On my darker days, my motherly instincts were to pack the van and flee to a log cabin deep in the mountains. I imagined escaping the world to protect our children. Our society seemed hell-bent on addicting children through consumerism, drugs, alcohol, video games, pornography—–anything to make a buck off of innocence. I desired to enclose my little ones under the safety of my wings. St. John continuously reminds Christians of our reality; we do not belong to this world, but to the eternal …

Jesus calls us friends! He should have listened to these ancient words of wisdom: “Be careful of the friends you keep.” “Choose your friends wisely.” “Birds of a feather flock together.” I have often witnessed the magnetic pull of “friendship.” For good or bad, we begin to mimic the behavior of our friends. Fear strikes a parent’s heart when a beloved son or daughter starts hanging with a classmate who carries a bad reputation. I can not believe …

Remain in me… Remain in me … woo no other Remain in me … seek your true home Remain in me … rest in loving arms Remain in me … A branch bears fruit only when it remains connected to the vine … as a heart pumps only when it remains connected to the body or a bulb shines only when it remains connected to the socket Remain in me … A marriage bears fruit when remaining together—sharing embraces, planning futures, extending forgiveness, mourning sorrows, …

Baby Dominic attends daily Mass with his mom, Maria. The moment they are seated in the pew, Dominic disappears under his favorite blanket for morning nourishment. For months, several of us “older mothers” have taken turns holding, cuddling, and playing with Dominic after his breakfast ritual. However, at eight months, he now squirms the minute he realizes a “stranger” is holding him. He practically lunges toward his mother as she instinctively reaches for him. She delights in …

Bills loom. I find myself tossing and turning at night. I am deeply troubled over making ends meet. Then I hear a voice: “Why are you troubled? Have you ever gone without food on your table? Do you not know I provide for even the smallest of sparrows?” “Peace be with you; I am the Author of Life, who has been raised from the dead.” Words cut. Another argument—this time finances, that time chores, next time curfew. I am deeply troubled over struggling marriages, quarrelling …

I was excited to meet my friend for coffee. When she was a few minutes late, I figured no problem—I always carry reading material. Fifteen minutes after our scheduled meeting time, I became a bit agitated. Maybe I had the wrong time, wrong place. After twenty minutes, I called her house—no answer; her cell—nothing. After thirty minutes, I began calculating just how often she had been late. My insecure, jealous, negative self began trash talking: “Well, it just figures. She …

In early March I was shocked by the purple crocus heads already raised proudly toward the sun. They were declaring that winter had its shot, but not the final word – spring was coming! Crocuses always surprise, delight, and grant hope. Artist Mary Lou Sleevi writes poetically on the appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene on Easter morning: “In that private moment, crocuses clustered at Mary’s feet. Where flowers had dried among the rocks, earth previewed in color the Eternal Moment when …

Giggling and delighted, three-year old Gemma ran into the kitchen, “Mimi, Mimi!” Arms outstretched, she proudly presented a small vase jammed with treasure: plucked crimson tulips, snapped variegated violets, and a few, ripped off at the head, golden dandelions. Then she tripped, and disaster. The vase flew dangerously across the room and dropped to the ground. This precious offering broke into a multitude of pieces, and its cherished content lay dangled and drooped around it. Gemma’s …

Shortly before midnight, on a crystal clear evening, I glanced out the window and noticed the brightness of a nearly full moon. Its magnetic presence drew my eyes as beams of light thrust from its center in the form of a cross. The scene was as if the heavens were declaring the glory of God. Upon entering Jerusalem, with Jesus’ glory imminent, he proclaimed: “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” The cross, forever embedded in earth, stands as a …

On my first day as campus minister at Columbus Catholic High School, a wise, elderly priest came and sat in my office. Father Paul Steimel, beloved and revered, gently offered these words. “Mary, I’ve learned that you never have to try to change a student. Just love them and God will do the rest. Only God can change the human heart.” These words changed me—and my ministry; I was freed to simply love. Though I spoke and taught the truth, I was not to be in the business of judging …