Angel to the Rescue
Do angels really guard us and interact with us? This short story by Paulie Ruby from Minot, ND was included in the Amazing Grace for Mothers book. It’s a testimony that we are not alone. One foggy morning I heard my…
Vending Machine Morality
When a former college president shared that he had installed vending machines with condoms in the girls’ dorms, my face must have betrayed disapproval. After a pregnant pause, (sorry, couldn’t resist) he further explained, “The girls asked me to do it because they wanted to be responsible.” I was my husband’s date at a banquet…
Beatitudes for Parents
Blessed are those parents who make their peace with spilled milk and with mud, for of such is the kingdom of childhood. Blessed is the parent who engages not in the comparison of his child with others, for precious unto each is the rhythm of his own growth.
How to Pray Like Jesus
During a recent talk, Fr. Thomas Richter explained that praying like Jesus requires one thing: to desire for God to have his way in your life. As the vocation director for the Bismarck diocese, it would seem that Fr. Tom knows about answered prayers. Bismarck is in the top twenty per capita for vocations in…
Just Like Mother Used to Say
“Get down from there before you break your neck!” Sound familiar? You heard it growing up and you have probably repeated it to your own children. There are certain sayings in a mom’s lexicon that seems to have infiltrated homes throughout the land. Some you probably promised you would never repeat once you became a…
Mary and The Moslems
At times, it seems that Moslems and Christians have no common ground. Yet, there is one who can bring us together–Mary, our Blessed Mother. Mary is greatly loved by both Muslims and Catholics. There are differences in our devotions to her, but Bishop Fulton Sheen once stated that he believed it would be through Mary that…
My Son the Matchmaker by Regina Rico Ferreira as told in the Amazing Grace for Mothers book
“Mommy, where’s my daddy?” My four-year-old son Jacob asked me. The question was a jolt to our leisurly Sunday afternoon walk together. I always knew the question would one day come, but I was not expecting it so soon.
Optimistic Antidotes
Warning: Motherhood lends itself to pessimism. Once the euphoria of holding your precious newborn bundle evaporates, you will find infinite reasons to fret and complain. “She never sleeps. It seems like she wants to eat every hour,” can give way to: “Her room is always such a mess,” and “How many times does she…
Grouchy Treasures
When you stop to count your blessings, do not forget to give God a big thank you to for all the difficult people in your life. They are just bursting with the potential to bless you, but it all depends on you. You can respond with love and mercy or you can get angry and…
That Mary Thing
“You Catholics have that Mary thing,” a non-Catholic recently commented to a friend of mine. Yes, we sure do and it’s one of the best things going. Our Blessed Mother has real pull with our Savior–something we can all use. A good word put in by her proved quite effective at the wedding at Cana…
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
While getting ready for a dance at the University of Detroit during a freshman college orientation weekend, I had a life changing experience. It was a moment of awakening that has stayed with me for over thirty years. The roommate I was assigned for the weekend was a tall, slim girl with short black hair. …
The Miracle of the ‘Garden Angel’
Everyone has a favorite Christmas story. This one is mine. It is a true story in which a child’s faith in Christmas works a miraculous family reunion. This is part of a collection of stories included in the book Amazing Grace for the Catholic Heart. No matter how many times I’ve read it to my kids, I…