Mommy, We Are The Sheep!

As a Mama and teacher at home, I often wonder who is actually doing the "teaching sometimes"...Me OR the children?

I suppose that sometimes it's BOTH.

More often than not, I find myself learning lessons about faith, life, and various school subjects, right a long with them.  

I know for certain that my children bring me closer to God, just when I need it the most.  It's either done via the knees (bringing me to them) or through some other profound lesson, one way or another.  I'm convinced that kids are God's special design to ensure you're never a slacker!  

They arrive promptly with a NO SLACK Policy.

Did I mention keeping up with them physically?!  

For the first time ever, we are up and running on bikes...minus one for the littlest.  It's the first time the majority of our family (6 out of 7) have ever been able to ride bikes together.  We are enjoying the heck out of our recent beautiful weather and racing with the wind:)

Lately, there's been lots to do around our house to wrap up the school year...The pinch is on here at home to finish book work...

(a rare precious brother-helping-brother moment)

*wink*

And finish a Mission project...

A bit of a race is on as we are aiming to finish the bulk of schooling here at home, simultaneously with our oldest son, who graduates from High School in 3 short weeks (don't get me started on the emotions that surround all of that)...So that we can take one final family vacation before he heads off to college...*sniff, sniff*  We are heading towards Yellowstone National Park over Memorial Day weekend, God willing.

(Did I mention an RV to pack)?

All of this has had me feeling a bit overwhelmed, not to mention the flood gates of tears that are starting to swing open at the most unexpected moments...

SO then there was Mass tonight and the Gospel Reading from John 15:1-8.  As it spoke about pruning us so that we may bear more fruit, I closed my eyes for a moment and prayed for God's proper pruning during this time of change...Our first child leaving home.  I whispered a silent "Oh Lord, keep me close to you..."

Seconds later, Jesus proclaims in this Gospel "I am the vine, you are the branches."   At those very words, spoken by the priest, our 4 year old looked up at me and loudly whispers:  "No, Mommy, We Are THE SHEEP!"

(:I smiled and quietly nodded to her:)

Oh those little ears that listen...Surprise, surprise, just when we think they don't get it.

Yes, we are sheep, just like we read in the Gospel last week.  How quickly I had forgotten those words from Good Shepherd Sunday, just one short week ago, yet she remembered.

Jesus tells us (J0hn:10) that He is the Good Shepherd and he will lead us and we will hear His voice.

The voice of my innocent little child pruned my branches for this day, this time, this place in life so that I may get the message...Yes, we ARE sheep.  Our Shepherd hears our cry and He will bring us rest...Flesh of His flesh and Blood of his blood, poured out to give strength to His weary sheep... See what I mean, NO SLACKERS ALLOWED!