By Fr. Justin Fulton
Where would we be without women and motherhood? Where would we be?
I don’t know about you, but around this time of year I sure could take a nap. Especially during this year of pandemic. This time of year is filled with stress. Bills. Planning. Online shopping. Due dates. Finals. Tests. We are stressed. We are stretched. We are tired. Many feel like crying. We could all use a nap.
I suppose when we were first born we were crying and we could have used a nap. And then when we were held for the first time by our mothers, we became silent. We were satisfied. We were at peace. We knew we were loved.
Here we are a week from Christmas Day. We are tired and cranky. Some may even want to cry. Perhaps we should take a rest in our Mother’s arms—our Blessed Mother’s arms.
Can you imagine what she must have felt during that first Advent? Mary was a young Jewish woman, probably in her early teens. Physically exhausted with pregnancy, emotionally and mentally drained as well, fleeing daily from judgment, ridicule, and perhaps death granted she was not married. Yet, she carried Peace inside of her womb. She carried Jesus. She rested with Him, knowing all was going to be okay.
We can learn a lot by resting in Mary’s arms right now. Perhaps you can talk with her and her Son about the tiredness you are experiencing. The stress you are under. Your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual anxieties.
As we enter this final part of Advent let us give thanks for all of our mothers. Their sacrifices too often go unnoticed and unappreciated.
We are grateful at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska to help mothers who are fleeing from danger just like Mary at St. Gianna Women’s Homes. We help mothers and fathers daily with distributions of diapers, formula, and personal care items and toiletries. We help mothers and fathers provide food for their families with food pantries.
We provided families across the state with Christmas dinner baskets. We help mothers and many others with our telehealth and in-person counseling services. We are helping mothers and fathers with presents this year for their kids at Christmas. We are proud to do so because we understand the dignity mothers and fathers hold and the responsibilities they carry.
We invite all of you to talk with our Blessed Mother Mary during these last days of Advent. Think about talking with her and asking how she persevered for that first Christmas Day. And perhaps have a chat with St. Joseph as well—not once does he speak in Scripture. Yet he still has a lot to say in prayer.
May St. Joseph the Worker and Our Lady of Consolation pray for you and yours during these last days of Advent.
Thank you for your prayers and support of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. May God bless us all!
