Friday, June 1, 2012
Courage Of Convictions
We did it! 9 first Friday Masses in a row! Hooray for us! I can't think of anything that gives my heart greater joy than seeing my children embracing their faith. It is a beautiful thing. I will tell you a story about this. Last weekend, two of my teenage boys were 3 states away in a competitive tournament. They were on different teams and never even saw each other. We as parents could not go, there were too many other kids with schedules at home. So we let the kids go with their teams without us. This was a new venture for all of us, meaning the boys would have the responsibility of taking care of everything themselves. And there was a boardwalk. Temptations. Lots of teenage boys. The tournament was also on Sunday and the boys knew they had to go to Mass. Even if it meant a forfeit. This was a challenge. They didn't have a car , any knowledge of the area, and had committed to a team schedule. They told their coaches about Sunday Mass before they committed to this whole weekend. I don't know if anyone really believed or understood Mass was the priority and thought they would deal with it if it happened. The other kids and maybe the coaches thought this was a little extreme that in the middle of a tournament they are concerned about a Mass schedule. Seems ridiculous to think missing one Sunday would destine them to the fires of hell. And Catholics have to lighten up on all these rigid rules too. And there has to be a travel exception somewhere in your religious commandments, and this would qualify. The boys heard what they were saying. And told them they have to go to Mass. Then demonstrated by example what it means to prioritize, and they ran, literally, to church. Seems to me preaching the Gospel without words is the best way to preach.
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What an example of putting God first your boys made!
ReplyDeleteAmen! Actions without words says a lot about those boys-xo Diana
ReplyDeleteGood for your boys!!! We didn't like the whole Sunday morning sports thing when our kids were at home. What was also discouraging was when others of similar faith played anyway, and my daughter took a stand alone which isn't a bad thing. But I've often wondered if all the Christians on the teams took a stand against Sunday morning sporting events, that the leagues would be forced to rethink their schedules. Maybe they wouldn't care. I guess we'll never know.
ReplyDeleteMary Alice
Great to know that the current generation can also be so much abreast with religious faith and beliefs.. The credit of course goes to you for installing such values in your children!
ReplyDeleteLeading by example is the best way to do it. Good for them! You know, missing one Mass isn't a big deal, but that can quickly become a habit, and THAT is a big deal.
ReplyDeletenow thats something to be proud of, what great kids,
ReplyDeleteOh, amen to this! You must be so proud of your boys for standing up for and living out their faith, showing the world that God comes first in their lives.
ReplyDeleteTell them from me that I think they are awesome for doing this!
Blessings to you!
it is true sports sometimes takes over ones lives!
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ReplyDeleteBrings to mind this scripture, "I have no g reater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." 3 John 1:4. So wonderful that your children are embracing their faith. I salute you for teaching your children well! Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteGood for them, running to Mass....I'm not sure i'm in good enough shape to be Catholic.
ReplyDeleteWell done!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful boys you have! But I have to say that it started with your parental example at home. You must feel so proud and so confident in their ability to choose the right. Our kids had to miss tournaments and games on Sunday as well, but they all lived to tell the tale. It's hard to be firm on the basics sometimes, but it really pays off when you see your kids make good choices like this. Good job, Mom and Dad.
ReplyDeleteYou should be extremely proud of your boys! Our children learn by example and your sons have been taught well!
ReplyDeleteYou have been a wonderful example to your kids and instilled the love of God in them. And that is the best thing we can do as parents.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, example is the truest way to lead. Congratulations Mom and Dad! Bonnie
ReplyDeleteKudos to them!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a good mom, I would be the bad one that would say OK but you have to go to morning mass on Monday! I know you are proud of them.
ReplyDeleteGod bless them! God bless you!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you and your husband for teaching your children values. Congrats on having such wonderful children. I only hope that I am a good enough parent to teach my son values so that he listens and follows by example.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the first Friday masses---what an accomplishment! Congrats to your boys too...they take the sacraments seriously and that's awesome! What great home leaders they'll be someday too.
