my fifth baby, my sister offered to stay with my four other children. The youngest one was nearly potty trained but
still had accidents. He messed his pants
one day, while I was still away. My
sister scolded my son and told him she did not want to have to clean up his
mess. He listened until she was done and
then told her: “That’s O.K. Auntie. When I get big and you get little and mess
your pants, I’ll change yours for you.”
to the neighbors to compare what the Easter bunny had brought in their baskets.
Upon their return, one daughter said with concern, “Mom, Rosie asked me if I
knew who the Easter bunny really was,
but she wasn’t allowed to tell me because her mom said she couldn’t.”
diplomatic about this I responded, “Who do you think it is?”
her to guess the truth as she shook her head and replied, “I don’t know who he
really is, but I think he stole my wallet!”
Adventure Bible Series
had to laugh when my grandson Christopher explained to me that the angel
“Gatorade” appeared to Mary.
Then, my granddaughter Carrie told me about Jesus’ special friends—the”
twelve impossibles”.
Perhaps
they were onto something. After all, the
Angel Gabriel is an athlete of sorts with all his long-distance travel. And if not for the grace of God, those twelve
apostles would certainly have been on a mission impossible.
Horvath, Miramar, FL,
Godchild Natalie was a bit precocious as a small child. On the occasion of the Confirmation of her
cousin Tara, her mom, Cindy went to the bishop’s Communion line with Natalie in
tow. As Cindy headed back to the pew, she turned around to see Natalie,
standing in front of the Bishop, staring him dead in the eye, hands on her
hips. Natalie exclaimed loudly: “How come everyone else got a cookie, and
all I got was a pat on the head?”
only did Bishop Curtis begin to laugh loudly, but also so did the entire
congregation. It was heard loud and
clear since the Bishop’s microphone was still on.
Trollinger
a long journey to get to Lourdes, France, our family (including Kyle, age 9; Zachary, age 7; and
Spencer, age 5), finally arrived at the beautiful grotto where Our Blessed
Mother appeared to Saint Bernadette. Our little family knelt down, and began to
“quietly” pray the rosary as best we could
with three young boys. I told Kyle and
Zachary to go slightly forward and silently pray the rest of the rosary. After less than a minute, Zachary said, “Mommy, I’m done.”
with your rosary already?” I asked.
replied, “I
am, mommy. I prayed the joyful AND the
terrible mysteries!”
my husband was ordained to the permanent deaconate family members came to
participate in the liturgy for this wonderful occasion. It was deeply touching, especially the part
in which the deacon’s prostrate themselves before the altar during the litany.
the reception afterwards, my young nephew Charles said he liked church but this
one was sure long. I agreed it did take
longer than a regular Mass. He
and those other two men laid down on
everyone else was praying?”
McDowall, Bismarck, ND
daughter, Marcelene, loves going to church. When she was four, she
so special to her. “Mom, they’re
‘Christ have Marci on us.'”
Pilcher, Bel Air, MD
When
two of my kids, Davis and Becca, were little, they played “church” sometimes. On one occasion, Becca brought her doll to
the priest (Davis) to be baptized. As Becca
held her little doll, Davis piously poured water over its head. Then, the two
of them looked down at the doll in surprise and broke up into laughter. Instead
of removing original sin, this particular baptism had removed the doll’s
eyelashes.
Heidrich, Bismarck, ND
John Michael, my three-year-old and his two-year old brother David for naps. I
asked John Michael if he was ready for a nap.
He replied to me, “No, I am not ready for a nap but only say the
word and I shall be healed.”
laughed.
“Behold the nap of John. Blessed are they who nap until supper.”
Klopcic , Bel Air, MD
wine region in southern Spain where we lived is famous for its sherry. The priest of our parish took advantage of
this fact by doing wine tastings for the perfect wine for consecration and
purchased large quantities from a local winery.
After two years, we moved back to the United States. One day after receiving Holy Eucharist, I
returned to the pew and began to pray.
Our Zachary, then age 8, returned to the pew after me. After a few seconds, he leaned over to me and
said, “Mommy,
the Blood is much better in Spain.”
three, she informed me that she was going to be inventor. She took her career choice very seriously and
was always full of creative ideas. During first grade, however, another
potential career caught her attention. She loved religion class at St.
Elizabeth’s and enjoyed learning about the saints. One day, she brought me a book on the lives
of the saints to read with her. “Mom, maybe I don’t want to be an
inventor,” she said thoughtfully. “Is it possible to be a Saint for a career
choice? What would I have to do to
become a Saint?”
could start by sitting still in church,” I suggested.
responded: “Oh, then I guess I’ll
just stick to being
four, I found him walking through the house with a big wooden crucifix. His expression was so somber that it
actually looked funny and made me chuckle.
He looked up at me when I laughed, and I said, “What are you doing with
that cross? Are you going to be a priest
when you grow up?”
shoulders, and just as serious as could be, said, “I guess I have to…you said you were sending me to priest
school.” (pre-school) J
Schmeidler
This selection was reprinted from the bestselling collection Amazing Grace for Families.