I’ve recently not been feeling well, and addressed some of what has been going on in my Gratitude Project post this past Friday. The lack of energy, difficulty forming coherent sentences, and mild joint discomfort has prohibited me from sitting at my computer the past two weeks – meaning I’ve been able to draft a couple microblogs on Instagram, but linking up with My Sunday Best has been non-existent.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure I had anything for today. We had Mass outside again, as a special tribute to the Feast of the Holy Archangels this past Friday – one of whom is the patron saint of soldiers. Since St. Michael is a huge military patron, our Catholic community celebrates the feast day in style – usually outside, with a picnic immediately following Mass.
The day was absolutely gorgeous, although windy. Lil’ Miss ran around the entire Mass, followed by yours truly. At least I kept her mostly to the background, behind the crowd assembled for Mass. However, because of her antics, I didn’t get an opportunity to participate in Mass. I’m trying to console myself with the acknowledgment that at least we were physically present.
Since I didn’t hear the readings, the homily, or take a kneel at the Consecration, I had no intention of participating in Rosie’s My Sunday Best series this week. My personal Sunday Best included a lot of wind, a lot of chasing a toddler, and a whole lot of nothing else.
Until I got home.
When we got home, I was feeling defeated – much like the past month or so of attending our chapel. Defeated at dragging small children to church, and defeated at the whole “parenting” gig.
As I prepared homemade pizzas for lunch, grumbling internally at “another failed Mass,” I overheard my son in the next room, singing as he put together his Legos.
And, I could have cried at the beauty of his song.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise You,
we bless You,
we adore You,
we glorify You,
we give You thanks for Your great glory,
Lord God, Heavenly King,
O God, Almighty Father.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
For You alone are the Holy One,
You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the Glory of God the Father.”
Catholics who attend Mass regularly will notice the Gloria my son was singing – the song I can’t get him to even try to attempt while we are in the church building. Aside from one skipped paragraph, this boy has it down! His perfectionist streak is such that he won’t let me hear it until he’s ready to sing in Mass itself, but what I overheard today, as he hid in another room, was the affirmation I needed.
It was a reminder that, even when he doesn’t seem to be paying attention, he is learning about Mass – and, he is learning about Jesus.
So, to the parent out there, wondering why we put in the manual labor, the grief, the heartache, and the struggle to get children out of the door and off to Mass on a weekly basis, take heart.
They are soaking in the lessons.
They are learning.
You are doing the right thing.
So, may these words find their way to the parent who needs the same affirmation today.
You are doing an awesome job, taking your children to church, even when it doesn’t feel like you are winning at the task!
Because, often, what we fail to realize while in the trenches –
We are winning the battle for little souls!
Outstanding! What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing it!
I am so glad you enjoyed it! It was definitely a “heart warming moment” for me today!
Welcome back! And agreed: kids are paying attention, even when they’re not ‘paying attention.’ Maybe *especially* then. And that’s another topic.
I should have known my son was picking it up – he picks things up so well through song. Now, if I could convince every parish/Catholic community to sing the Our Father, I think he’d be set with the “big three” prayers – Hail Mary, Guardian Angel, and Our Father. 😂
And, he amazes me by how much he picks things up – especially when I don’t think he’s listening. 😈
Definitely a win! Hold onto that little memory of his little voice. <3
Most definitely!! It was a “heart moment” for sure!
Oh what an awesome affirmation from your son!! So heartwarming ❤❤❤
Thank you!! I thought the same thing! And, I truly was amazed when I recognized it as a moment where God was gently trying to reassure me.
How wonderful that you got to overhear him singing! I am sure it was such a special moment! I hope you have a great week and that you start to feel better soon.
Thank you so much! He learns best through song, so this shouldn’t have surprised me, as much as it did! 🤗
Visiting from Rosie’s blog!
That’s so wonderful! My own kids have surprised me before with reciting things from Mass and every single time I am in awe!
Mass with small children can feel so defeating. Just keep it up…I promise one day it does pay off. My boys are now 11 and 10 and all those years of leaving Mass feeling exhausted and sometimes angry are a distant memory. Now I stand with them at Mass as they pay attention (or at least act like it) and sit quietly (most of the time).
Awww!! I love hearing the stories of parents who have “gone before.” It’s nice to hear someone else was in my shoes – and, survived! 😂😂 One of my blogging mom mentors introduced me to the saying, “The days are long, but the years are short.” It’s good to know in (hopefully) a few years, I might be standing proudly with (or behind) my kids, as they (mostly) behave!
My heart was warmed by your story. They do pay attention even when we don’t realize it. Such a beautiful song, too.
Just a throw out there. One thing my husband and I started doing was listening to Bishop Barren’s podcast Word on Fire as we drive to church. With our three year old there are time when we miss the homily, but by listening to the podcast before hand as we drive there, I feel like I’ve at least got the message of the readings. You may do something like that, but just thought I’d share. 🙂
Thank you for that suggestion!
The idea I’d had before church, because things were actually going smoothly, had been to read the readings ahead of time. I just forgot, because that is how I roll these days! 😳😂
But, I’ll take a look at the Word on Fire podcast – I never seem to remember podcasts as a source of any listening option. 😊
Those little ones are such sponges! Take them somewhere good and they will soak it up even when they don’t intend too!
Yes!! They certainly teach me how much they soak up… good and bad! 😳😂