Yesterday I experienced our usual getting-kids-out-of-bed-for-Mass struggles alone. My husband attended the funeral of an old Jewish friend in the morning and planned to meet us at Mass. That meant dressing myself, helping Peach dress, and getting two tough-to-rouse teenagers out of bed without the influence of their father's wrath. As we pulled away from the house in the car, I wasn't in my usual on-our-way to church state-of-mind. I was pretty ticked. I was not ready for the Lord.
When we arrived at the church I had calmed downed considerably, until my eldest son spit his gum in the parking lot and then my youngest stepped in it with her black patent leather shoes. My husband always says Satan follows you right into church and sits on your shoulder. Which is probably right where he was until I read the first reading. And though I'm certain the words were not written with my experience in mind, they spoke to me. They spoke so loudly that my oldest son had to chuckle. Don't you just love it when that happens?
As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me
and set me on my feet,
and I heard the one who was speaking say to me:
Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites,
rebels who have rebelled against me;
they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day.
Hard of face and obstinate of heart
are they to whom I am sending you.
But you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD!
And whether they heed or resist—for they are a rebellious house—
they shall know that a prophet has been among them. -- Ez 2:2-5
During the second reading I remembered my friend Michelle, who is dressing six little children for Mass every Sunday all by herself for the next six months, and at least I had the decency to weep. What a miserable wretch I am!
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Oh, Barbara! I am SO THERE with you! And I'd hazard a guess that there are many more of us out there... chin up. at least your oldest son chuckled in recognition.
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Yes, God bless and Mary guide and angels watch over Michelle, Bill and the kids. They all have been in my thoughts and prayers constantly.
Great post, and prayers for Michelle!
ReplyDeleteYour last line made me cry too!!
I don't have rebellious teens yet, but my two-year-old can be a great challenge (he kicks hard) and my five-month-old tends to have dirty diapers just as we're ready to leave. Don't beat yourself up so much! You don't just throw in the towel and let them NOT go to Mass. Hang in there. They'll thank you someday. :)
ReplyDelete{{{Barbara}}} I am right there with you friend.
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ReplyDeleteWe missed going to Mass about three weeks ago . . . we chose to see our dog rather than go to an evening Mass on Sunday (trying to adjust here etc. and reasoning that the evening Mass doesn't technically count, but . . . blah blah . . . . . Confession . . . ) . . . and all day the next day the kids lamented about not having gone and how much they missed it.
Father Darren at Servant and Steward blog suggested St. Augustine's by the sea . . . we went yesterday and it was great.
I still need to go to Confession. The hardest thing is not being able to receive . . . and trying to honor the "schedule" of confession. I just wanted to grab a priest yesterday to get that skipping Mass thing off my chest so I can really have Jesus!
Please don't feel so wretched. Thanks for reminding me to pray for Michelle. It's not easy being married to the military (tho' my husband rarely gets sent out for long stretches as her husband does by nature of their jobs). However, at our current duty station, I can say I am aware of the fact my husband will have to take jaunts here and there, off island, every few months. Yeah. Not.
Prayers for you and your friend Michelle. I know, from experience, that getting the kids to Church on Sunday morning can be more than anybody could bargain for. Also that was a very strong reading and appropriate as well!
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Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Mass for me was rough (only 2 out of 6 got donuts afterward), but that doesn't mean your experience was an easy one either!
ReplyDeleteI'm offering it all up for my husband and all the other service members who don't get to go to Mass because there is no priest available or because of duty. He went to confession on Tuesday night and Mass Wed. morning before he left. He has no idea when he'll do either again - perhaps not until he comes home.
I think all moms can relate to your experience ... The readings really spoke to me this weekend, too, but for different reasons. God is so good, and His word is so profound! Thank you for passing on Michelle's blog and her circumstances. I will keep her in prayer.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to remember this in a week and a half when my husband and older son are off to Boy Scout camp, and I'm tempted to grouse about "roughing it" here without them. Instead I will offer it for the military families who "rough it" for far longer than a week, and for the deployed military themselves. Thanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteOH my have so been there. My DH used to comment that wasn't I taking the joy out of the day that is for the joy of the Lord? Used to tick my off every time! But hang tough, the day will come that it just works. They won't be living at home anymore sadly but the day does come.
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