LIFE is BEAUTIFUL!

WISDOM

To understand reality is not the same as to know about outward events. It is to perceive the essential nature of things. The best-informed man is not necessarily the wisest. Indeed there is a danger that precisely in the multiplicity of his knowledge he will lose sight of what is essential. But on the other hand, knowledge of an apparently trivial detail quite often makes it possible to see into the depth of things. And so the wise man will seek to acquire the best possible knowledge about events, but always without becoming dependent upon this knowledge. To recognize the significant in the factual is wisdom. Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

Life is a train of moods like a string of beads; and as we pass through them they prove to be many colored lenses, which paint the world their own hue, and each shows us only what lies in its own focus.---RALPH WALDO EMERSON
glitter-graphics.com
Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.---ABRAHAM LINCOLN
There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state to another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness. We must have felt what it is to die, that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life.---ALEXANDRE DUMAS
“It is not because the truth is too difficult to see that we make mistakes... we make mistakes because the easiest and most comfortable course for us is to seek insight where it accords with our emotions - especially selfish ones" --- Alexander Solzhenitsyn quotes (Russian novelist, Nobel Prize for Literature (1970), b.1918)
“Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself.” ---Kahlil Gibran

Monday, December 31, 2012

Been away and now I'm back before the year ends. :)

Time check: It's 11:14  on my laptop. It's been awhile since I've written in here. 2012 didn't start right for me, even 2011 was cruel I should say. Nonetheless guess this year ends with a bang as I'm writing this very moment in my home in Cebu.  Yes, I've finally spent Christmas and New Year here after six years!  :)


I was of course delighted to make it this time, nothing beats spending time with loved ones in times like this and truly that's the meaning of the season. At least for me. Though my time here is limited as I'm back to work in days or so at least I'm savoring the moment as this is important to me.


I wonder what 2013 will bring but as often heard, it's a new start, of writing another chapter of our lives  the reason why it is called ---New Year. :)

Happy New Year to everyone and as the name speaks, hope 2013 is a year of more happiness and joy to all. :)

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Eventful but still passive

It was a holiday yesterday but I spent my time preparing for my lessons. Sometimes the lessons themselves are not hard to do but simplifying them to be understood fast and make them comprehensible  as possible is tasky. The photo editing fun was a good break, at least I could breathe from time to time. I didn't know why but later in the evening I had a hard time sleeping. It took long for me to finally sleep after countless getting on and out of bed. And  as I can remember, there was a sound I  assumed a cockroach walking on the floor last night until it reached the paper bag which I eventually stamped on intentionally killing the cockroach as I thought.

I was shocked this morning to find out it was a lizard! I felt so sorry and really had a heavy heart in an instant. I really think lizards are good companions and of me killing one isn't cool. Nonetheless, my day went through preparing for more stuff  for today's class.

I left my home earlier and took the taxi ride. I was three minutes away from the venue when I got a call that the class today had to be posponed due to some circumstances.  No definite schedule yet but anytime next week depending on the availability of the learners. In an instant, I had no choice but to turn back and headed to the BTS Skytrain. I thought it should be a good idea then to at least join the cooking class that I really like somewhere in Sukhumvit today anyway I still had the time.  As I came nearer to the train station the traffic was just the worst seemed the vehicles weren't moving. I got tired and when I finally reached the station I decided to just get myself a glass of iced cold lemon tea and some yamazaki bread. Then headed home.

The traffic jam was still bad though heading home but at least despite the heat and with just a little more patience, I could take a rest and relax. I deserve both. And now, I have just written something. :)


Today should be eventful for nothing, as nothing is accomplished as no output to mention. I had a lot I think and I've been through  some ggggrrrss, no worries though I've always maintained 'calmness and poise" ;) regardless but then yeah, this Thursday has to go on.  I should take a nap after this.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Notable day

Okay, finally I have the chance to write and something to write about. This is a special day as such remarkable things are worth the memory. It's not that there are no happenings in some other days, it is just that beautiful firsts have happened today.

Today is my first to spend time with my students. I declined invites before on meetings or any gatherings after classes. For time, work  reasons and some other to mention. However, I had the time today and it so happened there was  an event to celebrate, I thought it was worth to join and be part of it.

I was impressed how  gentle my students were during dinner. Of them putting the food on my plate was very surprising. It should be natural for someone special to do the thing for me but of these men  in the military is really remarkable.

