Where Duty Turns to Blessing

Last updated on: December 28, 2014 at 2:00 pm by Calah Alexander

Where Duty Turns to Blessing 2014-12-28T14:00:05-05:00 Calah Alexander

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Elizabeth Duffy writes the best thing I’ve read in a long time — also the thing I most needed to hear, today and every day.

My friend Karen noted that if the Synod does lead to a change in the Church’s approach to divorced and remarried Catholics, expediting the annulment process and their return to communion, it won’t be Catholic lay people who get a free pass, so much as the pastors who would no longer be entrusted with shepherding that particular journey. “And while it’s possible to thrive without good parents,” she said, “it’s really, really nice to have good parents.”

I couldn’t argue with that.

A couple times lately, this scenario has happened to me: I have wrestled the kids through all their bedtime hygiene maneuvers. We have speed dialed the bedtime prayers. They’ve all been sent up to their prospective beds, and amazingly, are quiet in their rooms. It would seem that they have even turned out the lights. Aaaaand… Time for me to relax.

But wait!

There is a niggling little voice in my head that says, “Go upstairs, lay hands on each of your children, and bless them.”

“Eh, I don’t really want to,” I think. “What if they want to talk to me, and I don’t get out of there for another half hour? Why mess with a good thing? I’ve already given birth to these people, and I take them to the dentist every six months. And my knees hurt on the stairs. Plus, I’ve got this really inspiring book of spiritual reading to look at that might make me more docile to the Holy Spirit.”

Fulfilling my duty really is the easy part of being a mother. The difficult part is where duty turns to blessing, where I respond to the call of the Spirit and place a calling on my children. “Listen to me, my faithful children, open up your petals like roses planted near running waters.” (Sirach 39:13)

They may find God someday regardless of me, but it is really, really nice to have good parents.

(Read the rest here)

Really, go read it. It’s amazing.

Previous Post

October 14, 2014

#Synod14 -- See How They Hate Each Other!

Next Post

October 15, 2014 Dallas Nurse with Ebola is a Devoted Catholic

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 April 2016 March 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz