“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
This is taken from today's (yesterday's) gospel reading, and it really struck me. One can get very supernatural when thinking and praying on Gospel words, however, in my daily grind of diapers, dishes and laundry, I often contemplate how can a mother apply these teachings in the practical ways.
It is easier at times to read or hear the gospel, and it all sounds so great. It all makes perfect sense, and we can even find times, when we are thinking of other people in our lives, 'boy they could sure use this lesson'.!!
What is more difficult is to take that passage and pull something extremely concrete and practical that as a mom / wife we can apply to our daily lives. And that's truly bringing the Gospel truth to life, by living it everyday with everyone around us.
And so, back to the above passage, and why it struck me as it did. What's interesting is the paternal dimension that this passage gives us. Sometimes we can caught up the daily business, of being the mother, being the parent, being the authority figure, that we forget that we have one dedicated to us too. God put himself in that role for us, by comparing Himself in a human way, as a Father. One who sends His Spirit when called upon, and will give of Himself more than a human father can or would give.
It's a comfort to know this fact. When I look at my own HH, as a father, and all he has done for his children, and all I know he would do for his children, it truly impresses upon me, how great and generous God the Father must really be.
Just yesterday, I was asked by my four year old, "Why can't God hear me when I pray to Him?"
My answer being obvious, "Oh honey, of course He can hear you."
She says, "Yeah, but He never answers me. I can't hear Him. Can you hear Him mom?"
I said, "Yes, sometimes I do."
She asks, "And Dad? Can Dad hear Him?"
I said, "For sure, Dad hears God."
She goes on, "Why can't I? Maybe He doesn't know me yet, " to which I replied, "Oh honey, of course God knows you. He knew you before Mom and Dad knew you. And right now, He knows exactly how many little hairs you have on your head," as I tousle her hair into her face.
She asks, "Really?" I nodded, and she said, "Wow, there must be a bazillion on my head. He must be smart to count that high!"
What innocence.
He gives us such hope and consolation. It just takes us to accept it. He is there, knowing every little detail of us, even as those around us fail us, even as we fail Him. Now that's a Father.
This is taken from today's (yesterday's) gospel reading, and it really struck me. One can get very supernatural when thinking and praying on Gospel words, however, in my daily grind of diapers, dishes and laundry, I often contemplate how can a mother apply these teachings in the practical ways.
It is easier at times to read or hear the gospel, and it all sounds so great. It all makes perfect sense, and we can even find times, when we are thinking of other people in our lives, 'boy they could sure use this lesson'.!!
What is more difficult is to take that passage and pull something extremely concrete and practical that as a mom / wife we can apply to our daily lives. And that's truly bringing the Gospel truth to life, by living it everyday with everyone around us.
And so, back to the above passage, and why it struck me as it did. What's interesting is the paternal dimension that this passage gives us. Sometimes we can caught up the daily business, of being the mother, being the parent, being the authority figure, that we forget that we have one dedicated to us too. God put himself in that role for us, by comparing Himself in a human way, as a Father. One who sends His Spirit when called upon, and will give of Himself more than a human father can or would give.
It's a comfort to know this fact. When I look at my own HH, as a father, and all he has done for his children, and all I know he would do for his children, it truly impresses upon me, how great and generous God the Father must really be.
Just yesterday, I was asked by my four year old, "Why can't God hear me when I pray to Him?"
My answer being obvious, "Oh honey, of course He can hear you."
She says, "Yeah, but He never answers me. I can't hear Him. Can you hear Him mom?"
I said, "Yes, sometimes I do."
She asks, "And Dad? Can Dad hear Him?"
I said, "For sure, Dad hears God."
She goes on, "Why can't I? Maybe He doesn't know me yet, " to which I replied, "Oh honey, of course God knows you. He knew you before Mom and Dad knew you. And right now, He knows exactly how many little hairs you have on your head," as I tousle her hair into her face.
She asks, "Really?" I nodded, and she said, "Wow, there must be a bazillion on my head. He must be smart to count that high!"
What innocence.
He gives us such hope and consolation. It just takes us to accept it. He is there, knowing every little detail of us, even as those around us fail us, even as we fail Him. Now that's a Father.
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