March 23, 2010 4:40 PM
Warrior moms: picking ourselves back up
I know it's hard to watch the collapse of our country, the trashing of our Constitution, our values, our faith, our traditions. Who knows what the future may hold?
Some of you have written to me that you are depressed. Depressed is a label the enemy would like you to hang on yourself because it's a label that strips you of your power.
You're really not depressed. You're grieving and probably tired. It's okay to feel that way for a while. Go ahead and cry if you need to. Let yourself be emptied - and ask God to fill you again.
I will be posting encouragement over the next few days. Remember we are in Lent and next week is Passion Week, which will culminate in celebration as we remember Jesus' Resurrection. He died for us to bring eternal life, and that resurrection power is always available to us.
At this point, the battles we fight are not political but spiritual. We need to be building ourselves spiritually and making sure we are prepared for anything in the days and years ahead. We need to be communicating the truth of our situation to our children and equipping them to live and thrive spiritually and emotionally no matter the circumstances that lie ahead for them.
We are mother warriors. Our weapons are not like those of men in the battlefield, but our sense of purpose and resolve must be polished and ready just as soldiers' are. We must try harder to be good stewards of our time and resources. We must set our personal goals just a little higher and make our hearts a little purer to bring all we can to our calling to educate our children (whether you homeschool or delegate part of that responsibility to government schools).
Most moms' biggest weakness is depression. When times are tough, you can't afford to give in, you need to reject that label. Your family needs you. Your church needs you. Your community needs you. Your country needs you.
Just keep looking for positive encouragement. Let God build a stronger mother in you so that you may better serve your family and children.
We don't have any power over the people in Washington. Those of us who are called to action should be active. Those of us called to pray should pray. But all of us should do our best to realize our potential as mothers and to serve. It is in doing the small things - day after day, year upon year - that we will raise a generation stronger in understanding and character. And, God willing, that is where the victory will like
We need to pick ourselves up - day-by-day and sometimes even moment-by-moment - and remember:
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Comments
Thanks for this post, Barbara. It is a welcome breath of fresh air when the things in the news are so negative. I appreciate you.
--Tracey
Posted by: Tracey K | March 23, 2010 6:28 PM
You have no idea how much I needed that - but not about the current political situation - although that's disheartening as well. The last two weeks I have been struggling as I have realized my 11-yr-old son's bipolar is much worse than I had previously realized. And it has hit me HARD.
This brought tears to my eyes: "You're really not depressed. You're grieving and probably tired. It's okay to feel that way for a while. Go ahead and cry if you need to. Let yourself be emptied - and ask God to fill you again."
I am printing this off, crossing out "people in washington" and writing in "mental illness" and sticking it on the fridge to remind myself.
Thank you.
Posted by: Susan M | March 23, 2010 8:25 PM
Thanks Barbara for these words of encouragement. I know I certainly needed to hear them. Your words are so true, and it was so good to get that reminder, especially at a time when it is all too easy to forget.
Posted by: Donna | March 23, 2010 8:49 PM
Barbara,
Thank you for your encouragement. It is so easy to let the events around us send us into depression. We take our eyes off of Jesus and forget who holds the universe in His hands. So often because we are moms we forget to cry. We hold ourselves together for the good of the family. Thank you for reminding us that it is ok to cry. Blessings to you as we fight this battle on our knees.
Posted by: Susan P | March 23, 2010 10:30 PM
Thank you... we need to encourage each other. I came here for some uplifting company and you provided it. God bless you. May we never give up standing up for what is right.
Posted by: gracee | March 23, 2010 10:57 PM
Thank you.
Posted by: A Mac and a Mug O' Joe | March 24, 2010 8:23 AM
What a great and inspiring post.I needed it this morning.I think you are SO right that we need to reject this label of "depression" and keep our eyes and hearts focused upon Jesus.Thank you,Barbara.
Posted by: Joslyn | March 24, 2010 8:39 AM
Thank you for this! It is exactly what I needed this morning.
Posted by: Wendy in VA | March 24, 2010 10:05 AM
Amen, sister!
There is no better time than now to consecrate our families to Jesus and Mary.
Next month is the grand opening of the new Planned Parenthood facility in downtown Houston. It will be the world’s second largest abortion facility. Knowing this, and with the recent passage of the healthcare bill, there is no doubt that the spiritual battle will intensify. We are not fighting laws or lawmakers; rather, our fight is “against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6).â€
We believe that homes who enthrone Jesus and Mary as King and Queen of their family will receive many graces and protection, in the same way that the Lord passed over homes who painted their doorposts with the blood of the lamb.
"Then they shall take some of the blood [of the lamb], and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat them... For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." (Exodus 12)
My husband and I are encouraging families to enthrone Jesus and Mary in their home. This enthronement can be done formally through us (the Alliance of the Two Hearts which is present in Cali, Texas, Nebraska, Georgia, Virginia, DC, all over the US and internationally) or through many other apostolates, such as the Heralds of the Gospel. While there are enthronement prayers that can be downloaded through the internet, caution should be used; we encourage formal home enthronements through apostolic movements because we have rubrics and prayers that have been formally approved by the Church.
Nothing is required of the families for the enthronement. We can even enthrone homes that have not been blessed – even non-Christian homes (our apostolate has enthroned many Muslim homes).
Please prayerfully consider the enthronement for your family, and kindly help us spread the word.
Because if we can save our families, we can save the world.
Posted by: Con Jr | March 24, 2010 11:34 AM
Thanks. I needed that.
Posted by: Diane | March 24, 2010 12:05 PM
Thank You and God bless You!!
Posted by: Kathy | March 24, 2010 10:25 PM
Thank you for this post. I was "unfriended" by several acquaintances this weekend when I posted pictures of me protesting at the Capitol on Saturday against the dreaded health care bill. They were appalled to find out I was a "teabagger." There are so many lies being told about us just because we refuse to submit to this ghastly opression. It was implied that we who attended this protest are racist, liars, without compassion and selfish. It has been a shock to see how quickly people can turn on you when you speak the truth.
Posted by: Deb | March 24, 2010 11:06 PM
You are awesome, Barbara! Thanks for the encouragement!
Posted by: Rachel | March 25, 2010 7:47 PM
