Super Mom

When I was the chaplain at a Catholic hospital, I was privileged on many occasions to be able to spend time with sisters from the Daughters of Charity. I got to hear them at prayer, watch them worship together, hear their hearts for the sick and the poor and the grieving. I saw them in action. They were disciplined, structured, productive, and kind. They supported one another, and when they collectively put their shoulders to the wheel, the earth around them moved.

I also have had the honor to be the daughter of a force of nature. She is disciplined, structured, productive, and kind. She gathers friends like some people collect purses or shoes or baskets. She prays and studies. She has a lot to say. A lot of good, wholesome, deeply spiritual, and truly useful things to say.

“Thoughts from the Garden” is a chance to get her ideas and knowledge out into the broader discussion. You might hear a few of mine as well, but I’ll admit that at least thus far in my life I have been more about action and “doing stuff” than I have been about capturing my reflections in writing. I hope that as I intentionally spend time as Mama’s personal secretary that The writer in me will be nourished and cultivated.

As I was trying to pray one day, I was singing the old hymn , “Teach me to pray, Lord. Teach me to pray. Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Teach me to pray, Lord. Teach me to pray.” The answer came back as if on the wind.

“Go spend time with your mother.”

Got it.