Lord, Hear Our Prayer

The internet is a formidable force for bringing the comfort and consolation and hope of the Lord to all of us. It can be an incredibily powerful medium for community. There is an unfathomable resource for prayer here. We have on the 'net the privilege of praying for people and of being witness to the miracles brought forth when fervent, faith-filled people pray for one another.

Let's be that community of hope and faith for one another.

How about this idea? What if I pop in here every weekend, share Sunday's gospel and talk a wee bit about how we can live it and pray it in our homes? And then you tell me how we can pray for you that week? Deal?

{And please, do return and let us know how prayer is bearing fruit.}

Gospel 

Mark 10:17-30

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother."
He replied and said to him,
"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
"You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the kingdom of God!"
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
"Then who can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God."
Peter began to say to him,
"We have given up everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."

Think

"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty, than the person who has nothing to eat." Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Pray

May your grace, O Lord, we pray, at all times go before us and follow after and make us always determined to carry out good work. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reign with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 

~Collect from today's Mass.

Act

"During this Year of Faith may we, like the man in today's Gospel, have the courage to ask the Lord what more can we do, especially for the poor, the lonely, the sick and the suffering, so as to be witnesses and heirs to the eternal life God promises." ~Benedict XVI

Homecoming

Yesterday, the painter found this picture. It made me smile and then, unexpectedly, cry (this may or may not have to do with lack of sleep and the influence of paint fumes). This picture was taken October 31, 1982. Homecoming, my senior year of high school.

It's Homecoming Week in our small town. My children don't go to the local high school, but Patrick is going to the dance with Hilary and Mary Beth is going with Hilary's younger brother, Jack (I know, too cute, right?). I told Hilary earlier this week that I remember the homecoming dance my senior year as the absolute best night of high school. 

I remember sitting with Mike late into the night and planning our future. Never mind that this night came after the world's rockiest high school "romance" (if it was even that). And never mind there were still plenty of tears yet to shed. In that moment of time, we were perfect. I don't really remember the details, but I do remember him saying something about a big family-- four kids sounded good to him. I also remember we planned to open a day care center and school, firmly rooted in Montessori. I detailed for him every nuance of educational philosophy and prepared environment. He was totally on board. We were going to change the world, beginning with the children.

So, that all worked out, right? We have our own little cottage school. (And exactly 26 years after that perfect date, we welcomed our ninth baby into the world.)

Sally Clarkson writes, "As a younger woman, I struggled with many of the scriptures referring to a woman's role in life. But the more I have lived, the more I have come to appreciate the beauty and wisdom of my God-given assignment. As a free-spirted person who generally thinks outside the box, I have found deep fulfillment and satisfaction in exercising my gifts, strengths,and personality to bless my family, neighbors, and friends from the strength of my home. Establishing my household as a place in which the greatness of God and a devotion to him is lived out each day has given me focus. Loving my children and nurturing their hearts and minds while training their characters and leading them to know the Lord and his purposes has satisfied my soul's need for purpose. The Mission of Motherhood,

I wish I could show you how my home looks this morning. The contractor who promised we'd do one room at a time has successfully put every single room on the main floor and my bedroom and bathroom out of commission at the same time. There is no shower available to anyone at this moment. No room is untouched by this process of transformation. Mike was up until 2:00 this morning re-wiring the bathroom. I'm bone tired. But these words--this one paragraph of Sally's-- is propelling me through this day.

Tonight, my teenagers and their friends will come here for brunch after the dance. I have a vision. It's not a business and a school and a few advanced degrees. It's a home and a handmade meal. And by golly, it's going to be warm and welcoming and beautiful. As I move about my space, putting things back in order (even bettter than before), I am so grateful for a soul overflowing with a sense of His purpose. I am grateful for a life of love lived in out in the strength of my home. I am ever so grateful for homecomings.

~~~

This post is part of 31 Days To Remind Myself of the Mission. I'd love to hear your thoughts about mission and vocation in the comment box. Find all the posts in the series here. And please, help yourself to a button if you want one for your blog. I'd love to read what you say there. 

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God's Bountiful Blessing

God's blessing on Adam and Eve contained another important element as well. Not only were the man and the woman to rule over and subdue the earth; they were also to "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth." They were to have many children!

Before the Fall, in other words, one of man and woman's greatest prvileges and most important responsibilities was to bring other human being into this world from the purposeful partnership of their marriage. These offspring were also to know the design of God. In the context of the family, they would learn what it meant to be made in the righteous image of their Creator to subdue the earth for God's glory, and to populate the earth with their own children, thus producing a godly heritage. The Mission of Motherhood, 

This quote is packed. From the very beginning of our marriage--the vocation to which God called us and the path He chose as our route to heaven--we have clearly heard His call to be open to His plan for children. As a young woman, I was blessed to hear and read the messages of godly men and women who helped me to understand the Church's beautiful teaching on openness to life. Through decades of pregnancies and breastfeeding and childbearing, I could clearly see God's providence. By the grace of God, I truly embraced the childbearing part.

So here we are, nine children later. "Be fruitful and multiply." Check. We did that. But this is a longterm proposition, people! He doesn't just call a woman to survive hyperemesis and months without more than two hours sleep at a time and the very real challenges of life with more toddlers than grownups. There's so much more. And I'm learning that those early years were bootcamp for these later years. Those early years were the training in self-discipline and endurace and patient acceptance of God's will that I so desperately need to live in His will during these years.

There is the "purposeful partnership of marriage." Over the course of a lifetime, we are called (asked? begged? pleaded with ?) to nurture our marriages. We are called to love that man God gave us with every fiber of our beings. And we have to do it while taking care of the children our love brought forth. No small task, my friends. It's a beautiful, wonderful, joy-filled, amazing, hard thing to do. I don't know about you, but just this piece could easily demand my full time and attention. 

And then, in the context of family, those children are to know God. Whether she has two children or ten children, God entrusts a woman to make Him known to her children. And whether she has two children or ten children, that is a longterm, fulltime job. Fulltime. Here's where I will step out on a limb. And I beg you not to throw stones. If a woman has been blessed with many children, she will have to spend more time, effort, and energy in the raising of children than the neighbor with fewer. I didn't used to really think that. I heard about the candleight analogy: in big families, we share the light of our candles with each other and it multiplies.There's plenty to go around. Oh, it really does! Love multiplies like candlelight. And with all those children carrying flames, the likelihood that someone is going to catch her hair on fire is greatly increased. It's just the simple math of it all. With more children, comes more of the stuff of childrearing. More baptisms. More laundry. More meals. More visits to the pediatrician (and the orthodpedist). More late night conversations. More algebra homework. More high school dances.More high school drama (not the theater kind).  More weddings.

So, the mission for a mother of many to bring an entire family before the throne of God is a big mission. When saying "yes" to the call to be open to life, we sign up for a very longterm, all-consuming proposition. We don't just have children, we have to raise children. For God. Children in a big family require and deserve just as much love, guidance, and attention as children in a smaller family. Because there are more of them, there is more to do. There is more work; there's no way around it. Love multiplies, but mothers don't. The mother's work in a large family must be done by the mother of that family. I don't care how well you train your children to do chores or to care about and for their siblings, the reality is that the big family mom is repsonsible for more.

And the season is longer. 

When the mother of a large family considers mission, particularly as her children grow and become more independent, she is likely to look around and notice that mission looks very different for her than it does for her neighbor. Many women at midlife who chose to stay at home and raise a family find themselves pursuing new challenges in the "real world" as their children leave the nest. A mom who continued to bear children late into her thirties and forties will find her friends from early mothering days forging new paths. She, however, will be walking familiar paths with a new little ones. And there is such blessing in that. Really, there is! It's not a bad thing; it's a different thing.