The seafood restaurant is really far from my  place, in fact I got to the venue in two hours and I was really late. However, it was meaningful as much as it was my first time also to eat a strange seafood.  Many call it kinda weird Thai seafood and  frankly, we never have the kind in the Philippines despite the fact that my country is  surrounded with sea waters. This is actually called horseshoe crab, it's "Maeng da Talay" in Thai and the translation in English is "pimp sea/ocean".  It didn't taste bad, neither good  for me but at least I have tried it. I ate it with spicy mango salad as I was told and it was fine. It has a distinct strong taste and smell and I felt like eating lots of small eggs.  I have no problem with it though but I won't try eating any horseshoe crab next time. I don't know I can't get rid of the thought of it being a bit similar to the predator's face...hehehehe.




On the other hand, I find this strange plant also in the restaurant, it's bizarre I can't call this bonsai or the like, the leaves for sure aren't normal. 


See? Today is really an extraordinary day or you may call it a night hahaha. ;))

Sunday, April 15, 2012

My first Sunday


I was excited today, it  has been days since I looked forward to this day as finally, I can attend the Holy Mass. For info, it's the Thai New Year that's so called -Songkran and so it's a long holiday in the Kingdom.  Last night was one of my greatest moods I spent hours "youtubing" listening to music I used to hear. I felt so elated singing with the melodies until I noticed that it was about two in the morning. As a result, I woke up late today, yes at nine. It was late as the mass schedule was at ten thirty and that meant I had limited time to prepare. Simply amazing, excited but late. Hahaha.!

But nope, I wasn't and I AM very thankful. I got  to Saint John's at exactly half past ten and fortunately, the Thai Mass has just finished so then there was a need to take time to prepare for the English Mass. It started at exactly eleven o'clock.

I love the Gospel, it speaks of FAITH and BELIEVING. It  is  for us to stop pursuing our OWN personal beliefs but  to BELIEVE instead that Jesus Christ is here. He was dead and He came back to life. The readings were the proof of His life after death when He appeared to His disciples and how doubting Thomas was changed.

I noted what father reiterated in the Homily. And that we all LIVE with WOUNDS. As Jesus showed his wounds and let doubting Thomas touched them. We live with wounds both inside and outside us.  And this does not limit to ourselves but we do live with wounds as well of the people we care for and those around us. But despite that fact, we shouldn't forget that it is the beauty of life and that we must realize what is it within us that gives more meaning to this life. Sure, the people around us contribute to the joys and meanings of our existence however if we learn to focus on our inner lights and seek happiness from within then we can value life's deeper meaning.

LIVING is dealing.  We never deal with anything dead or gone. We interact with those who are alive, and so God is within us and He is alive. That fact we must not forget. He died but He came back to life and so He is alive. We have to deal with Him and so our very OWN LIVES as we are all alive.

I thought I was so blessed hearing the good words and again, I'm so grateful making it to the church today. I headed to The Mall after for meal. Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to have my breakfast in the morning that made me really hungry after the mass, The Mall was the best place to go. I did first my grocery  then headed to my favorite steak restaurant. The queue was long and it took quite a time to have the orders served. To make it short, I had my meal at exactly two in the afternoon. I missed both breakfast and lunch today which I'm no surprise, I'm terribly in migraine agony this moment.

Nonetheless, I'm happy .

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Kirin Restaurant in Ekamai


I thought I had a good sleep but strange I felt like I was totally conscious all night! I wasn't tired though I just felt that I was awake. I never had this experience ever and I just find this odd. Anyway, I went to work today and as usual I did look for slices of papaya for breakfast but there was nothing available at Tesco. I ended up having spicy chicken in basil leaves and coffee. Classes went okay, except that one of my students got a bit impatient with himself. I always ask my students to redo their work when they don't get it right, that's how I stretch my patience and I have a strict rule, as when one can't finish the task then the student can't take any break or can't go home yet. I never want them to leave the room with anything unfinished except in some special cases.

Going back to my student, I was surprised he cried during break time. He wasn't the last one to finish the activity, in fact, there were two other students who weren't done after he completed his work. I heard he got worried on his performance and I told him it was okay. He went back to the classroom still in tears but I ignored the situation and just went on with the oral  practices. Glad he did participate and he did well. He felt a lot better when I asked the class to guess the correct answer and he did get it right. I heard the "yeeehheyy" and the tears were all gone. :)

Yes, that's how we deal with kids, it's challenging but we have to impose discipline and guide them well. We cannot deny that they have their respective characters and attitudes perhaps genetics and how they are raised but these things are reparable for them to make things right. It was just heart crushing when we were about to finish the class he said "Teacher, I'm sorry."  The sound of it, it's a music for a kid saying the word but honestly there was no reason for him to say so. He didn't misbehave, I knew he was disappointed with himself, he just have to deal with the fact that sometimes things go wrong, and there's no need to worry as he can always make things right with time.

