Author: momthingsthroughchrist

Hi friends.

I’ve taken a hiatus from this blog for a little bit, partly for personal reasons (nothing serious) and then to work on other writing projects. That said, I’m fully hoping to get back into it next year, God-willing.

I felt called, as Advent begins, to make a special post about Christmas. Since Advent is about preparing our hearts for Christmas, I wanted to create a post that would act as a compass needle, if you will; I want to point us in the direction of the true meaning of Christmas.

This comes from my experience of living away from my family of origin and what Christmas is really about. Because people say it’s about family, but it’s not. Not in the way we generally think it is, anyway.

When we talk about peace, love, and joy at Christmas, we do not speak of family gatherings. Although it would be nice to set aside differences and share in love and glad tidings, this is not what we are gathering to celebrate.

As Christians, we have the greatest gift in our Lord’s death and resurrection. The truth is, on Christmas, we see the baby in the manger, but we know that that baby is the same Christ crucified for our sins, and the same Christ who defeated death by His resurrection. We celebrate a God who came to us when we were stubborn and unfaithful. He walked with us, fully God and yet fully man, so He knows our experience, who said “come unto me, all who are weary and heavily burdened”, who spread His arms wide to show us how much He loved us, who waits for us and longs for us, and sees us, lovely and beloved.

The great hope that we have, that Jesus has prepared a room in His Father’s house for us that is our source of peace and joy. The peace of Christ and the joy of our salvation are what we celebrate: at Christmas, every Sunday, and indeed, each day we have breath in us. I always loved the poem It Is Well With My Soul by Horatio Spafford. He wrote it after he was financially ruined by the Great Chicago Fire followed quickly by a recession and then death of his children at sea. It encapsulates so well the Christian peace and joy. It opens with these powerful words:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll—
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

But we would have none of that had He not been made incarnate, for His great love of us. That is what is at the heart of our peace, our source of joy, and indeed, is Love itself.

So if your family is apart, or dysfunctional, or separated by the veil of death, remember, Christmas is not about our biological family, but about the family God has welcomed us into, as His sons and daughters.

If you receive gifts that are not useful or not to your liking, remember, Christmas is not about those gifts, but about the free gift of salvation that we have all been offered through God’s great love and mercy.

The trope that Christmas can be ruined is a lie from the devil, because as Jesus said, “it is finished”. Christmas is a gift to us: a moment enshrined in Eternity. The baby in the hay is the beaten and bloodied man on the cross, and the same baby in the hay is the glorious risen Christ Jesus.

Let us prepare our hearts this Advent to welcome our Saviour, humbling them as lowly stables to receive Him who humbled Himself to come to us as a baby in the hay, grateful for the gift of our sonship and our salvation in Christ.

Have you ever watched a sleeping baby? What have you noticed?

The other day, as I watched my baby falling asleep at the breast, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the absolute serenity that radiated from that sweet, sleepy face. I watched as each muscle gradually relaxed, as the gentle sucking slowed, and I listened to that soft, rhythmic breathing, a sound that simultaneously soothed me, while it signalled the soothing of my child. And my thoughts turned to our disposition to the Lord.

It struck me that we should be able to find such peace in Him, just like a baby falling asleep at the breast. As a child can find all the nourishment, comfort, and rest they need to slowly drift off to sleep as they nurse, we, too, should find the nourishment, comfort, and rest for our souls as we cling to Jesus. We should feel so secure, so at peace in Him.

I know that when I am trying to discern whether I am following the will of God, my biggest signpost that I am on the right track is that unshakeable sense of peace deep in my heart. It would make sense, then, that if I truly live and move and have my being in Him (that’s a reference to Acts 17:28), I should feel that same peace throughout my life.

I’m not saying there is nothing in this life that will trouble us and leave us weary. Earth is far from perfect and the effects of sin are still very evident in our world today. Illnesses, disabilities and conditions, even circumstances can plague our minds and bodies. In fact, Jesus calls the weary to him (Matthew 11:28-30), so it is clear that we must still bear burdens in this life.

What I am saying, is that we were not made for this world. We were made for eternity.

Whatever life may throw at our physical selves, our eternal souls should be able to find peace in our Lord. So, while we travel along the path of life, let’s remember to trust in God, to stay close to our heavenly Father, and to seek comfort and rest in Him.

I know parenting can be full of madness and busy-ness and it can sometimes be a hard place to find peace, but have there been moments in your family life have helped you understand peace and trust in God? Please do share – I’d love to hear about your experiences and stories in the comments!

Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

Friends, it is so important to pray with our children as well as praying for them. Children learn by example, and this is one of the most powerful ways you can teach them about prayer. Not only does praying with your children help them to develop a healthy prayer life and thus a relationship with our God, but it also gives them a glimpse into your heart and how you pray. But I know that sometimes it’s not easy, as different children respond to different prayer formats in different ways, so I’m hoping this will be a helpful resource to someone out there! Today, we will be looking at a prayer exercise I like to call Prayer Ball.