As women with fewer children find pockets of time to answer God in the community, the mother of a large family must be very, very careful. She has to be careful not to be distracted, not to feel as if her mission is somehow less important than one that bears the public affirmation of "good works."  And she has to be careful not to grow discontent with the "sameness" of the life born by extended childbearing. We learned as young women that a woman has seasons in her life: a season for new love, a season for childrebearing and being at home, a season for pursuing new interests out in the world. For some of us though, that season of intense childrearing is a very long one--much longer that that of woman who had two children in her late twenties. The women with two early-in-life children looks very different at 45 than the woman who had ten children between 20 and 40. It's just the way it is.

I remember a time when I'd just had my fifth child. A new parish was beginning and I eagerly filled out the form asking how I'd give of my "time and talent." I don't remember exactly what I said I'd do, but I know I checked several boxes. A few weeks later, in spiritual direction, I asked my pastor why nobody had yet called to follow up on all the things I'd said I'd do. He told me that he'd pulled my card. "You are to raise up a large family of faithful children. That's all you can do right now. And, God willing, there will be more children, so that's all you can do for a long, long time." That conversation came back to me one night in the NICU four years ago. I held my tiny, too-soon baby, the ninth precious baby who was my privilege to hold and to teach. I watched the busy, quiet, purposeful work being done around me--the neonatologist, the expert nurses, the miracles of nearly every moment. I remembered days in nursing school and dreams of midwifery. My head back against the rocker, I closed my eyes and planned on the day when I would return to school and become a NICU nurse. I thought to myself that this last little girl and I could go to college together. Then I remembered that I was 42. That would make me 60 when she left home. I couldn't really imagine a refresher course in organic chemistry and all those 12 hour clinicals at 60. Sequencing looks very different for the mother of many. 

Lots of things look very different for the mother of many.

Mission looks very different for the mother of many.

I've got another quote highlighted here, but I've gone on much too long today. The painters have arrived and Sarah has resumed her familiar position for coping with strangers in the house. The irony of trying to see this screen around her is not lost on me.

I pray you are wide awake to the blessings God will shower on you this day!

This post is part of 31 Days To Remind Myself of the Mission. I'd love to hear your thoughts about mission and vocation in the comment box. Find all the posts in the series here. And please, help yourself to a button if you want one for your blog. I'd love to read what you say there. 

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The Year of Faith

On October 11, 2012 the Catholic Church officially begins its celebration of the Year of Faith. To celebrate the occasions of the 50^th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the 20^th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI leads the faithful in a three-fold mission for the next year. (If you haven’t begun at all, no worries; it’s actually a little more than a year.) Especially this year, we are called to know the Christian faith, to live the faith with every breath, and to generously share the faith. Let’s begin with some ideas for getting to know the faith a  little (or a lot) better.

As the year begins, take some time to make a plan. Be intentional about soaking up the graces that come with an entire year focused on faith. Seize the opportunity to really do this thing. As a family, how will you grow in your knowledge of the faith?  Begin with a Bible for everyone. My preferred adult Bible is the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. It’s just the New Testament for now, but I know I will fill in with lots of Old Testament study praying the Liturgy of the Hours. For teens, Amy Welborn has the wonderful Prove It! Catholic Teen Bible. For children, My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories is absolutely perfect for the Year of Faith. There are Bible stories, Catechism lessons, and notes on devotions, all woven into an engaging book with charming illustrations. Finally, I encourage you to commit to setting aside some time every week for Family Night. Jeff and Emily Cavins have a valuable online resource for a weekly family Bible study that will bring the Mass readings of the week to life and bring the family together. 

What better way to celebrate the anniversary of the Catechism than to read the Catechism? It seems a daunting task to tackle on one’s own. The folks at Flocknote have made it simpler and less lonely. Every morning, they will send you an email with just a bit of the Catechism to read that day. You can stop there, or you can click a little further and join an online discussion about the topic at hand. It’s all free and it couldn’t be much simpler to get going and take part in a movement that was already 27,000 strong the day before the Year of Faith began.

If you are up for a full-fledged course that you can access from the comfort of your couch, check out the free Pillars of Catholicism online course offered by John Paul the Great University. If you’d prefer not to use an online resource, you might enjoy watching the ten part Catholicism DVD series from Word on Fire. 

For those who would rather hold a book-based resource, Fr. Mitch Pacwa has written The Year of Faith: A Bible Study Guide for Catholics. Designed to use in a group or alone, this book seeks to foster conversion, growth in faith, and friendship with Jesus. Fr. Pacwa aims to show us how to integrate every component of life into a meaningful, faith-filled whole. One of our family’s most trusted resources also lends itself to a daily study. Alone or as a family, you can work your way through the excellent Catholic Christianity by Peter Kreeft, just a little at a time, every day with breakfast. 

Many will recognize a beloved resource in Magnificat. For the Year of Faith, Magnificat has published a comprehensive, page-a-day booklet designed to strengthen the life of faith. Each day features one of eight cornerstones of the Catholic Faith: faith profiles, the Word of God, Catechism, devotions, essays, meditations, prayers, and poems.  Finally, as the year progresses, I encourage you to check in at Patheos online. There is a dedicated year of  Faith portal which will be curated all year long, ensuring that we will never be in need of food for thought and prayer.

