Engineman 3rd Class Blanca King, left, and Chaplain Lt.j.g. Nathanael Gentilhomme, center, both Sailors assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), play a game with children from the Saipan Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) School and Child Development Center, April 9, 2015, in Chalan Kiya, Saiapan (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan T. Erickson/Released, Public Domain)
EMBRACING FAMILY
Many parents ask us questions, and we share faith-based parenting advice, based on Love and Logic © and the Preventive System of St. John Bosco (Reason, Religion, Loving Kindness). We’d like to share some of these with you.
Mother’s Day is coming up, and this, too, is the month dedicated to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. How will we be celebrating our mothers, living or deceased? How will we be honoring Mary in our homes and in our lives? How might we invite our spouses, children and friends to turn to Mary as their mother, teacher and guide?
Depending on our age, we may have heard of the game “Mother, May I?” or even played it in our childhood. The game is quite simple. One person plays the mother and the others play the children taking turns to ask permission to move forward. Ultimately, whoever reaches the mother first wins. Many say that children learned manners and obedience from this game. Regardless of our opinion about the game, we would like to propose that we “play” this game with a new twist: “Mother Mary (Mamma Mary), May I?”
Imagine if we went through our day asking our Blessed Mother whether we should be saying or doing things. There is no doubt in our mind as to how Mary would respond to situations we face in our daily lives. Why don’t we consider asking for her advice?
Should we forgive our spouse for offending us? Should we be willing to be counter-cultural and teach our children Catholic Christian values and hold them accountable to them? Should we stop and help someone in need? Should we return to the store when we realize that the cashier did not charge us for an item? Should we pay taxes on cash payments we received when the IRS has no way of knowing about it? Should we speed because the speed limit is annoying?
Sometimes the answers are apparent; other times, we must use discernment. For the latter, we can remember the old game and play it with a new twist: “Mother Mary (Mamma Mary), May I?”
We may always ask her advice, 24/7. She is never too busy, and no electronic devices are needed to reach her. It is never too late or too early to ask, and we never need to worry that we are interrupting her. All we need is an open heart, one willing to ask Mary for advice when in doubt. We know even from Scripture that her advice will be sound. At the Wedding Feast in Cana, she told the servers, “Do whatever he (Jesus) tells you.” (John 2:5)
Here is some feedback from a Hawaii Catholic Herald reader in response to the Q & A from “Lenten Discernment: Trash or Recyclable?
“I had never really given any thought to how much time and energy I was wasting on situations that were truly irrelevant. I found it quite freeing to “say good-bye” to some of my own internal monologues. I felt like it was a mental and spiritual version of Marie Kondo’s method [if it doesn’t spark joy, get rid of it]. I was able to let go of many thoughts and memories that were not lifegiving and focus more on things that truly make a positive impact on my life and on the lives of others.”
Questions? Please email Sarah and David at Success@EmbraceFamilyLearning.com. We would be honored to lift you up in prayer and respond, as well!
