Martha and Mary my way Back To School

"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise." -Psalm 51:16-17

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In the midst of summer humidity, I release my boys back into the wild of the school year, my oldest to second, and my younger son to full-time preschool. I send out in panic of an explorer lacking essential gear as on his second day of preschool,  I arrived tardy and forgot my younger son's water-bottle. So with my two youngest girls, I pause in the pews of our Parish, praying for my boys and noting the retired older folks faithfully attending daily mass. As a mother of four aged seven and under, I live in my Martha era. My tasks require the mundane grid of the nitty-gritty including: carpool drop-off/pick up, laundry, cleaning the home and car, meal preparation, grocery shopping, scheduling doctor appointments/ any extra curriculars and just general behavior management to encourage commodorary over conflict (between siblings and spouses). The little stresses strain my sanitity sometimes.

Thus, I  look forward to my Mary-era, when I am aged with older kids, and able to abide as an intercessor praying for my kids, grandkids through attending daily mass and frequent adoration.  My Mary-era features a slower pace more reflective a spiritual-orientated soul full of stillness that contrasts my martha-era quicker-paced busy performance of daily corporal works of Mercy (most not all).

Yet, for my more Marthian mind and Marian heart, I desire to connect fully. Thus, I desire to live out my Martha tasks with the spirit of Mary, to serve not just work. Thus to heaven I signal out an S.O.S. (Surrender. Obey. Steward).

SURRENDER: So humbly, I confess my weakness and limitations to start my act of surrender before my Savior like Mary. Though, out of fear, I want to cling to my sons, and stretch myself to teach all of them. Yet, out of faith, I am grateful for schools I trust to aid me in my sons' intellectual and social development.   So, I shape our days and schedules around pick-up and drop-off times and encourage endurance for our time apart- staying informed and connected as possible with their schools (yes there is an app for that as well). My mom mantra for surrender refrains "letting go to let grow."

OBEY: Mothering, especially littles requires so many gross and gritty tasks categorizes under the roles of maid, cook and secretary. So much wiping of surfaces and little ones without much gratitdue. Thus the such griping sometimes hits my heart as I resent the not-so-pleasant-parts. So, only through sincere obedience to compete daily drudgery disciplines, including properly providing meals and sleep for myself, may a I offer a truly generous heart I my household though unseen and unpraised labor. Thus I embrace the humbling role of taken for granted yet granted God's approval through His faithfulness.

STEWARD: I seek to mother as a steward holding my kids loosely by trusting their Heavenly Father to fulfill them completely, as I am so lacking in control and capacities.  So instead of despairing how their bad behavior reflects my bad parenting- I seek to correct and guide their natural shape like shorelines shape a rivers flow through all types of terrain to reach the ocean. So for one child who needs space after school alone to recharge, I provide room to avoid strong break-downs. For another child, I provide affirmation to aid in preventing boundary crossing and to gain the needed attention.  Making space for others stewards assests of the King well,  without ego grasping merit.

So through Surrender, Obedience and Stewardship may you serve with the deligience of Martha and the heart of Mary.