Singing Karaoke with the Saints

There has been a few times in my life thus far that I have gotten to sing karaoke. At a friend's birthday, some girls' night outs, and just because it sounded like fun to friends have been such occasions for the singing. The most memorable time was when a friend had purchased an old machine that had "holiday" songs on it. It was used well for a 4th of July and St. Patrick's day get together! 🙂 How much fun is it to sing along to some songs that are loved and so good?!

The thing about karaoke though is the majority of us do not have that stellar voice just like the artist. And even if we do have a great voice, it will not sound exactly the same as the original for one reason or another. Nevertheless, it is a good time singing along with whatever musical artist and song we have picked.

In our church, we have a number of beautiful souls (the Saints who have been canonized and the saints who have not been) who have gone before us that created their own song here on earth. Some of their tunes are more familiar than others. And some of them are our own anthem we hope to emulate as well. But, the thing about it is, no matter how "perfect" or well done we preform the song that was created before us - it is not our own and will not sound the same. There is nothing wrong with following in others' footsteps to grow closer to Christ, but no matter how hard I try I will not be St. Francis de Sales,  Pope St. John Paul II, or St. Elizabeth of the Trinity. My circumstances, my life, my journey is completely and uniquely my own than all the Saints in heaven. These Saints can inspire me and guide me to discover my own song that God has laid before me. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy their beautiful melodies left on earth and sing along with them karaoke style.

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Father, 

Thank you for the gift of so many beautiful souls who walked this earth that are now Saints in union with you in heaven. Their melodies left behind pointing towards you make us here on earth want to sing along with them. May I always remember that you have chosen a specific melody for me and all your children here and I'm not expected to sing the same song as some of these great Saints. It is not so much about being exactly like my brothers and sisters, but being my authentic self to praise you and draw others closer to you. 

In your name I pray, Amen. 

****

Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth

Catholic Podcasts

Since the beginning of this calendar year I have found myself listening to more podcasts. There are a routine few I consistently listen to and wanted to share just in case you are looking for something to listen to on a long road trip coming up, in the middle of doing housework, or just to find something uplifting in the middle of your day. I pray that they can uplift you and draw you closer to Christ.

Catholic Sprouts: Daily Podcast for Catholic Kids

Don't let the "for kids" part discourage you from listening. These are less than 10 minute daily podcasts on a week long topic. She gives a challenge for kids to complete, but really they are good challenges for those of us who are simply a kid at heart. For the summer they are doing replays of previous weeks, but will be back in August with new episodes.

My favorite weeks: Eucharistic Miracles (May 2019) and Hope (January 2019)



The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Oh man...I really appreciate Fr. Mike Schmitz's podcasts! They always seem to hit home for me and once again are usually no more than 10 minutes. He talks on a wide variety of topics ranging from church teaching to relationships with others. I cannot recommend him enough!

My favorite episodes: Acceptance (December 2016), Making a Good confession (December 2016), Overwhelmed (December 2016) Dealing with Stress (May 2018), and Do you want to be well? (April 2019)



Catholic Stuff You Should Know

It took me a bit to get into this podcast because it was almost like walking into the middle of a group of people having known each other for years and trying to keep up on the conversation. They are a group of Byzentyne priests in Colorado who have really taken to heart to evangelize using the technology we have in this world. They start their podcasts with some general conversation and then get into the topic at hand. These are usually about an hour long so it is great for a longer commute home or in the middle of making dinner. I will say, if you do give it a try and find yourself not as much of a fan, give it 3 episodes and then you will be hooked. :)

My favorite episodes: Community via Brokenness (January 2019), #StayDangerous (March 2019), Erin Planned (April 2019), and Did Jesus Walk Like an Egyptian? (May 2019)




Blessed is She - The Gathering Place

This was another podcast that took me a little bit to get into, but I think I started with the wrong episode. These are usually about 20 minute long episodes that focus on a wide variety of spirituality topics for women. Jenna and Beth (the 2 who are hosts on the podcasts) are very honest and open about their own spirituality, faith, struggles, and life experiences that makes it really all the more inviting to listen to.

My favorite episodes: Shame, Porn, and Spoonfuls of Grace (February 2019), Adventure is around the corner (March 2019), It's not about the answer (April 2019), and What's your Anthem? (June 2019)



Simply a little pencil in God's hand,
Elizabeth

A Mother's Rosary - Sorrowful Mysteries

Truth be told there are times that praying my rosary is hard. Not because of my daughter's rambunctiousness distracting me, but my own heart struggling to be present to the beautiful mysteries with Christ. There was a day when trying to pray the Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays traditionally) that motherhood overcame me and my ability to truly focus, so I decided I'd walk those things on my heart with the Lord. What I share with you below is a snapshot of what came to me. I hope it can be a source of prayer for other mamas out there that are struggling to focus on Christ in the midst of chaotic motherhood. 

The First Sorrowful Mystery - The Agony of the Garden

Christ has entered into the garden with his disciples and asks them to pray. Yet, they fall asleep on him - not just once, but 3 times! Despite this, Christ loves his disciples and prays for God's will to be done though fully knowing the events about to take place.

Lord, as a mom, there are times I hide away in a bathroom/pantry/closet to cry and pray. I know that there are dirty dishes in the sink, laundry to be folded, and children needing to be taken to their various activities that are all part of your will for me. With my older children I ask them to help put away their toys or to close the door before running outside to play, but they do not always do what I ask. Despite the work to be done, despite the challenges ahead of me, and despite my children not always doing what I have asked, I know that you are in this garden with me - praying with me. 

