I have avidly read the sharings on my daughter, Nancy's blog, by each young woman sharing their beautiful openness to LIFE! I realize that I am sharing my story from a much different perspective - one of a older woman, now 63,. But as a young new Catholic I was right there, fully open to LIFE with no reservations, too! I am now well into the grandma phase of my journey with 12 little ones 10 and under. Yet we, as a extended family, continue to be open to LIFE, as our Church in all her wisdom asks of us, and I want to share the roots of that Tree of LIFE/The Most Cherished Cross!
On our first date Pat and I shared what we valued, our Catholic Faith, openness to a large family (the number 12 came up), and the farm/nature. We realized that sharing an attraction was much more powerful when we shared the same values in life, and although long-distance and rarely seeing each other, we were on the fast track to sharing the Sacrament of marriage.
In the summer of 1978, a few months before our marriage, we attended our Engagement weekend, and shared there, with great excitement, that we were open to family, and were hoping and praying for a large family. We were shocked to have NO ONE agree with us! All the other couples shared that they only wanted to have at most 2 kids or none - "The world is too much of a mess to bring lots of children into it." or "I want my kids to have all the things that I never had."
I was shaken, and turning to Pat I asked him; "Are we being selfish to have a large family?" He did not hesitate one minute - "The world needs LIGHTS." my champion of LIFE, Patrick, told me. All my fears and doubts evaporated into the air! (Pat had a newly ordained priest, Fr Harry, who talked to just the boys in Jr High. They pondered the ugliness in the world at that time - assassinations of JFK, Bobby Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr, as well as the Vietnam war. Just as today the world has much darkness and evil, too. Well, Father reminded them, we are called to be lights in the midst of the darkness, and to go make a difference. It made a profound impression upon a young Patrick, and the cornerstone for our marriage/family.)
How did it all turn out? Well, not as we envisioned our large family. We have 12 children - 7 in heaven including 2 still births, and 5 here with us. I call my childbearing years the best and the worst. We were very open about each pregnancy, and some said not to share until we were sure there would be a baby. We were always open, and kept nothing from our children. We see now that sharing the joy and anticipation, as well as the sorrow and pain of the loss, has led us to such a closeness and respect for LIFE! We value each other, and cherish each other in our lives. Each of my children is now carrying forth the Truth; that LIFE is a gift to be cherished and protected at all costs.
My Champion for LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT, and my Most Cherished Cross, Patrick, holding 2 granddaughters at mass shared with 4 generations including his mother! We have always shared mass with great JOY as a family even with newborns!
At this point of my journey I have nothing I would change. I feel that all my little ones in heaven are my treasure, and where your treasure lies there your heart is also. I look to heaven as my goal, and feel their prayers assisting our family to be there united with them someday. I see how having that foot into heaven has brought my children to strive to be Saints here on earth. We are all called to be saints, and yes, we fail but we must always pray without ceasing, look to the Saints to assist us, take our Spiritual Mother, Mary Most Holy, into our homes, and take part in the Sacraments as often as we can, worship together as a family each week at mass- sharing our Faith with JOY, and listen to Jesus in His Word each day. The Church offers us so much to help us on our journey, as we carry our Most Cherished Cross, and follow Him down the narrow path.
Allow me to pass on these pearls of wisdom I have gained after 36 years of marriage and openness to LIFE:
1. Share everything with your domestic Church/family, and have no secrets. Sharing the pain and joy brings a sense of deep love and respect for each other and all LIFE!
2. Be committed to raising your children as LIGHTS. Share mass and the Sacraments together united with great JOY. Share the lives of the Saints in your home as it shows your children that you can persevere no matter the cost, share the rosary and love and respect for our Spiritual Mother, Mary Most Holy, pray together before meals and before bed, and when there are challenges that come up. Share morning and evening prayer and the readings of the day. I have to admit that my husband and I only started this after the kids were gone, but starting it earlier would be a blessing to your family!
3. Share the Truth about openness to LIFE, and when necessary use words. It seems that just showing the world the JOY and LOVE shared by your growing family can reveal the message that being open to LIFE and giving our kids siblings rather than things is good and right.
4. Know and believe that The Church is helping us to reach The Kingdom of God/Eternal LIFE/Heaven by asking us to die to self so that Christ may live in us. How? By being open to LIFE and welcoming all those we are called to raise as LIGHTS - all LIFE. The Church then asks those that need to prevent to do so using natural methods, and allowing God to be involved always. I have so much peace knowing that all my children have LIFE, and someday we will all be united!
Jesus, please end the taking of innocent life, and we pray for all the souls/lights that have been extinguished by abortion. Our world could be a much brighter place with all of them here, and given the gift of LIFE! Jesus, we trust in YOU. Bless-bless, Barb
The 22/Our Family together in my own way. I am not hiding that I added 3 missing to make a whole picture. This does my heart good to see us all together as we truly are in The Spirit!
No comments:
Post a Comment