ReplyDeleteBRAVO!!! It's not an easy thing to stand strong under all that pressure. I'm impressed with them and with their good parents. The world would have us all bend our standards to fit their pleasures. I'm grateful for your example! My hubby has taught our family the phrase, "Preach the gospel every chance you get, and when necessary use words."
ReplyDeleteha yes it is...that is so cool they went even when away...and when they could have not....very cool
ReplyDeleteI am sure that you had a lot to do with instilling it in them as children. Good for you! sandie
ReplyDeleteIt takes a lot to stand up for your faith. Kudos to your sons and to you for giving them that strength.
ReplyDeleteYou have done a great job raising your kids in the faith. They know how to prioritize in doing the right thing and it will spill in all the areas of their lives. Bravo. JB
ReplyDeleteYour boys commitment to their faith reminds me of Eric Liddell, a devout Christian who refused to run an important race in the 1924 Olympics because it was to be held on a Sunday. You've brought up your boys knowing what is truly important in this world...well done!
ReplyDeleteApplauding.... Mama, Dad and 2 boys!
ReplyDeleteSuch faith and values - congrats to you and yours with all sincerity. x
ReplyDeleteI can understand how proud you must be. The fact that they stood up for their faith and made sure they made it to Mass no matter what... what a wonderful commitment! I love the goal of attending Mass every first Friday! That is great!
ReplyDeleteAmen! Amen! I say to you!!!! B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L !!!!
ReplyDeleteI knew you were a fellow catholic! :) I'm so proud of you and your family. So AWESOME!!! Yes!!! This is exactly what it will take to get people to understand "Hey, this church thing is important."
This morning when my 15 year old daughter and I where out getting errands done ~ she says to me "Mom, I would really like to make noon Mass today." on the way out of church she says with a huge smile ~ "I get to serve tomorrow night and Sunday we are going to St. Mary's 6:00 with the youth group. That will be three days in a row for me."
and I ask you ~ How wonderful is this - our kids getting to Mass and teaching so much! :) WOWZA!!!!!!!!! Beautiful POST!!!! Praise God!
thats really nice :) thats quite something by them with the peer pressure and all, especially during a tournament. god bless them!
ReplyDeleteYou must be so proud of them. My kids are in Catholic school and I love it that they go to mass every Friday. My one daughter just said to me, Mom, we had mass today, then we have it on Sunday and then I have it AGAIN on Tuesday (their last day of school)! And I said, so your point is....?
ReplyDeleteKathleen
Yep. How proud you must be! It IS wonderful to see faith be a priority in your kids lives. You are blessed.
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing children you have. Today my grandson graduated kindergarten from All St. Catholic school, the children concluded the graduation by signing the hymn Lord I Lift Your Name on High. I had a tear in my eye and thought of the bible verse; Proverbs 22:6
ReplyDeleteTrain a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it. You sure are blessed with such wonderful children.
Good for them! You must be so proud--and rightfully so. :)
ReplyDeleteI truly believe that a sermon should be lived not just preached! Awesome.
ReplyDeleteGood for your boys!
ReplyDeleteThis is so wonderful to hear! How easy it is for some to shrug church off *just this once* but that leads to another day off, and another, ect. Your boys really know what's important in life. Good for them!
ReplyDeleteGood for them! That is amazing!!
ReplyDeleteYou have been a good example and a great instrument of God to your kids. May God always bless you and your family.
ReplyDeleteYoung men fulfilling their commitment to God is a treasure for a mom to see.
ReplyDeleteYou have done a great job leading your family to love the LORD :)
ReplyDeleteThis conjures up all kinds of things to say. I am a catholic wannabe and this is why. We are a witness for the good in every single thing we do and don't do. Your boys ind this story have touched heart strings and harp strings
ReplyDeletewow this sounds great - even if im not into churches anymore. long story, wrong place - its good to hear they already know what is important for them!
ReplyDelete<3
Leading by example, that's what I get from this:) Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way for your sons to lead! It was a young friend of my niece that led her to Christ, and in turn the entire family embraced their faith. And the children will lead them...
ReplyDeleteOur faith should ALWAYS be our priority. Your children have been raised proper, not seen so much anymore. Your life surely is full even when it's tough. One thing more, the school systems never ever used to have sports, etc, on Sunday. That needs to revert back to the 'old ' days.
