"Who put the potty in the playpen?!"

That's just one of the questions that I shout to myself on a random Saturday morning when no one is around to hear me. Picture this: I come downstairs after my kids and my husband have let me sleep in. It is quiet in the house because they have all left for the morning to go about their Saturday activities. I ignore the scattered Lego's that I trip over to get to my cup of coffee. I ignore the orange colored glob of something that has just attached itself to my sleeve. I sip. I walk through the kitchen, assessing my morning plan. Then, it happens. "Who put paper cups in the dishwasher?!" I start to see the trail that they have left behind. I breathe deep. I exhale. I sip. And I realize that I have two choices. I can yell at the ceiling and wave my fist at the heavens and whimper...why me? Or...cue the harp...I can take a deep breath and fall to my knees and thank God for the footprints and fingerprints that are evidence of the life I live. And now, the pool of yogurt in the corner of the dining room is no longer a source of discontent, but rather a moment filled with Grace and my path is laid out before me.



But, wait. How do we get from point A to point B? What if you have a difficult child? A sick husband? What if the car breaks down at the same time that a big tuition bill is due? I don't mean to trivialize the tests that can be laid before us by suggesting that we be little Mary sunshine all day long. But, our actions reveal the faith that we proclaim. If we are fearful of what will happen next or full of rage for the carelessness of others, then we are shouting out with our actions that there is no God. It is that plain. We allow ourselves to chip away at our faith with each outburst of indignation and with each time that we fail to accept humiliations as part of our spiritual growth.

There are steps we can take to clear our path to being the happy housewife, husband, son, or daughter. First, establish a daily spiritual habit. This can include prayers and reading. This step is most effective if it becomes the first thing you do each morning and the last thing you do each night. Second, get plenty of rest, eat right, limit alcohol intake and get some exercise. You will find that you have a deeper pool of resources if you take care of your body. Third, practice what you preach. If we demonstrate faith in small things, then we will be prepared to face greater challenges with greater faith. Examine areas in your life where you could rely on God, but you choose to rely on yourself. Fourth, look for opportunities to practice the virtue that is the direct opposite of whatever vice you are struggling with. Complement your difficult child the first time you see him do anything worth complementing. Donate to a charity when you are hit with a financial burden. Take on a physical challenge when you find that your physical abilities are limited. Fifth, become active in your faith community through volunteer work or activism. Offer to make phone calls for a committee, bake cookies for a fundraiser, or attend a pro-life rally. These are all ways that you can demonstrate to yourself and your loved ones that you have faith and that all things are possible with God. And by doing these things, you will find that you have the ability to smile and laugh next time you find a purple crayon drawing of Noah's ark in your stairwell.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Point out anything in me that offends you,

and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

~Psalm 139

Do You Pray With Confidence?

There is this part in Mass where the priest says: "And now, let us pray with confidence in the words our Savior gave us." This is followed by the Our Father. I hear these words each week but, recently, they took on special meaning. While my father was in surgery, I stayed with my mother and we waited by her ipad (modern day pacing of hospital halls) for words from my brother who was at the hospital. My 2 1/2 year old daughter, perhaps sensing the tension and worry while playing in the room we were sitting in, heard us talking about "Poppy." She said "Poppy's going to be alright and he's gonna come home." Just like that.

From that moment, I decided, that rather than sit in worry, I should just pray with confidence that my father would recover. He came out of surgery in exactly the amount of time that the surgeon estimated and that was a great sign. However, I nearly fainted when I was able to see my father in ICU. He had so many tubes. I could see how uncomfortable he was and it broke my confidence. The next day, I held vigil with my siblings waiting for my father to come out of sedation. I could see that my brother, who is a physician, was concerned that there was a problem. I decided not to go to the hospital on the 3rd day because I was getting discouraged and my worry was clouding my ability to pray with confidence. Then, my sense of humor kicked in. I told my siblings that watching Dad recover was like watching paint dry and I was not going to sit by his bed for another day and watch him drool. They knew I was joking, but it was my way of saying to them this: He is going to be alright and he is going to come home! So, I stayed with my mother and I de-cluttered his side of the bed and his favorite areas of the house, getting ready for his return. The next morning, I got a text from my brother that said: Dad is back 100%!!!

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ~Hebrews 4:16