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Concerning My NOT-So-Very Holy Family

December 27, 2009

Our Holy Mother Church is so so so very wise.

We all know this.

But the celebration of today’s Feast of the Holy Family could not be better timed.

Wrung out physically and emotionally from the past two days of merry-making and happy-face-making, I made my way to mass feeling very UN-like the Holy Family. I was not looking forward to the inevitable exhortation of “we must look to the Holy Family as an example for our families today” hogwash as I discipline my 5 year old daughter for the umpteenth time and remove my 12 year old son’s fingers from his ears… my eyebrows raised at the 9 year old to leave her locket be, and folding my hands properly while trying to catch  the 10 year old’s eye as he serves at the altar. (erm… my husband always has the rambunctious 7 year old all to himself.)

:)

No. I thought. I just cannot do this today. We are so very much unlike the Holy Family, and it’s probably all my fault since I was not born sinless! (I am very rational when I’m annoyed… can you tell?)

So, what to do?

Enter the readings.

From Sirach:

God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.

I needed this confirmation today like no other. Not an “in your face, kiddos” kind of way, but just a very real and very comforting and firm encouragement that we have the backing of the Almighty in our day to day struggle.

From Colossians:

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,

And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.

And be thankful.

Yes…. and be thankful.

Thank you, Lord, for my beautiful family. For my children, who are so unique and somewhat tiresome. Thank you for the daily struggle… since by this alone will come my redemption. Thank you for my strong husband. Ever supportive, ever understanding. My earthly rock to which I cling.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Yes… I need to ask more. To beg Him to show me. To pray before teaching and correcting… and above all, to be a better example. Lord, what a mighty work still needs to be done in me.

The pictures painted in the readings today are ones of hope, not a misplaced ideal of something we will not be able to attain. There is a path here, clearly labeled. And it is not a foreign one.

And yet, in the wake of the hustle and bustle of the season… how apropos. Somehow, She knew. Our Mother knew that we earthly mothers would be strung out and left high and dry. Our nerves and patience would be shot. We would view our children with a wearied eye.

Akin to a gentle kiss on the forehead and a firm pat on the back, The Church sends us out once again. Ready to take up our tasks with a renewed vigor.

Heartened and grateful.

Megan is an independent contributor to MetroCatholic publications. She publishes the blog Life in a Nutshell under the Pseudonym “Nutmeg”.  She describes herself as a Catholic Mama who can be found most days with her hair in a bandana, bare feet on the floor, teaching her 5 little peanuts.

Posted by Megan · Filed Under DFW Spotlight, MC Blog 

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