needle and thREAD

Well hello there! How do you do? My name is Edith and it's so nice to meet you! I'm guest posting today for my friend Elizabeth as she's kindly asked me to share a bit of my sewing with you. (She's busy tending to her mission as nurturer of sports injuries and overseer of major home improvements.) 

To tell you the truth, I was a little suprised when Elizabeth asked me to fill in for her today. I mean, I've only been sewing for a little over a month. Maybe two? I'm a knitter, you see, and my girls and I, we're just beginners in this craft of pulling needle and thread through fabric. 

But oh, how we love it already!

My story began not so long ago when I asked Elizabeth to suggest a place for a beginner like me to, well...begin. Without hesitation she directed me to Deborah Moebes' Stitch by Stitch: Learning to Sew, One Project at a Time. (As I'm sure you know, Elizabeth's written all about this book.) So that's where I find myself in this new world of needles and threads. My daughters and I, learning to sew, one project at a time. 

We read through the introductory chapters, taking in every footnote and caption. We spent a few weeks gathering all the necessary supplies and worked through all those mini projects - the ones you're tempted to skip so you can just get on with all the good stuff. All those stitch samplers and thread drawing lessons? They've paid off indeed!

The girls and I have since moved on to the real lessons, the learn to sew one project at a time kind of lessons. What fun it's been!

Like a few weeks ago, when we gathered around the family table and admired our dinner napkins with neatly mitered corners. 

And those picnic placemats with bias bound edges in lesson two? We didn't see much use for them but were ditch stitching adorably quirky knitting needle cases in no time. 

This week we've been working on the reversible, flat-bottomed tote. Oh my! I know exactly what I'll be elving this year for handmade Christmas gifts! These totes are the perfect project for an aspiring sewist. (And my husband's hopeful that my success in creating them will aid in greatly reducing my Vera Bradley purchases.) 

Yes, my dear, I think they will!

I loved every step of this project, from creating the flat bottom to that voila moment when I pulled the outer bag and straps through the lining and realized I'd create a fully lined bag. Happy crafting moment, I tell you.

This tote here is my new knitting bag, embellished with hand-carved buttons from Wooly Moss Roots.

I'm not ashamed to admit how much I love this tote. And yes, I fully confess to standing before the mirror with it thrown over my shoulder, admiring it until the girls caught me and laughed silly. They're wondering if I'm going to wear it while I sleep.

Don't tempt me, I told them. I just might!

Creating with needle and thread. I think it's safe to say I'm smitten. My knitting needles aren't going anywhere, mind you. But it sure is nice to create a little pretty something out of fabric to go along with all those beloved hand knits. We plan to keep learning to sew, one project at a time. (However I must admit that lesson 5, the hipster belt, gives me pause. The mother of more than a half dozen children, I'd sooner wear this birdie tote on my head than leave the house with a hipster belt buttoned around my belly. But I digress.)

And I suppose this post isn't complete until I weave my current reading in here somehow. With all this crafting it's mighty hard to do a lot of reading. That's why I invested in a subscription to Audible. (Money well spent!) Right now, I'm listening to Bleak House by Charles Dickens. (And the knitting needle cases I crafted above, they were inspired by the book. Those bird cages in the second case bring to mind the eccentric character Miss Flite, do they not?) 

This unabridged Audible edition of Bleak House, the version read by Sean Barrett and Teresa Gallagher, is such a treat! Barret reads for the omniscient narrator while Gallagher reads the parts narrated by the character Miss Esther Summerson. The readers are truly gifted. Somehow they have the ability to bring each character to life. Delightful!

In the spirit of Elizabeth's 31 Days on Mission, I leave you with a thought from Dickens' character, Miss Esther. Perhaps you remember the scene? Having just arrived at Bleak House, Esther's guardian Mr. Jarndyce asks her to share her impression of Mrs. Jellyby, the misdirected philanthropist. Her cause, the African project that "employs all of her time" - her mission to "educate the natives of Borrioboola-Gha" - she lives that mission at the expense of her pittifully neglected husband, children and household. 

"We thought perhaps," said I, hesitating, "it is right to begin with the obligations of home, sir; and that, perhaps, while overlooked and neglected, no other duties can possibly be substituted for them."

-Miss Esther Summerson, Bleak House

Yes, my sweet Elizabeth. This is your Africa, this lovingly tended home of yours. This pouring out of yourself -- tending twisted ankles and creating a peaceful nest for your family. 

The whole world's a better place for it. 

~~~~

Does autumn call you into your sewing space? Are you thinking flannel pjs or cozy quilts? Or are you embroidering? Pulling a needle with thread through lovely fabric to make life more beautiful somehow? Would you share with us just a single photo (or more) and a brief description of what you're up to? Will you tell us about what you're reading, also? Would you talk sewing and books with us? I'd love that so much.

Make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your blog post or your specific Flickr photo and not your main blog URL or Flickr Photostream. Please be sure and link to your current needle and thREAD post below in the comments, and not a needle and thREAD post from a previous week. If you don't have a blog, please post a photo to the needle & thREAD group at Flickr. 

       Include a link back to this post in your blog post or on your flickr photo page so that others who may want to join the needle and thREAD fun can find us! Feel free to grab a button here (in one of several colors) so that you can use the button to link:-)