than that.

From an early age, Mattie defied the doctors’ predictions, so that eventually they gave up saying there was no hope and just let him go the course. He taught himself to read and write, and was so far ahead of his age peers in school that homeschooling became the best option for him. By middle school he was attending a local college for his coursework.

By the age of three he was writing poetry, and became a bestselling author. He published six collections of Heartsongs poetry and one collection of peace essays. “Heartsong” is a word he coined for a person’s essence. He believed that everyone should share their heartsongs with each other to make the world a better place. His poetry and his life work were all for the purpose of spreading the message of peace and hope.

He was the National Goodwill Ambassador for Jerry Lewis’s Muscular Dystrophy Association for three years in a row, traveling along with his all his life support equipment to give inspirational talks to large audiences and appear on television programs such as Larry King Live and Oprah Winfrey. His final project was assisting Jimmy Carter in the writing of the book “Just Peace”.

The book features never-before-published essays and poems from Mattie’s journals, as well as e-mail exchanges between him and one of his best friends, Oprah Winfrey.

I had a few reservations about the book that I feel I must disclose to the Catholic reading audience. Jeni, herself a Catholic, chose to leave an abusive marriage; divorce is mentioned but not an annulment. Mattie’s best friends are also some of the more liberal celebrities. If you are not a fan of Oprah, you might get tired of reading all of her supportive emails to Mattie. You may not agree with the choices of books and movies Mattie enjoys.

There is one story on p. 203 that gave me pause. Someone asks Mattie if they can put a “Celebrate Diversity” sticker on the back of his wheelchair. When a nurse and close friend explains to him and Jeni that it is a “gay pride” sticker and that people might think he is gay, he chooses to leave it because “God’s love includes all people”. I understand his point of view, but Jeni goes further in stating in the book, “So many people who are antigay point to the Bible to support the opinion that homosexuality is a sin. But Mattie understood that the Bible had to be read with an eye toward historical and cultural context.”

Other than that, the book is profoundly pro-life. The doctors all begged her to get an abortion; she would not. They told her to put Mattie in an institution; she chose to be his mother. She chose to let him live his life as much as he could, and went to great lengths to allow him to see his vision through. When it came to the end of his life, she allowed him the dignity to take part in the decisions about heroic life-saving measures. She and others made sure that all of his wishes were carried out when he was buried. They honored his life through continuing to carry on his message to the world.

Dutton sent me a preview copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. I have to admit that, when I read the description, I was not too excited about it. It sounded like a depressing topic, and I usually like to read to escape reality for a while. But I took the assignment and was glad I did. Other than the reservations I have mentioned, I recommend this book as a tribute to a great young soul with a message of hope and peace.

For more about Mattie and his life see his tribute website.

For ordering information see Dutton Publishing at Penguin Books.

Today's guest article is by Elizabeth from The Divine Gift of Motherhood. Elizabeth also writes as the columnist for The Long Island Motherhood Examiner.

Have you blogged about Catholic themed crafts or projects?

>> Thursday, November 12, 2009

I am working on a project and would love to see your blog/website links to Catholic themed crafts or projects. Anything from May Day crownings to clover shaped St. Patrick's Day cookies to making mission rosaries to, well, who knows! But, maybe you know! So, I hope you'll leave me some links.

Thanks!