This prayer takes place over four rounds in the family (or group). You will need a ball and a little space. Make sure your space is calm and comfortable – it helps to have an uncluttered space, and you may want to turn lighting down or play some gentle background music – even better if you have a dedicated space (and time!) for prayer. If you don’t want to use a ball, you can use another object that can be passed around, like a scarf or a small cushion (this can help with kids who might be struggling with motor skills or who have sensory needs). Roll or toss the ball to one another and when you receive the ball, it is your turn to say one thing related to that round. You don’t have to go in any particular order, and it doesn’t matter if someone says something you were already thinking (more than one person can be grateful for the same thing!), but you can’t skip a turn. If you get the ball again in the round before everyone has had their turn, you could try to think of something else or simply pass it back to the person who sent it to you. It can be handy to have a list of examples up your sleeve so you can prompt littles or those who might not know what to say.

These are the rounds with some examples:

1.      Praise (Something you know about God)
Examples include:

• God is good!
• God is loving/merciful/kind/all-powerful/eternal/forgiving…
• Jesus died for our sins
• The Holy Spirit is in me and gives me power
• Jesus is always with us

2.     Thanks (Something you’re grateful for)
Examples include:

• Thank you for my family
• Thank you for our tasty dinner
• I am thankful for the beautiful sunset today

3.     Repentance (Something you’re sorry for)
Examples include:

• I am sorry for fighting with xyz
• I am sorry I didn’t think of God and say grace before lunch
• I am sorry I didn’t ask for God’s help with xyz
• I am sorry I said a bad word

4.     Ask (A request)
Examples include:

• God, bless our priests/church family/family/friends…
• Father, please be with my friend/family member who is sick/has a particular need
• Holy Spirit, give me patience/courage/wisdom/etc

You can remember the order with the mnemonic: Pickled Turnips Right Away!

This one can get chaotic, especially in bigger groups, but passing the ball brings an element of fun and it can help younger ones stay engaged as they wait for the ball! It’s also a simple way to make a prayer to God combining praise, thanksgiving, contrition, and requesting, while not having to be put on the spot too much at any one time. And of course, it’s an easy way to pray for one another as a family (which is so important in the domestic church!) – it helps to remember people’s needs when they’re right there with you!

Try this prayer tonight with your kids and let us know how it went in the comments. Please feel free to share any helpful tips for other families, and remember to subscribe to get more ideas about raising those growing saints!

Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

Feast day: September 13
Patron saint of preachers, lecturers, orators

Our saint of the month for September is St John Chrysostom. He was a bishop in the early church and is considered a Doctor of the Church. Chrysostom is not his real name, but a nickname given to him that means “Golden mouth”, in reference to his eloquence. This is most evident in his numerous homilies – hundreds upon hundreds! He had several homily series noted down and widely circulated, and his writings have influenced the Catechism of the Catholic Church to a degree. He wrote on many topics but is famously acknowledged for his preaching on the Pauline epistles and the Old Testament, though he did also preach on other books of the New Testament.

I was first introduced to his work in reference to our understanding of the Eucharist, but have since read more widely among his writings. While I haven’t read it in full, I do love the excerpts that I have been able to read from his collection of homilies on marriage and family life (which have been published as a book, aptly titled “On Marriage and Family Life”). Although his writings are over 1500 years old, a lot of what he says is still applicable today.

For anyone looking for some faith-based reading related to parenting and family relationships, this is definitely a good resource. If you get a chance to read his work, I would highly recommend it!

Have you read any of St John Chrysostom’s writings? What do you think? Perhaps you can post in the comments if you have a favourite quote of his (he *is* very quotable) or maybe some insights you have gleaned from his work. Join the conversation!

St John Chrysostom, pray for us!

Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

A month after we celebrate Mary’s Assumption, and a week after her birthday, we remember her seven sorrows. This feast day, and this monthly devotion encourages us to reflect on the seven sorrows. These are:

• The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)The into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
• Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)
• Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)
• The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)
• The deposition of our Lord’s body from the Cross (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)
• The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Mark 15:40-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)

Each of these events show that Mary’s suffering is linked with important events in the life and death of her son.

As a mother, I know this to be exceedingly true. When my child so much as falls, I feel a visceral twinge in my body and I have to suppress my reaction so I can assess how bad the damage actually is instead of projecting. And when there is pain, my heart wishes I could take it for myself so my child doesn’t have to feel it. And yet I know that my role as a parent is not to prevent my child from suffering. It’s not to keep them from feeling any pain, as much as I would like to do it. Pain and suffering are a part of life. So, I let my head prevail and play my role.

As mothers, we suffer with our children, and do what we can to help them bear their pain with grace. We can look to Mary as am example, as she carried her motherly pain and suffering with great grace. We know that the causes for her sorrow brought glory to God and salvation to the world. We can also lift up our sorrows, motherly and otherwise, and use our kingdom priesthood that was conferred to us at baptism, joining them with the sacrifice of our Lord at Holy Mass. In this way, our sorrow and suffering can also be given to God and used for His glory and the salvation of souls.

For those of you suffering deeply, closely walking with Our Lady, I wish I had more to say, and more comfort to give you. I wish I could tell you why sorrow and suffering exists in your life, why it comes in the forms it does, and what we can do to minimise it. Many people who are much wiser than I, have tackled this question and come up short.

All I can say is, please reach out for help, as difficult as that is. There may be ways your parish can provide support, perhaps through support groups or simple fellowship. It is also good to spend time in prayer and reflection – I find my troubles are best left at the feet of our Lord in adoration. It is also worth getting in touch with other support services such as helplines or counselling services if you are in crisis.

I would also like to offer to pray for you. If you are suffering or know someone who is, leave just a first name, nickname, or even a descriptor (e.g. for a friend, for a woman I know, for a person I met) in the comment section (or in the prayer request post for September), and I will bring all these intentions to our Lord in prayer this week (as usual, I would ask all readers to keep them in their prayers as well!).

This month especially, but any time when we too experience sorrow or suffering, let us remember Mary’s Seven Sorrows, linked to events which bought our salvation. Let us unite our sorrows to hers, as we bring them together to the sacrifice of Mass, giving everything for God’s glory.

Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

As August comes to a close, I am opening up the prayer intentions post for next month. As always, I’ll be looking for new comments weekly as I update my prayer journal, so you can pin this post and come back to add to it if anything comes up that you would like prayers for!

This past month has been a big one for people who have asked for my prayers, dealing with cancer treatments, deaths in the family, and big life changes like relocations. Some of these I will continue to pray for in the coming months. I am happy to bear your big burdens with you (and also the small ones, and even those things that aren’t burdens at all!), bringing them to our Lord, for He is our help! Praise Him!

As usual, I also ask you to carry any requests people might leave here, as well as the Papal intention for September:

We pray for those persons living on the margins of society, in inhumane life conditions; may they not be overlooked by institutions and never considered of lesser importance.

I also have some friends doing mission work in Nepal. If you could keep Dan and Mel and their family in your prayers as they bring the Gospel to the people there, I (and they) would be so grateful!

Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

Precious Moments: Little Book of Prayers
ISBN-10: ‎ 1400322782
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1400322787

Who doesn’t love Precious Moments? With those cherubic characters in pastel colours, there might not be a more child-friendly image on Earth! Well, they have gone and published this sweet collection of prayers.

The prayers tend to the less traditional, with a heavy emphasis on rhyme, which is useful for when prayers need to be memorised. One of the prayers is actually a prayerful excerpt from Away in a Manger, which was a wonderfully creative entry that straddles the line between traditional and contemporary, in my opinion! The book contains short scriptural verses throughout, introducing some classic biblical themes. There are no references to anything specifically Catholic; I believe this is a broadly Christian publication and is good to share among all denominations.

As you flip through the pages of this book, you will see those delightfully sweet Precious Moments depictions of children doing various things, starting with saying bedtime prayers on the front cover, to worldly activities that we might also do, like celebrating birthdays, enjoying nature, or making art and music. It’s a good reminder that we are to connect with God in those times, as well, and not just at church or at a designated prayer time. There is also some racial diversity among the pages, so a majority should be able to find themselves represented.

We received the board book version as a baptismal gift and were lucky enough to receive a second copy as a hand-me-down, and I think it is perfect for young children! The pages are robust without being too thick and it is not too big so it is fairly portable – we actually have it on rotation in our Mass bag, to help keep the little one occupied. Overall, this is a good collection of unusual prayers for usual circumstances and would be a great addition to your child’s prayer book collection!

Do you have a copy of this book for your own child? Which prayers from this book stand out to you or to them? What other Precious Moments paraphernalia do you have or do you remember having?

Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

I got caught up and sadly wasn’t able to create my joys of the week post last week… And so, we find ourselves with another week has gone by, and us here, on the precipice of a new one, with so much to be grateful for. Let’s share our joys of the week – I’ll start!

We spent Sunday celebrating our wedding anniversary as a family (well, our kid was sort of a wedding gift from God… our little honeymoon baby!). We had a lovely brunch at one of our old favourite cafés, went disc golfing (well, hubby played and I tagged along with the little one), and we attended a co-cathedral for Mass. Plans changed, but we stayed flexible and had a great day!

We made another new friend with someone a few months older than our kid at our local playground. Our new friend is shy so it was so fun for of us mothers to see our kids start to play together! The best thing is that they only live a few doors down, so we will probably be seeing them often!

Fennel. We had some really good fennel this week. That’s my third joy. That’s really as simple as they need to be when you share yours. Marie Kondo your week – what brought you joy? Haha! But actually, come to think of it, there’s been some good food – our Friday fish dish was sublime (no pun intended… we used some lime in the dish), really lifted by a simple but great little salad – avocado, cucumber, radish, tomato (we would have squeezed a little lime juice over it too, but the tomatoes were plenty tart), we had some duck leg earlier this week, and just a bunch of tasty food. I’m so blessed to have a kitchen and to share a love of making good food with my husband!

I’m going to throw in a fourth joy this week: I got to catch up with one of my best friends. We’ve been trying to make our schedules work for weeks now, and we finally found a little chunk of time to chat. It really lifted my spirits!

What have been some of your joys this week? Feel free to share as many as you like in the comments, and praise God for all His blessings, no matter how small!

Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!