Constant Reminders

Did you brush your teeth?  Did someone feed the pets?  Is your bed made?  Have you straightened up your room?  Have you had breakfast?  Have you done your morning chores?  Are you ready for school?

Sometimes I wish that I had a “record” button somewhere on my body so that I could store all of those questions that I ask every day.  Then I could just press PLAY and it would all come spurting out without any effort on my part.  My kids are smart.  They know what needs to happen on a daily basis.  Why do I have to give constant reminders?

My kids are smart.  They know what needs to happen on a daily basis.  Why do I have to give constant reminders?

Do other moms have to give constant reminders?  There are lots of moms out there with more kids than I have and seem to run a tight household.  What is their secret?  One mom over at Raising Little Saints looks at chores the way St. Therese would view them.  It doesn’t matter how menial the task – do it with love.  Teri Maxwell over at titus2.com has a great article on children and chores.  She talks about some of the difficulties parents have when trying to get children to do chores.   In the long run, giving our children chores teaches them responsibility.  Don’t we want our children to be able to go out into the world prepared?  It falls on the mom to make sure that the children have chores, know what they are, and have the time to do them.   Then the mom must make sure that those chores are done well.  If they are not, then we must make sure the child does them again – albeit reluctantly.  So, really, who is the reluctant one – the mom or the kid?

Teri reminds us of what St. Paul told the Galatians (6:9), “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest if we do not give up.”  So if I constantly remind my kids to do what they are responsible for, in due time, will they become responsible adults?  Don’t give up, do it in love, and we will persevere.  This reminds me of a song that we are singing at Mass this weekend, Feb. 20 – Ubi Caritas.  Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est translates to, “Wherever we find true charity, God is there.”

We only have to look around us to see God’s constant reminders that He loves us with abounding love.  I have five beautiful, healthy children, a fantastic, loving husband, terrific family all around me.  We have a church where we can go to praise Him whenever we want, a priest to offer us the Body and Blood of Christ, friends who share our faith.  We have all that we need to live a more-than-comfortable life. God doesn’t get tired of giving me those constant reminders.  He reminds me every day of how blessed I am.  I will not grow tired – well, maybe on some days.

So why do I have to give constant reminders?  It’s my job.  No, it’s my vocation, and God has called me to this vocation.  I love it and will strive every day to do it to the best of my ability – over and over again.