"If we don't teach our children to follow CHRIST, the world will teach them not to." Old Schoolhouse magazine

A borrowed picture from a friend, who has children that go to HRS with my grandchildren...  Thanks, Allison!   This fits so well with the topic that pulls at my heart today.  So many reasons to share today about raising LIGHTS, and passing on your Faith with JOY! 

Just back from mass with my husband after his morning mens' gathering which begins at 5:45a... This Man is You.  Today Father preached about and Pat shared about how important it is for men to be there for their kids and share Faith with them... it is so true - "If we don't teach our children to follow Christ, the world will teach them not to."  We see this so often, and my heart sinks when I hear someone say; "I am going to let them grow up and make their own choices about what they want to believe."

We are so blessed as parents and grandparents to have a Catholic School in our community!  No, it doesn't take the place of the home where Faith must take root and be shared with JOY, but it has been a very important part of growing in their Catholic Faith for our children and now our grandchildren!

The children that Christ uses in his example today in the Gospel basically sound like brats!   Maybe it is just a game he is speaking about, but they do not sound like humble sweet loving little ones that have been raised in  a loving home with Christ and His Bride, The Church, at the heart of their domestic Church/family!  The children Christ is using as an example are thinking that they can dictate to those in their lives and their parents and other adults will jump - they think that the world revolves around them!  No, Pat's favorite things to say is that he is not here to be his kids' best friend... "I am their father!"

The words of Christ from Matthew 11 today in the Gospel; "To what shall I compare this generation?  It is like children who sit in the marketplaces and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn."

 Luke loves to help grandpa farm so much that he goes down the basement and brings him his work shoes!  It is so great to see our way of life/farming passed on now to the 4th generation, as well as The Catholic School now attended by the 4th generation - Faith/Family/Farm is what makes us tick around here!

How do we pass our faith along in our homes?  I have heard from some that they are disappointed in what their kids learn when they drop them at the door for Faith Formation.  That is because the first and foremost place to share our Faith... love of Jesus and The Church... must begin at home!  We could have done a lot better job in our home, and it is so wonderful to see our kids doing a daily and better more conscientious job of praying nightly and instilling new traditions in their homes!  We pulled together at Advent and Lent - turning off the TV, putting out games and having prayer time with scripture, praise and worship songs, and intercessory prayers, and reading the LIVES of the Saints was huge!

Something new for our kids/grandkids is the Jesse Tree!  Each day of Advent a new ornament is decorated and added with the scripture and story background of how they led the path to Christ!  Deeper and deeper in our infinite Faith!

 

I am far from knowing a lot about The Church to share with my kids, but I do love, love, love The Church with my all and each day I am learning and growing in my knowledge by reading, meditating and praying.  I am also learning at the feet of my kids and grandkids!  A few years back I was deeply moved by the love my then 4 year old granddaughter, Therese, had for the poor and homeless that they would see begging around town in El Paso.  She started coloring pictures for them and wrapping a few dollars in each and take them in the car, so that mom could wind down the window and her small hand and loving words of "Jesus, loves you." would minister to them!  Wow... touched by a small angel!

 Making cards for Aunt Hallel's Christmas package!  Her package will be hand delivered by Father Craig and the group he is taking on pilgrimage to Rome! I am so excited for the youth to spend some time with Hallel and her Community of the Lamb!  It was her encounter with them in Rome while she studied there which led to her joining them 7 years ago! 

 There is such a powerful message given to our children when we share with them powerful experiences like hearing a Catholic music Missionary, Danielle Rose, last weekend.  It is also wonderful that they can see wonderful young priests - giving their all for Jesus and being Jesus for The Church! 

It is also so glorious that we now have 2 orders of nuns in habits in our diocese!  When my girls were young there were only The Schoenstatt sisters in Sleep Eye, and I made sure that my girls attended retreats there.  It was on the way home from there that Susan told me for the first time that she thought that she would be a nun!  The Holy Spirit moved me to tears and I had to pull the car over as we traveled through a small town on the way home.  http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/susan-angela-agneslittle-sister-hallel.html

Mary made this in first grade... talk about broadening the horizons for a young child and listening to The Lord's direction!  Adding the possibility of a call to priesthood for the boys and religious life for all... is making life richer and more wonderful into the Spiritual dimension! 

Jesus, it is so important for parents and grandparents to set good examples and sharing their Faith with great JOY!  It is certainly not a drudgery, it is life-giving and The Cross becomes The Tree of LIFE!  Turning away from all the world tells us will make us happy is not easy, but if we worship together and share the freedom we receive when we turn away from sin and death and darkness and live in the culture of LIFE... pure heaven here on earth!  May our domestic Church/family become a small slice of heaven and a place where love and kindness and gentleness and Peace, Joy, Patience - the fruits of the Spirit abound.  May all we say and do be "Life-giving."  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

 My most Cherished Cross, Patrick, who led us down the path of Truth - Open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS for the world!  http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Some most cherished time praying the rosary with Pat's mom by the blossoms of the Christmas cactus and answered prayers.  Thank you, Lord, for the gift of Family and Advent - preparing for your coming more fully into our lives!

So true!  I am forever grateful to Jesus for giving me his mother at the foot of the Cross to take into my home... she is the open arms and my constant prayer goes to her intercession and help!

John would tell you that the rosary beads, going to Lourdes twice and his LOVE for Our Lady were huge in his winning the battle against cancer!
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html

The first song on her rosary album... True Love about The Cross is where we find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!  Susan listened to this over and over before she left to join the Community of the Lamb!

Jesus within you... the Visitation by Danielle Rose

Danielle Rose - Pursue me - Jesus calls and what do we answer?