I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. We had a nice couple of days, except for my being sick. Truly enjoyed having my 4 kids all together.
Today, Sunday Dec 26th, is the Feast day of the Holy Family. As I listened to the readings at church today, I thought about my own kids and being a parent. Did Mary know, as the song says, all that her little baby was. Did Joseph realize the challenges ahead. They had already faced some big challenges. They had already witnessed some amazing things.
A mother holds her newborn baby and has many dreams for her child. Happiness, someone in their life to love, and a full life. We want our children to be better than we are, to live longer and be more successful. We want them to be strong adults who can handle all this world can throw at them. We want them to be sensitive and loving. To give more than take, to laugh more than cry.
Mary holds baby Jesus in her arms and takes in all that is happening around them. The visits from the angels, visiting Elizabeth, Joseph standing by her, the visits by the Shepherds and the visits from the Magi. She must have had a idea that this was big. As she held Jesus did she worry for him, as a mother she would have? She had such devotion to God, did she let go and trust in her faith. She poured out her heart and full love to Christ. She gave up her life for His. As all mothers strive to do.
Joseph looks at Mary and does he realize all that is happening. My husband told me that as a new father, you are sometimes filled with amazement and worry. Did Joseph feel that? Did he wonder how he was going to protect and provide for them? He too had such devotion to God. Did he lean on that? As he got Mary to Bethlehem, as he stood by her in labor and thru delivery, and has he lead them safely to Egypt, did he lean on his faith in God? He is such a strong figure in my mind. Taking in the woman and her Child of God and giving up his own life for them.
May the image of the Holy Family, their love and devotion for each other, guide us into the new year.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season Greetings. Whichever you prefer I wish you and your family all the best. I celebrate Christmas so I will stick with Merry Christmas.
As I sit here next to my lit tree I am reflecting on the story of Christmas. This year the spirit isn't as strong as years past, just have a lot going on. Christmas is still my favorite season.
I think about Mary, she said yes to God's will. Even though she could be shunned even stoned. She said "Thy will be done". I think about Joseph, a quiet strong good man. He could have turned Mary over to the authority, he could have divorced her, but instead he said yes. He stood by Mary protected her and the Christ child. He also risked being shunned or death.
They created a strong God filled family for our Savior to be a part of. They didn't have money or material wealth, just love and faith. The message in that love and with that family is so powerful. I often pray for the strength and intercession of St Joseph for my family. Through the intercession of St Joseph I was able to forgive my father and pray for his soul.
The most important event at this first Christmas is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Think about this for a moment, God incarnate!! How amazing, how much love God must have for us to become one of us. The incarnate Christ was truly human and truly God. What a great mystery, incomprehensible but amazing. By becoming human God forever joined us to him in a most intimate way. The little babe in the manger offered so much hope and love. That is why the angels said "I bring you good tidings of great joy". The shepherds and the magi came to pay homage. This too is an awesome image and message. The wiseman from around the world and the simple shepherd together in worship.
I pray that the babe in the manger may touch the lives of those reading this and many throughout the world. That His message of peace and love change the world even more than it already has.
Merry Christmas!!!
As I sit here next to my lit tree I am reflecting on the story of Christmas. This year the spirit isn't as strong as years past, just have a lot going on. Christmas is still my favorite season.
I think about Mary, she said yes to God's will. Even though she could be shunned even stoned. She said "Thy will be done". I think about Joseph, a quiet strong good man. He could have turned Mary over to the authority, he could have divorced her, but instead he said yes. He stood by Mary protected her and the Christ child. He also risked being shunned or death.
They created a strong God filled family for our Savior to be a part of. They didn't have money or material wealth, just love and faith. The message in that love and with that family is so powerful. I often pray for the strength and intercession of St Joseph for my family. Through the intercession of St Joseph I was able to forgive my father and pray for his soul.
The most important event at this first Christmas is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Think about this for a moment, God incarnate!! How amazing, how much love God must have for us to become one of us. The incarnate Christ was truly human and truly God. What a great mystery, incomprehensible but amazing. By becoming human God forever joined us to him in a most intimate way. The little babe in the manger offered so much hope and love. That is why the angels said "I bring you good tidings of great joy". The shepherds and the magi came to pay homage. This too is an awesome image and message. The wiseman from around the world and the simple shepherd together in worship.
I pray that the babe in the manger may touch the lives of those reading this and many throughout the world. That His message of peace and love change the world even more than it already has.
Merry Christmas!!!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Compromise
Compromise is not a dirty word. We all have to live together. If we are truly the "United" states, not the divided states. We all come to the table with opinions, ideas and individual unique experiences.
I know good people who are conservatives or Republican and I know good people who are liberals or Democrats. If we are reasonable and act like adults, we can sit down together to have reasonable conversations.