ReplyDeleteBlessYourHearts
Congratulations! What a wonderful thing to be passing on to the next generation.
ReplyDeleteAmen! What a great example they were! I love these moments when our kids actually practice what we have been trying to teach them- and we aren't right there hovering to make it happen- brilliant!
ReplyDeleteGood for them...the courage of their convictions!
ReplyDelete=)
Great post! Thanks for following us at www.privettblog.blogspot.com I am following your blog!
ReplyDeleteAlways great to see people of all ages following their hearts and what they believe.
ReplyDelete~Jess
Oh my goodness....what an inspirational post. I'm sure you're proud, and I KNOW the boys are proud of what they've accomplished. They will be repaid in due time, but let me tell you, this is one of the most heartwarming, and incredible reads I've read in a long, LONG time. Well done to you all.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! How are you doing it? I have two teenage girls and some Saturdays/Sundays it's a struggle just to get them out the door to Mass. It's never an option that they go, just a struggle! I'm so glad your boys made it a priority to go. Awesome! Thanks for stoping by to visit my blog (sewcarolinaknits.blogspot.com)....now following you..Yeah!
ReplyDeleteHave you heard of LighthouseCatholicMedia? They have really inspiring talks available as mp3s. They can download to your girls' ipods. It may give them the extra push they need.
DeleteIt is great they put what was important to them first and didn't allow others to sway their belief or feelings :)
ReplyDeleteIt's great that they put the things they believe in first.
ReplyDeleteRunning to God when the world beckons...a great testimony indeed. Let us all put Him first.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog recently :)
I must say you have been a wonderful example to your kids !!!!
ReplyDeleteYou have some amazing boys there! This is a fantastic story-- I hope the mass really spoke to them when they went! I bet they really took an extra special meaning out of it that day.
ReplyDeletelove it...awesome testimony of convictions... teaching the kids well! =)
ReplyDeleteYour sons are so admirable. When my daughter grows up and falls in love, I hope she finds someone like your boys. I think they even have more conviction than I do.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's pretty incredible!
ReplyDeleteSuch a proud moment for a parent! As a foster parent, one of the things we learned is that "Children hear with their eyes". Obviously, your children are seeing you walk the talk!!
ReplyDeleteHoorah for your boys. Living the example is the best way to reach others.
ReplyDeleteWow! Good for them! You must be so proud!!
ReplyDeleteIt is always a joy to see our kids walk with faith. It is definitely not an easy task these days.
ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing story! I'd be super proud too :) Thanks for linking up!!!
ReplyDeleteI just love the way you're raising your kids.. You're an example of a perfect mom, keep it up and you'll reap your good work when is time..
ReplyDeleteI would say that your sons 'preached' a marvelous sermon to their teammates and coaches. You should be very proud of them (as I'm sure you are).
ReplyDeleteYour boys are great! You must be so proud! But their parents sure must be even greater!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story! My husband and I like to travel and one of the first things I do is look up nearby churches. There is something so special about attending mass in a new church, just knowing the exact same readings are happening at my home parish give me such relief and a sense of pride in our faith.
ReplyDeleteMy best new parish experience was when I traveled to England/Scotland with 40 other high schoolers bacj in my teens. On a Sunday, myself and two others sought out a Catholic Church in Scotland- it turned out to be the oldest wood church. So there we were, my chaperone (hispanic background), another student (asian background), and myself (true American mixture), we definitely stood out and the priest asked us to stay and enjoy coffee with the rest of the parish. It was really wonderful.
Kudos on raising such great boys!
Good for your boys! I went to a private Christian school so we never had events on Sundays or Wednesday nights. What a great example your sons set for their teammates.
ReplyDeleteOk I am not a church goer but I think it is awesome that your boys still wanted to go to Mass, I use to go to church every week when my girls were little but not anymore. I still have my faith and still pray and put my life in God's hands I just don't go to church.
ReplyDeleteGood for them! Many people he day and age do not put God first. God bless!
ReplyDeleteEncouraging Thoughts for Life
Good for your sons! They were faithful.
ReplyDeleteYea, good for them.
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