I went to Kirin Restaurant in Ekamai after work. I actually purchased a voucher from Ensogo and that voucher  is expiring soon  so I decided to use it today. Funny, I've never been to Park Lane, from work it took me over an hour to get there plus a few minute walk from BTS Ekamai. I saw the signage and couldn't locate the restaurant. I asked some staff in some other restaurants down there and they said they didn't know where Kirin was. I was surprised! I went near the signage again and goodness it took awhile for me to realize that the restaurant is on the second floor! Hahaha, there! At last, I went inside, presented my voucher and had my "huge" order. I should say it was a GUILTY  meal at least for me!  I had too much food and the servings were dense. It was a great experience and I think the restaurant is worth the visit anytime. 

After the meal I walked  back to BTS Ekamai, went past Bourbon restaurant and saw some peeps having dinner in there. I thought one person inside resembled someone I know, it just took seconds to see the face, I was aware the man looked back but  again, I thought there was no need to thoroughly check or confirm if the person was someone I really know or just a familiar face, after all, I didn't want to see the face of that person at least for now.( Shrugging my shoulders.)

I took the bus, it was crowded and later a woman offered if she could help me carry my bag. She said she noticed my arm was already red  with the marks of  my bag's straps. I was thankful but told her it was natural for me to get rashes even by just holding something. I showed her my palm that was all red by just taking a grip on the bus. I thought she was really nice, I offer the same help to some other passengers who are in need. If  you're in Bangkok be not surprised when a man won't offer any set, nor help you carry with your stuff in a bus, you usually get simple kindness from women themselves.

 Finally, going back to Kirin hehehe.....here are the fotos.  :)


Yep, from work, bus ride and walking. LOL! :)

Nice view from where I was seated. Drink  was served. :)

Table for two, food for many and I'm eating alone. Verdict: Guilty! LOL!


I normally get a cup of  fresh brewed coffee after meal, I  had hot tea this time.. :)


Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Cheery


I woke up with a stomach ache today and in a second I  was worried as this was a big day for me. I had a schedule later in the afternoon and that I needed to project and do my best for it.  I managed to get out, it was pretty hot today I was sweating I could feel my back was soak. I went to Union Mall for lunch and took the time to relax.

It's kinda amazing seems the people I met awhile back were all nice. It's rare to see strangers smiling at you here in Thailand but I got lots of them today. I noticed though that they aren't Thai. Anyway, I headed to my appointment and I was fascinated on the kindness the people shared. Seems the people in the place are happy and contented with what they are doing. I could feel the warmth and the joy deep inside their hearts.

I did my work well, I was satisfied how  I delivered my task despite my stomach ache. I went to Central Lat Phrao after to reward myself for a job well done. Sets of earrings from Forever 21. :) I had Krispy Kreme sprinkles by the evening and it  caused my migraine attack tonight I suspect. Nonetheless, this has been a great day, just pleasing. ;)

Friday, February 24, 2012

MBA


Thanks God I'm feeling better now, the past two weeks have been very hard for me being sick, last Thursday was my first experience to be totally ill and this week's Monday was the first ever as well of me not being able to say anything. I got laryngitis as the effect of the FLU I got last week, my voice was lost and it was worse having a hard cough at the same time. Oh, well at least I am a bit better now though still struggling with cough.


Today is a no-meat-Friday for Catholics. I started this day with pineapple juice, fresh brewed coffee and wheat toasts. I might have that meal only for today I don't have plans yet to go out of my room. I haven't fully recovered yet.


My laptop is my best friend as despite the situation I can deal with it without worrying at all, and  the sickness doesn't stop me from reading, interacting and learning things from time to time. I've had had a few discoveries in the past days. I have learnt enough and I realized better things so to speak. For now, I still have a lot of questions in my head why some things happen and why do some people are far  worse than one could imagine. I looked into myself and suddenly  I felt there is this something that I want to accomplish.