There are people on both sides who take it over the top and make things challenging. I know liberals who are willing to tolerate anything but my Christian beliefs, that they refuse to talk about. I know conservatives who only watch fox news with their mistruths, lies and fear tactics. They don't realize they are being manipulated. It is unfortunate.
But for the most part I think most people believe in our sense of democracy and the right for everyone to have their own opinions. The democrats and republicans in congress were elected by the people of this country. So we have to work together.
We are more than the labels like democrat/republican or liberal/conservative. I have friends and family that think I am a crazy liberal. I also have friends and family that think I am conservative. It depends on the issue we are discussing. I am like a lot of others, my opinions vary. To be honest I do tend to vote democrat. But I do look at each candidate and issue individually.
Labels don't mean much to me. You can call me a moderate democrat, liberal conservative or conservative liberal. It doesn't matter.
The only labels I would use for me are; Christian, catholic, mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend. I also don't mind being called Aunt, niece, and cousin(cuz). These are what matters, these are what I pray everyday to be better at. To love more, laugh lots and live everyday to fullest.
I know good people who are conservatives or Republican and I know good people who are liberals or Democrats. If we are reasonable and act like adults, we can sit down together to have reasonable conversations.
There are people on both sides who take it over the top and make things challenging. I know liberals who are willing to tolerate anything but my Christian beliefs, that they refuse to talk about. I know conservatives who only watch fox news with their mistruths, lies and fear tactics. They don't realize they are being manipulated. It is unfortunate.
But for the most part I think most people believe in our sense of democracy and the right for everyone to have their own opinions. The democrats and republicans in congress were elected by the people of this country. So we have to work together.
We are more than the labels like democrat/republican or liberal/conservative. I have friends and family that think I am a crazy liberal. I also have friends and family that think I am conservative. It depends on the issue we are discussing. I am like a lot of others, my opinions vary. To be honest I do tend to vote democrat. But I do look at each candidate and issue individually.
Labels don't mean much to me. You can call me a moderate democrat, liberal conservative or conservative liberal. It doesn't matter.
The only labels I would use for me are; Christian, catholic, mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend. I also don't mind being called Aunt, niece, and cousin(cuz). These are what matters, these are what I pray everyday to be better at. To love more, laugh lots and live everyday to fullest.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Life has a way of knocking you around sometimes!
Finally writing my blog. Life has a way of really pulling and tugging in ways you hadn't planned. We all have things that come up and distract you or completely spin you around from your original path. Sometimes in big ways sometimes in small ways.
Why, I wonder do things happen all at the same time? You know cars break down, but why not when you have extra money to fix it. Why does it break down at the worst possible moment.
I planned for a few days of down time from a recent procedure. After that our calendar had just a few things. But then life throws in 2 vehicle breakdowns, 2 card numbers getting stolen and 2 wrestling events we didn't know about. Not to mention the regulars like a couple of social events, a birthday and Christmas stuff.
What is one to do? Take it in stride, get through each thing on it's own. Have faith that things will work out. They always do. But sometimes that little voice says "yeh they usually do, which means you are due for one not to work out". Then I wonder, what is the worst that could happen. We get so complacent, we don't like inconveniences. Is that the worse? Come on! In a world facing real life and death issues!
Given these things I am talking about are small things, they still bring stress. If we don't step back, that stress can cause a host of other problems.
As we get caught up in the hurriedness of the season, remember stress is something we can choose to interfere with our life. When the stress gets to be to much, stop and take a step back. Identify where that stress is coming from. Use your support networks. Asking for help is not weak it is smart. In a stressful world we all need help sometime.
Why, I wonder do things happen all at the same time? You know cars break down, but why not when you have extra money to fix it. Why does it break down at the worst possible moment.
I planned for a few days of down time from a recent procedure. After that our calendar had just a few things. But then life throws in 2 vehicle breakdowns, 2 card numbers getting stolen and 2 wrestling events we didn't know about. Not to mention the regulars like a couple of social events, a birthday and Christmas stuff.
What is one to do? Take it in stride, get through each thing on it's own. Have faith that things will work out. They always do. But sometimes that little voice says "yeh they usually do, which means you are due for one not to work out". Then I wonder, what is the worst that could happen. We get so complacent, we don't like inconveniences. Is that the worse? Come on! In a world facing real life and death issues!
Given these things I am talking about are small things, they still bring stress. If we don't step back, that stress can cause a host of other problems.
As we get caught up in the hurriedness of the season, remember stress is something we can choose to interfere with our life. When the stress gets to be to much, stop and take a step back. Identify where that stress is coming from. Use your support networks. Asking for help is not weak it is smart. In a stressful world we all need help sometime.
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