Tireless, saintly church ladies aren’t the only ones with a heart of gold. Even on rainy days nature flaunts its’ true colors. We need only stop and smell the flowers.
Heart of Gold
Month: August 2024
The Main Character
Apologies to all for the lapse in post last week. Between being a first time mom and figuring out my employment situation the last few weeks have seemed to run together without time for much else. As such, today’s post is short and sweet.
These days there’s so much talk about main character energy. Given how few people seem to take a genuine interest in reading I find this a bit ironic but it does beg an interesting question. Should you be the main character of your own life? Before my conversion to the faith I would have answered of course. Who else could your life possibly be about? However, as with many things since I first entered the Catholic Church, my current response is entirely different.
I no longer strive to exude main character energy because my life became infinitely better when it stopped being about me. I found Christ, I got married and, most recently, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Certainly I still hold tremendous agency over my words and actions but my world no longer revolves around me and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I choose to place three other people at the center of it. In a hundred years if anyone is still telling my story I pray that through my efforts to be a good wife and a good mother, it’s a story which points others to the love and truth of Christ.
I’ve told my husband that before I met him I felt like I was just keeping myself busy and somewhat productive. I always felt called to be a wife and mother and though I worked toward those ends while still shaping myself into a productive member of society, I often struggled with a sense of aimlessness. I was entertaining myself until God brought love into my life. Now, I know beyond any doubt that the work that I do within my family is a fulfillment of God’s plan for me and there is no better feeling.
The Tiniest of Dragons
Although I’m hardly a fan of the midwestern swarms of mosquitos, Indiana is also the land of many other far more fascinating insects including the tiniest of dragons. These two blessed me by stilling their delicate wings long enough for me to snap a photo.
Summer Heat
Although I will likely never get used to the Midwest humidity, nature sings a very different tune. It’s a blessing to be able to step out my door into a land where everything grows. The neighborhood is teeming with life and color and I can’t get enough of it.
Mommisms That Changed My Life
The world needs more moms. Even before my conversion to the faith I was acutely aware of the multitude of ways, big and small, that my mom was lovingly shaping my life for the better. For many years now I’ve aspired to be just like her. Here are some of the life changing mommisms that guided me to the beautiful life I have today.
- Pajamas are for sleeping – These were words instilled in my sister and I since before we were old enough to dress ourselves. There’s an appropriate dress code for every occasion and, unless it was pajama day at school, we were always properly attired when stepping out our front door. During college and amid long nights of intense study my sister even went so far as to sleep in her outfit for the next day to ensure she was dressed for class. Too often people underestimate the power of looking the part when heading out into the world to do something productive.
- Never show up to a party empty handed – Good manners are so frequently under valued in our modern world but when trying to make friends it’s polite to bring something to share. A six pack of beer or some tasty baked goods are my usual go to’s. Even going to family dinners I always ask what I can bring. It’s a gesture of gratitude to your host who has gone to all the trouble of opening their home to you.
- If you say no they’ll stop inviting you – These words maintained permanent residence in my brain during my first two years in Indiana. I was new to the area, had no family nearby, was incredibly shy and in desperate need of friends. Saying yes to social gatherings with people I knew little or not at all was, and often still is, distinctly uncomfortable. However, thanks to my mom, my fear of not receiving an invitation ultimately overcame my social anxiety.
- Do it right now – Though I’ve been tempted to roll my eyes once or twice upon hearing this, there’s no denying that it’s often been just the push I needed. One notable instance was when my mom was encouraging me to start house shopping during the height of covid lockdowns. An argument could be made that this mommy advice got me my first house. Over the years it’s also come with some parental tough love at times when I needed a firm nudge in the right direction.
- I’ll pray for you – This particular mommism doesn’t come in the form of advice and so it sometimes gets forgotten on my list of mommy quotes. However, in recent years I’ve come to realize it’s one of the best things she’s ever said to me. This is a promise which I know will be kept. With four little words my mom expresses the ultimate motherly love, entrusting her child to God. Although our prayers are often answered in the most unexpected ways, no prayer is left unanswered and so there is no greater comfort than to know that God hears all my mom’s prayers.
The High Country
Amid sweltering Indiana summers I can recall hiking with my family in Colorado in the springtime. There are some places where the trees are always green and the snow never melts. My childhood was blessed with late July snowball fights up in the high country.
The Godparents
In light of the birth of our beautiful baby girl my husband and I were recently set to our very first task in her religious upbringing, selecting her godparents. Fortunately, every godfather need not be an infamous Italian mobster and godmothers may forgo the magic wand and fairy wings. As with many things today I think the purpose of godparents has gotten a bit lost in more secular traditions, even among devout Catholic circles. Choosing godparents is not at all akin to deciding on members of a wedding party. To be a godfather or godmother is not simply a sentimental honorific title, bestowed upon your closest friends or family. There is one question which must be considered when making this decision. In the unlikely event that you and your spouse are unable to raise your child, who can most be counted on to ensure your baby receives proper faith formation?
Although it certainly is an honor to be one’s godparent (I myself am a proud godmother of two), that is not the primary purpose of the position. Godparents should be chosen for the good of the child only. It is an immense responsibility and a job with defined qualifications. In order to raise a child in the faith one must be of the faith. Both godparents must be practicing Catholics in good standing with the Church. This means they must have received their sacraments of initiation, be regularly attending Sunday mass, and receive the Sacrament of reconciliation at least once a year. It’s only strictly necessary for one godparent to be assigned in order for a child to be baptized in the Catholic Church. In the event that a godmother and godfather can’t be found a member of another christian denomination may participate as a christian witness. However, again, this is for the good of the child and thus, a christian witness should only be considered after exhausting all other options and not as a means of honoring a non-Catholic friend or family member. Additionally, in acknowledgement of the complementary nature of men and women, a child may have only one godfather and one godmother. These will each fulfill a critical and unique role should you and your spouse be indisposed.
However, godparents are not only called upon to act in the event of tragedy. There are countless little ways godparents can support a child in their faith after baptism. First and foremost, they can and should pray for their godchild. They can also call or send a gift every year on the anniversary of the baptism. In many ways, this day is far more significant than a birthday and ought to be celebrated as such. Children’s books telling the story of the nativity, a first bible or a first rosary are all excellent gift ideas for any occasion but especially on a child’s baptism day.
Ultimately, a godparent should put forth some effort to be an active participant and role model in the lives of their godchildren. Love these little ones and pray for them as often as possible. How easy it is to slip into habits which turn us away from God in this secular society. As such, every child ought to be able to count on an army of prayer warriors to guide them. There is truly no limit to the power of prayer.
Natural Symmetry
There is something undeniably miraculous in the natural symmetry of the world. Every petal was grown to reflect His perfect plan.
Blessed in the Midwest 