Feeling Persecuted? Witness!

As Christians, we are called to witness on a daily basis, as there are opportunities on a daily basis.  But do we take those opportunities to stop and give a thoughtful, respectful, and Christian response to our pessimistic brothers and sisters who question or attack our ways?  I could probably write pages and pages on the times and ways in which I have been persecuted, and I can tell you I did not always react in a Christian or thoughtful way.  I am learning.  I have actually had three such instances occur in just the last two days, and I tried very hard to witness.

Last week, I received a phone call from our Church's preschool office telling me that a mom would like to donate her child's crib to Respect Life.  I said sure and took her number.  When I called her, she seemed very happy to be giving it to me...that is, until she said she was unfamiliar with Respect Life and wanted to know what it was.  I told her that her crib would be going to the North Broward branch of the Archdiocese of Miami's Respect Life Ministry.  She still had no clue what I was talking about.  So, I told her that the ministry helps women in crisis pregnancies with counseling, ultrasound, parenting classes, food, diapers, clothing, and occasional furniture like hers.  Still...blank on the other end of the phone.  So I told her we were a ministry that respected life from conception to natural death - that we were anti-abortion.   THUD  That's when I finally got a response and it was a curt, "oh".  Well, I told her I needed to locate someone with a minivan or truck to go to her house to pick it up for her and I would call her back.  Memorial day weekend came and went and I heard on Wednesday that the ultrasound technician (who works for the ministry for free) had a truck and would be willing to drive to this woman's house and pick up the crib.  I called the woman and told her that we had a truck and could come by her house that day.  She was very cold and said since she didn't hear from me, she decided to do something else with it.  Sure!  Okay!  Well, as disappointing as it was to me that someone with needs on our end could not benefit from another's discard, and as disappointing as it was for me to hear that woman's cold heart reverberate through her voice, I was a witness to life for her. I thanked her very much for her consideration and wished her well.  Perhaps a seed was planted?  Now she knows what Respect Life is, and it was my duty to inform her.

Yesterday, I posted on facebook the video of Live Action's sting operation uncovering Planned Parenthood's evil ways in which they are encouraging women to have later term abortions for sex selection.  This is gendercide and it is happening in this country! As a matter-of-fact, pro-abortion groups have even admitted that not only is it happening, but it is a problem that needs to be addressed.  When I posted it, an old friend (who is probably the most liberal person I've ever known) posted, "You are too smart to believe this."  Of course my disbelief in her comment sent me into my own head for a few minutes.  I actually understand a person's pro-abortion attitude out of ignorance of the facts, but thinking a video and news accounts are fabricated was just over the top.  I re-posted, "You are smarter than to turn a blind eye."  She commented that we would just never see eye to eye on some things.  I then posted an article showing the pro-abortion groups that admit it is a problem in this country.  No comment on that one.  The truth hurts - it is more painful to live in the truth with our eyes wide open because it forces us to see the truth in ourselves.  I was called to witness and so I did.  I know I planted a seed with her.  It is a seed of doubt surrounding all she thought she knew about abortion.  That's a very good thing.

You can view the video here:  The War on Baby Girls: Part 1

Lastly, this morning in the grocery store, an older woman smiled at my children and proceeded to tell me, "They're so good at that age.  Just wait until they reach 12 or 13.  You'll regret you ever had them."  It was such a shocking statement to me because it was so harsh.  I can understand someone saying that those years can be tough, but to say I would regret ever having them?  Wow!  I responded, "You know, I have a sixteen year old and he is really an awesome kid.  I've been very lucky."  Her eyes widened and she had no comeback.  To which I let out one more - "I also have a six year old and he too is really awesome.  I've been blessed with my children and I love them.  I know those years are tough but I really love being around my kids."  She just smiled in disbelief.  I was not about to be dragged down to her level of misery or be dragged into our current society's very selfish and negative attitude toward children.  I was there to witness to this woman that children are a beautiful gift from God and that families can work.  Perhaps a seed was planted in turning around her attitude toward children.  Perhaps she will think twice about spewing such garbage at the next mom she sees, thus perpetuating a society hostile towards chidren, families, large families, and Christian families.

