Not for Guarantees

This week we’ve been reading along with the Church from 1 Samuel. I can’t help but think about Samuel’s sons and wondering why they rejected him and God. The Bible is full of stories of rejection of parents and family and God. This truth would bum a mother out if the stories stopped there.

Although it is disheartening as a mother to think that a child of mine might reject me and, or God, I strive for family unity today anyway. I’m not able to guarantee any particular outcome in family relationships. God has given us all free will, for better and worse. Yet, each moment that is unified, each day that is right before God, is infinitely valuable and worthwhile in and of itself.

Having said this, I confess, I hold hope in my heart. By building strong, healthy, and joyful family relationships, I pray that our family will be something my growing children see as good and right for them. I pray that they will live their adult vocations, with love for their first family as well as with accumulated virtues and skills to fulfill God’s will for them. I pray that we will all continue to say “Yes!” to God and be reunited in heaven to forever praise Him.

It could happen! A mother’s hope combined with trust in God can even work miracles. Just ask St. Monica...and my mom.