Faith-Filled Realism for Moms
Posted by DariaSockey in Reviews on Monday, August 15, 2011 10:00 AM
The approach of a new school year, with its many changes after a long lazy summer, is often a good time to reassess and update the family’s spiritual life as well. In addition, the coming of fall weather makes many of us feel more energized and ready for new challenges. A new challenge you may wish to consider is Catholic Family Boot Camp.
This slender volume give 30 days’ worth of simple activities to help families learn to apply virtues to everyday relations with one another. The format is simple and open to adaptation. For each day, there is a single action item, e.g., “Make a list of things for which you are grateful” ; “make restitution for something wrong you have done” ; “return with love a habit that is driving you crazy.”
With this action item is a relevant scripture verse. This is followed by a short essay that should help parents to start a fruitful discussion and activity session with their children. The essays are not detailed lessons, but more like prompts or starting points. Parents will have to adapt the ideas presented to the different ages of family members.
Author Mary Lou Rosien has a knack for bringing the lofty topic of virtues right down to the nitty- gritty of family life, and apply the virtues in specific, concrete ways.
On Day 17, for example, family members are asked to look at something another family member does which they do not like, and then try to “see it in a new light and with love”. The author chose for herself her husband’s habit of leaving drawers hanging open. She decided to accept that this habit might never change, and that from now on she would imagine giving him a kiss with each drawer she had to shut.
Mary Lou is a mother of a large family, one of whom has an autism disorder. She is well acquainted with both the joys and stresses of family life. This devotional reflects a faith-filled realism that moms will appreciate.
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