There is a feeling of inadequacy and I am getting another ambition. Why do I desire to get an MBA? I love teaching, I'm good at it. I fantasize  exquisite cooking, baking, gardening and some other stuff working on my senses at the same time there is this longing of me of getting back to school.

What has been  happening with my life isn't really favorable, I cannot deny the frustration. I plan well, I know I do unfortunately some things didn't get well as I designed not as the result of my actions but of the people around who made some of them a failure. I'm not passing blame it is just is. Believing is a good thing and I have just proven that sometimes we tend to believe the wrong persons. We commit mistakes due to believing, having a bad judgment despite having good reasons, intentions and motivations do not guarantee good results or even the fulfillment  of one's goal. It's like investing and being happy about it only to find out that the one you've been invested in has been nothing else but FRAUD from the very beginning.


I still have to reclaim my goals, make another plans, for now I want to move forward, get better education if this means going back home to start fresh I should be ready and willing to take a step soonest. Yes, MBA. I mean it.


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

ASH Wednesday


Today is the first day of Lent which is called ASH WEDNESDAY. Christians, primarily Catholics go to Church and have our forehead marked cross with ashes. This reminds us that we are from dust and so we end up being one.  Humility as we say. This is not a ritual neither a  made-up activity for the believers. This is based on the old testament that reminds Christians of the values instilled by  faith. 

So what do we do in the season of Lent? We do FASTING  as abstaining from eating meat on Fridays though some have other sacrifices being pledged for the season. And not just that, this is the time to focus  on PRAYING  and ALMSGIVING. We believe in sacrifices, selfless actions and so helping the needy. These are the basic values we learn as well as praying for our heart's desires. Though of course we do pray and share our blessings every time, we  made this season of Lent recognizing the three practices.  More info on the video below.  



Here are also some worthwhile  articles on Ash Wednesday. Please feel free to read. :)


The Art of Giving, Share Ash Wednesday with Friends, Fasting and much more.
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/gian-lorenzo-bernini-the-art-of-giving-share-ash-wednesday-with-friends-fas/



Ash Wednesday, Fasting, Abstaining, and You.


Monday, February 13, 2012

RIP Whitney Houston


I've  always admired good music and good voices. Since I was a kid I've been into singing and for me it's my soul and passion, there is something within that forms each time I sing the notes and even just listening to them. I got this  singing talent from my father and I'm thankful my parents exposed me the earliest to music and even let me sang in events when I was very little. As I can remember, my first major performance was singing in our graduation ceremony in Kindergarten. I was just six years old then. And it went on to different programs and any other singing engagements  either alone or with choir.  I just stopped singing since I moved here, abroad.


As a music lover or just crazy about melodies, I definitely  have many singers that I look up to,  local or  foreign, group or soloist. Whitney Houston  has been one of my idols since in elementary days, her song "the greatest love of all" was a favorite. There was even a time my aunt invited me to their Christmas party  to sing the song. Oh such memories and then her "one moment in time" and the rest.

I have personal favorite vids of Whitney admiring her talent and skills. She is indeed a legend, no matter what had happened to her before her death, it never affects the beauty and what she had contributed to the music industry. Should I mention the lives she touched with her songs and voice? She will always be remembered and her voice along with her songs will always be touching  hearts. Rest in peace, Whitney...your 48 years on earth was good enough.





Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Memory refreshed - where I used to live


This is a pretty special day at least, I needed to go to bank for my ATM card replacement. The card is expiring in February and it should be changed. So I went to the branch in Big C, Saphan Kwai where I opened the account years ago. I used to stay in the area, in a sudden I missed everything! The place is no longer totally  the same as the last time I laid my eyes in there, the vendors, the vacant areas, some remarkable places and some buildings I used to drop by and so some special people. 

I remember the last time I left   Saphan Kwai I was in tears. I had a best friend in my old apartment - Mansion Sarasinee in Pradiphat 25, Bangkok who I really loved. He was a seven-year-old boy then, a half-German and Thai who used to live with his dad in the same building as the parents got divorced. I leanrt they used to live in Pattaya before they moved in the apartment. While his dad was busy with his stuff  and sometimes his "gay" girlfriend who owned a beauty parlor in the building, I and Alex used to play at the rooftop of the building of course with the dad's permission, gazing the stars, the city lights, story telling and more. We had so much great times I was undoubtedly attached to the boy I looked for him when I got home from work and in times I was free due to exams, I gladly spent my days with him in the building. 