The Second Sorrowful Mystery - The Scourging at the Pillar

Christ was taken by the soldiers to be stripped of his garments, beaten, and mocked. He was tortured and did not fight back - not even with a word of hate or malice towards those hurting him. In all this, Christ continued to love. 

Lord, those words of my children saying, "I hate you!" or screaming at me gnaw away at my restless soul. When my children were younger, the physical beating of getting bit, kicked, and pushed away also took a toll on me. You once could not get enough of me and showered me with "I love you mommy!" and gave gifts of flowers from the backyard seem like a lifetime away. I know that in this spiritual and emotional beating you Lord have already walked this path. I know that you can clasp my hands and whisper in this faint mother's heart, "This too shall pass."

The Third Sorrowful Mystery - The Crowning of Thorns

After Christ is beaten, the soldiers place a crown of thorns upon his head. A sign of humiliation and mocking that Christ continues to endure without saying a word against the men doing it to him. 

My Lord, I can feel the crown of thorns being placed on my head when my child becomes the scene in the middle of the store crying because I will not let them grab 30 bags of chips. I can feel the crown of thorns when my child repeats something that should not have come out of my own mouth. Motherhood gives the opportunity to walk in humility with you Lord. When I become embarrassed from the crown of thorns adorned on my head, help me remember that you did not hide it but accepted the moment. Allow me the graces to accept each moment as it comes.

The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery - The Carrying of the Cross

Christ was given a cross to carry to his own death. It was not a cross he asked for or picked out, but simply given to him. Though heavy as the cross was, he carried it and continued to love. 

Lord, sometimes being a mom there are some obvious crosses while other times they are deeply hidden in my heart. The cross of trying to comfort an infant while tending to my school-aged child's homework help needs to the cross of folding the 4th basket of laundry after everyone in the house getting the stomach bug to the worry of will my child be loved by his/her teacher next year after a tumultuous year. I know that you are right with me carrying these crosses and will help me - and for that it makes this weight so much easier to carry.

The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery - The Crucifixion of Christ

After being beaten, humiliated, and carrying a weight that was not asked for but given - the soldiers crucified Christ on the cross. He endured this suffering and died for our sinfulness. 

Lord, there are times that my physical, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion is overwhelming. My oldest forgot she/he has a project due tomorrow, the baby is sick, and my husband is out of town - but work has to be done. I surrender my whole self to your will to do what I need to do for my children whom I love with my entire being. You have given me the model of this total and free self-giving love - even when it does not seem to be deserved or merited. Lord, when I feel this overwhelming sense of "I don't know if I can give anymore" help me remember how you always gave everything for us. 

Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth

 

Going for the fruit or the fruit snacks?

There are times with having a toddler that snacks that are already pre-packaged are easier to grab to eat in a pinch rather than taking the time to cut and prepare actual fruits, veggies, or "healthy" foods. But even before having a toddler I would all to frequently fall into the trap of going for the things that maybe are not the most healthy, but are convenient to grab quickly. However, when I take the time to cut and prepare the fruits, veggies, and other better for me things as a snack it is more filling and nourishing for my body. I've also realized that it sustains me so much longer than a small little bag of fruit snacks.

Prayer can take effort and time to do meaningfully. By no means am I saying that I cannot enter prayer at this very moment as I type on my computer - sometimes that does happen. But, to really enter into a space with God, I have to find my quiet (well, relative quiet sometimes with my daughter 🙂), be present, and spend some time with Him. It can take planning and can push me out of my comfort zone to really do well, but when I do with good practice and frequency I know good fruit comes. I may not always see the fruits, but there is something satisfying that sustains me for the day with some good and intentional prayer time.

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God, There are times that I know I can be lazy and not be intentional with my prayer times. Help me remember that it is when I am intentional, quiet myself, and tune my mind totally to you that good fruit will come from my efforts. In your name, Amen.

****

Simply a little pencil in God's hand,
Elizabeth

Do you make your bed everyday?

About 5 years ago there was a commencement address given by Admiral William H. McRaven where he gives really fabulous advice to the graduates based on his training as a Navy SEAL. Though he has many really good points, there is one that I regularly go back to about making your bed. Like many military branches, their beds would be inspected daily. This mundane task was part of the necessary routine, but over time Admiral McRaven shared how this simple task provided so much wisdom. In his speech he says,

"If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can't do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.

And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better."

How often are we faithful to the seemingly simple prayers such as the "Our Father" or "Hail Mary" or prayer before meals? I think of these prayers as the "making your bed" prayers every morning - they are brief, simple, and concrete. However, I'll be first to admit that sometimes saying these prayers can feel too simple and not as exciting as a sung Divine Mercy Chaplet or participating in a praise and worship session, but they are the building blocks to more prayer and some of the deeper prayers we have in our faith. 

Truth be told too, there are times on our spiritual journeys that I feel that praying can be rough. Maybe we are facing a crisis or there are distractions in our way - going back to these "making the bed" prayers can be an easy way to get back to God. Maybe the chaos or struggle continues for awhile, but at the end of the day you can still know you turned to God despite it all and there is small joy in all of that. 

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Father God, 

Thank you for giving us these simple, yet profound prayers to pray daily. Allow me the graces to pray these prayers faithfully each day to be able to do even more praying and praising. When I'm in a spiritual drought or challenging circumstance, help me remember I can go back to these prayers anytime and find you there. All this in your name,

Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand, 

Elizabeth