Right now, we are living through a time period in history when Christian families are looked down upon.  It is much better to be single, young, beautiful, materially wealthy, free from burdensome relationships, and in control of our sexuality via life-threatening contraceptives and life-taking abortions.  However, this is not the truth...and I choose to live in the truth.  It is the same truth that led me to Christ's Church.  It is the truth I bask in every time I am in our Lord's presence in the Eucharist.  It is the truth that directs me to defend life whenever and wherever.  It is the truth that keeps me from the dark.  It is the truth that draws me nearer to Christ with every mass and every sacrament.  This truth never fails.  It never waivers.  It is the light.  It is the way.  Christ warned us that following him would not be easy.  We are sure to lose relationships over it.  That's okay with me.  He directed his apostles to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth.  Most of his apostles died a martyr's death for him.  No one would go through what they went through if they were not certain it was the truth.  Live your life defending it.  Live your life spreading the Good News.  Witness as if your life depended on it!  It does!

John 15:18-19  "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you." 

Come Holy Spirit!

I have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life at times more than others, but always whispering, always guiding, and sometimes boldly proclaiming.  Tomorrow as Catholics around the world, we will celebrate Pentecost at mass.  Many Catholics do not even know what that is - what it means.  It is the birthday of our Church.  Come Holy Spirit and fill your faithful with inspiration to do your works and live in our Lord's presence always!

Here is a fantastic fun and short video explaining Pentecost.  Have a wonderfully blessed day and may you feel the Holy Spirit around you whispering and guiding.  God bless!

To Homeschool or Not to Homeschool?

So, I'm barely hanging on until the end of the school year.  I just don't know how many more homework assignments, projects, and tests I can help with...or how many more lunches I can make the day before.  The grind of the school year feels, well, like exactly that...a grind.  I tease my fifteen year old all the time that I'll still be having babies and still at the same school when HE starts having babies.  We just laugh.  Anyway, I'm thrilled that the end of the school year is around the corner.  I am dreaming of not setting an alarm - even though I know the odds are that my little ones will continue to wake up early as if there were an alarm clock in their heads.  It'll just be nice to think I might actually get to sleep in from time to time.

I don't have big plans for the summer - summer school for the teenager not because he's in trouble (as it would have been for us back in the day), but because he wants to get ahead, basketball for the six year old, and swim for the three year old.  That should keep me busy enough, but I'm going to try my hand at homeschooling.  Yes, I'm finally going to make the leap, buy a curriculum, and see if I can actually teach my six year old something without the household going to pot.  If the house is a disaster, my kids are always starving, and I'm a wreck, then back to Catholic school he'll go.

I keep trying to put my finger on exactly why I want to homeschool.  I just have always felt a calling to it.  We had thought about homeschooling our oldest back a million years ago, but he was an only child back then, and we didn't want to risk him becoming a hermit.  Thankfully, school has helped him not be so hermit-y, and high school finally forced him out of his shell.  We are lucky to have excellent Catholic schools close by, so really why in the world would I want to do this?  The only thing that keeps reverberating in my head is that I want to spend more time with my children, and I want to be in control of the information that is available to them.

My time with my oldest is becoming more and more fleeting.  The time it takes to raise children seems to happen overnight.  These children are my children for all eternity, but I get a limited time with them here on earth.  I want to live life to the fullest with them.  I'm not really interested in drinking wine or playing tennis with the ladies while my kids are in school with strangers' kids for seven hours a day picking up God knows what bad habits, bad language, bad thoughts, or just bad germs!

I have so many concerns about it all, but I keep telling myself that the answer to homeschool or not will become very evident.  Either it will work or it won't.  I guess I'm just nervous to even think about making that step.  I certainly don't want to make my other three all hermit-y.  I hope I would be able to find other Catholic homeschoolers here in South Florida.  I don't have huge expectations for that though.  It seems most homeschoolers here are evangelicals, and our Catholic schools are numerous and overall, very good.

So, I will keep you posted.  If any of you reading this homeschool, please post suggestions for me.  I would love to hear what any of you are doing or what you have learned from your experiences.  Heck, I just love hearing from readers!  I will try to be better about blogging more frequently - school has just been kicking me in the rear.  'Til next time...