But time came I had to move due to work, I needed somewhere closer to the university and for some other reasons. He was crying then when I said goodbye the last time I visited the former apartment. I tried hard to be strong and made it appeared I was okay but really ended up  bursting in tears when I reached the bus stop. It lingered how the little boy cried as I walked away.  The moment was just sad that the friendship had to end, and that time I wished he could have another friend he could play with as he was the only child in the building and I could no longer go back.

The feeling was strange today, though I went there primarily for the bank transaction there's something within that moved me in some ways. Perhaps, it's the refreshed of the events and times that used to be part of my routines in there. It made me smile looking at Black Canyon where I had some my meals, Swensens ice cream shop and even the restrooms. :)

I took the moment of stroll and just experiencing the place if that is the exact term, looking at people, the displays and the shops. I felt like  visiting the old apartment but in all the years that passed  I think I don't know anyone in there anymore, even the staff. And then I found out today that the shortcut heading to the building is no longer accessible, it's presently being under construction, it seems like a condominium.

My days have been very slow, I've been badly bruised and having the toughest times. This day at least is kinda different, the feeling isn't all good, it's just  varied from the usual.

Alex and I


Monday, January 30, 2012

Obama's mandating Law AGAINST the Catholic FAITH


No real Catholic is happy with this disrespect on the basic faith. It is surely odd to do things opposing to what one believes, there're coercion in there and  rejection on the fundamentals of what  people adhere to. Laws shape the society and human nature isn't complete without ethics and theology. I wonder if at least the two were considered before mandating this  kind of law. It's human nature to commit mistakes, as it is to desire for goodness and living away from this kind of offense. Someone is oppressing honor. I tell you, as a Catholic this is worth the fight. Here's the story.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- 



The Catholic Church is fighting mad with the Obama Administration, and nearly every Catholic sitting in a pew this weekend heard the reasons why.
The Health and Human Services Department recently announced it will require all employers (with few exceptions) to provide health insurance to their employees which includes subsidized contraception, sterilization and coverage for abortion-inducing drugs.
This meant that religious institutions, like Catholic colleges and hospitals, or other Christian institutions would  be compelled to violate their conscience by cooperating with that which they believe to be wrong. Currently many of these institutions purchase health-insurance plans which do not provide free coverage of these services. 

To give an analogy, it would be like the government mandating that all delis, even Kosher delis, serve pork products and then justifying it by saying that protein is healthy, and many Jews who don't follow Kosher laws and many non-Jews go to those delis. The law wouldn't technically ban Jews from owning delis, but it would effectively ban their ability to run them according to their conscience. 
Well, the Catholic Church isn't lying down and taking this. 
In thousands of parishes this weekend, Catholic priests read a version of the following letter to their congregation denouncing this decision as an attack on their religious freedom. Each bishop personally sent the letter out, and so there were some local variations. Here's the one read in the Phoenix Archdiocese. Here's another from the Bishop of Trenton.  What follows is from the Bishop of Marquette:


Monday, January 16, 2012

MOTHERHOOD and the Call to Holiness


I came across this reading today. I personally have high respect to  full-time moms. Getting a day busy for the family's needs and even without getting any compensation from it is admirable.  Much as this is a selfless vocation and so doing responsibilities and obligation both for husband and kids. This modern society tends to forget that moms not just grow children but RAISE them. And this can't be done without devotion and time.  Here is the article below I got from National Catholic Register. Trust me, it's worth the read.

-------------------------------------------


How staying at home helped moms understand their vocation. Jan. 15 issue feature.

Recently, the Women at NBCU (a marketing firm for NBC Universal) study found that 66% of moms said they would rather be a stay-at-home parent than a working parent. Additionally, the majority of employed moms (53%) feel that, while financially they need to work, they would prefer to be stay-at-home moms.

Long before she was married or even pregnant, Vicky Stone intended to be a stay-at-home mom. It didn’t work out that way. When she and her husband had their first child, her career was taking off. They had just purchased a house and couldn’t give up the income or benefits. “I think it came down to me being too young and selfish at that time,” she admits. “I couldn’t see the big picture.”

By the time she was pregnant with her fourth child, she had risen to the position of assistant county administrator for Camden County, N.J. She enjoyed the work but felt the overwhelming need to be at home with her children. “Working was coming at the cost of spending time with my family. I needed to re-evaluate my priorities.”

So she left the workforce and never looked back. Now, with seven children, ranging in age from 5 to 16, she knows she made the right choice. She discerned motherhood as her vocation and learned the unique way it sanctifies everyday life.

“God calls each and every one of us to holiness, but being a mother is a special blessing. Being a mother one is able to be his instrument in creation, his hands, as we help our children in all they do,” she says. “We demonstrate his love in our unconditional love for our children — and all of this carries through to not only our own children, but to all.”

Other Catholic women have faced similar challenges and discernment.

When Michelle Reitemeyer was working as a civil engineer, she believed she could balance both a large family and a demanding career. Married at 24, she had her first child at 27. She wanted to stay home, but, like many families, they simply couldn’t afford to lose the extra paycheck: “The reality was that we owed a ton of money from our private college education, and we hadn’t been overly prudent in how we spent our spare cash in our early marriage. I managed to keep my paycheck, but finagled fewer hours in the office and two days working from home.”

This approach didn’t work out too well, and a month before the birth of her second son, she made the decision to stop working and turn to motherhood full time. “Often, a woman works just to pay for childcare, and it makes no sense,” she explains. “Not in my case. Had I poured myself into my career, I could have made a lot of money. I was on an upward path, especially once my company added a commission to my base pay a few months before I quit. But, enticing as that was, I am an old-fashioned girl. I had dreams of waving goodbye to the kids as they left for school, spending my day cleaning the house and baking cookies, greeting them with smiles when they got home, and just having this perfect Leave It to Beaver life. I didn’t want other people to change my babies’ diapers, feed my babies bottles, or help my children with their homework.”

Mother of six Margaret Berns, on the other hand, always knew she would stay home to raise her family. “In fact,” she says, “I told my husband so on our first date. (The fact that he stuck around for a second date was very encouraging.) This is it for me: Raising my children is the most important thing I will do.” She left her job as a teacher in a small Catholic high school upon the birth of her first child.

Heather Price was also working as a teacher when she decided to leave her job to stay at home. Teaching is “probably one of the most family-friendly careers there is,” she says. “I loved it until I was a mother — then the joy paled to nonexistence. I decided to focus on my family when it hurt so much to drop my oldest off at her aunt’s so I could go to work. It seemed hypocritical to be teaching other people’s children and leave someone else to take care of my own. Then No. 2 was born when No. 1 was only a year and a half old, and the work to get out the door was just overwhelming. Between prepared-food costs, gas costs and day-care costs, I wasn’t making any money.”

Now Price is pregnant with her sixth child, and she and her husband are committed to “the spirit of sacrifice. I would love to make annual trips to France or even take graduate-level classes in art history or French; even a solitary trip to the grocery store, however, is a luxury. Sometimes I feel like I live in a cloister, with my only influence being through prayer, but I don’t know that I’m comfortable with that comparison. Those courageous women have made far greater sacrifices than I.”

For Berns, the call to holiness comes from “the love that I show my children and husband. Theoretically, this love will increase exponentially when my children leave the house — the ripples will expand; the faith will be shared. That is my great hope: that my children will all be emissaries of the King and will be inspired, not hindered, by what they’ve learned in our home.”
Some new mothers, however, find the image of the vocation doesn’t always match the reality. How can children be the means for a mother’s sanctification if they only make her irritable, tense and exhausted? Reitemeyer learned gradually that things do get better with age and experience.

“There were many evenings I wept while nursing a little one to sleep,” she admits, “and prayed to Mother Mary for the grace to be gentle and patient and kind. I still have a long way to go, but, certainly, I find it much easier now to speak softly or slow down to a child’s pace or laugh before scolding. Motherhood, well done, has no room for selfishness, impatience, sloth or cowardice. Every day brings new challenges that require exercising one or more virtues, and to boldly face another day is to get a bit stronger, better, holier. Certainly, there is the possibility of failure, of becoming apathetic, of remaining selfish and self-centered. And, surely, as the mother goes, so too will go the family, and thus the world.

“Holy women will tend to raise holy families, and since the family is the fundamental unit of society, the more holy families there are, the better our society will be.”

For Stone, the call to holiness in her vocation reflects the call of God to mankind. “When we become filled with his love,” she says, “we see others as his children. And just as we want to help our children attain their full potential, you can see how God wants all of his children to attain heaven. We feel the call to help others, as we should, on our path to walk alongside us as we strive to be more pleasing to him.”

Thomas L. McDonald is a catechist in the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey.