 I’m participating in the Keeping LOVE in LENT Blog Link-Up 2013, hosted by Raising (& Teaching) Little Saints, Truly Rich Mom and Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families. We'll be sharing different ways, tips, stories and real-life experiences that will help us focus on Lenten sacrifices, prayer and good deeds, and how to carry them out with LOVE instead of a GRUMBLE. Please scroll down to the end of the post to see the list of link-up entries. Okay... so this particular link-up entry almost didn't happen. It's barely here now (hence the title). I was looking forward to sitting down to write about purificators, the sacrifice of Our Lady, SOMETHING inspiring or fitting for Lent. Instead, I'm a jumble of grumble and that's about as far from the Holy Road as it gets. So I sat at my screen trying to write about the Stations of the Cross. I had a great lesson with my 6th grade CCD class explaining this prayer. Nope. For as awesome as my class was, what happened AFTER class caused such anger within me that all I could think about was bashing my head into a wall. Terrible, right? As a result, I almost removed myself from the link-up. I didn't think it right of me to participate when all I had to offer was ire and crankiness. So I took some time away from the computer, put my little one to bed, and laid next to him as he fell asleep. I was still stewing over the conversation. After class, as I watched my kids trickle away one by one, a parent stopped me about her child's report card. Mind you, report cards were given out a couple weeks ago. She immediately got in my face accusing me of not contacting her regarding her son's lack of homework (I'd marked his grade as unsatisfactory). I calmly pointed out I'd attempted to, three times, but was unsuccessful each time on account of her phone line (no voice mail or answering machine). This parent had also neglected to fill out the cards I'd sent home in the beginning of the year requesting e-mail addresses / alternate phone numbers. Finally, with her STILL accusing me of ignoring the issue since I apparently could've "tried harder" to reach her, I pointed out - ON THE REPORT CARD she had signed- that I'd requested contact information be submitted to me as I wished to speak with her regarding her son's progress. Even after having the proof stare her in the face, she continued to huff - PUBLICLY - and make a scene in front of the building. It took a lot of willpower not to react in a vicious manner as I was both angry and embarrassed at the very untrue accusations.  So why am I still writing about it? Why did I decide to stay part of the link up? Well, as I was laying in bed with Vince, I said a begrudging prayer "giving" to God my frustration in the hopes He could use it for something beneficial. As if by lightning, I thought of Jesus as He stumbled up Calvary and remembered all the folks who shouted awful accusations at Him. I realized that time and again Jesus had attempted to reach out to these folks through His many teachings, healings and miracles, but still they neglected to care. My experience with the angry parent tonight was not even a fraction of the indignation Christ endured on the Way of the Cross. Yet I understood the frustration Christ no doubt felt as His people mocked Him and hurled terrible insults at Him as He walked towards Golgotha. There He was, having emptied Himself through love, innocent of any wrong-doing, and still He was crucified like a criminal. So reflecting on my ire, I saw myself in the parent as I egged on Christ through my obstinece. Each and every sin I commit is like a kick to His Ribs. Every word I speak out of turn is a cruel insult as He struggles under the weight of the Cross. How could I pity Christ crucified when I, myself, am the one who many times does the crucifying? I leapt out of bed, then, as the realization struck that the parent was sent to remind me of my own part in the Way of the Cross. I can either be Simon and help Christ carry the load through following His Path, or I can be one of the mob who gathered to jeer, spit and ridicule Him. That sobered me up and I recollected myself with prayers seeking the grace to steer back towards the Way of Christ. As of now, I have no anger. It has dissipated and I have to admit being thankful for the experience. So I guess my Lenten advice is to offer any and all frustrations to God. He'll know what to do with them. He always does. :) Have a blessed Lent, everyone! Oh, and since you've all been kind enough to stop by, check out the Big Lenten Giveaway I'm hosting. 16 wonderful items to help you or a loved one on their Lenten Journey! :) Thanks for stopping by!  Check out the Lent reflections participating in the Keep LOVE in LENT Blog Link-Up 2013! We'll be sharing different ways, tips, stories and real-life experiences that will help us focus on Lenten sacrifices, prayer and good deeds, and how to carry them out with LOVE instead of a GRUMBLE. Discover new Catholic Blogs to follow! Equipping CatholicFamilies: Keep LOVE in LENT Call Her Happy:40 Simple Lenten Activities for Kids Lenten Love: Little Acts of Love Building Rocks Grow the Roses: Keep Love in Lent Family At The Foot Of The Cross: Loving Service Catholic Homeschooling Joy: A Lenten Activity JOY:Keep the Love in Lent Twenty Tuesday Afternoons: Tuesday # 11: Pancake Tuesday / Keeping Love in Lent Campfires and Cleats: Why a Failing Lent Really Isn't Harrington Harmonies: Make a Lenten Holy Hour A Mommy of Three:Good Deeds for Lent Loving the Semi Country Life: Lent:special time to reflect and keep the love in lent Written By the Finger of God: A 7 Step Lenten Plan Mommy Bares All: Giving Up and Making Space for Love this Lent The Irish Lassie Shop: Seek God Everywhere Hand-Maid with Love: Living Lent, Loving Lent Words On Heaven: IN THE DESERT FOR 40 DAYS On The Way Home: Keeping LOVE in Lent Homeschooling with Joy: Keep Love in Lent Mountain Grace: Keep Love in Lent Eyes On Heaven: I am Choosing to Live Joy Alive in Our Hearts:"God's Love at Work" Life of Fortunate Chances: Love is Fun: Keeping Love in Lent Fifth of Five: Keep the LOVE in Lent I Blog Jesus: for Praying our Loud! Overflow: Loving Lent with Little Ones This Cross I Embrace: Keep LOVE In Lent Sole Searching Mamma: 15 Ways to Experience a More Meaningful Lent Catholic All Year: My Biggest Lent Fails and How I Learned Mortification... Four Little Ones: Keeping Love in Lent Gaels Crafty Treasures Keeping Love in Lent Bear Wrongs Patiently: Lent for the Scrupulous Rosary Mom: Keeping Love in Lent LoveLetters 7.10: Teacups {Keeping the Love in Lent} Little Saints in the Making: Keep Love in Lent Blessed with Full Hands: Keeping love in Lent- Praise Him Normal Chaos: Our Own Personalized Lenten Journey These Little Blessings: Gifting Love this Lent The Cajun Catholic: The our Father; a lenten reflection Truly Rich Mom: Keeping Love in Lent... Even When It Is Difficult GATHERING GRACES:Keeping LOVE in LENT SaIsa Pang Sulyap - Fullness Of His Love LiturgicalTime: Keeping Love in Lent - Finding Balance Grace Loves Iggy: love in lent Sacred Oysters: Empty (Keeping LOVE in LENT) Tercets:Make Heart Rosary Decades to Pray for Others The Diary of a Sower: Our Lenten Prayer Tree
17 Comments
2/20/2013 06:17:44 am
Some of the very best posts are crafted from self-recognition in those ugly moments - thank you for sharing your account, and, you were not alone in finding it difficult to write the post for today due to feeling too grumbly :) As a teacher myself, I really understand your situation; it is difficult to let go of that frustration when others blame you for their own lack of action. As you say, God knows what to do with those feelings, but it is up to us to remember to offer them to him. I was especially touched to read the correlation to The Way; how many times have I jeered at Jesus instead of helping him? Something to seriously think about. I cannot agree more with "So I guess my Lenten advice is to offer any and all frustrations to God. He'll know what to do with them. He always does." I, too, have faced some frustrations already this Lent due to other people's actions and reactions, but more, so, my own choices and their fall out. Reflection has been KEY to helping me learn, access and share honest LOVE once more. 2/20/2013 08:53:27 am
What a gift the Stations of the Cross are for us! Thank you for sharing, I am always inspired stories of how others handle these frustration situations! They are so difficult to let go of without Christ's help.
Bee
2/20/2013 12:57:50 pm
Your story reminded me that I had a very similiar experience when I was teaching 4th grade CCD years ago. I did not get angry though. I felt very sorry for the mom, who seemed more concerned about her child's unsatisfactory grade than why the grade was given. I also felt sorry for the child, because I could see the behavior that earned the grade was a kind of cry for help and acting out to get mom's attention, and it was not working. (Because I really hate it when people are too vague and I can't judge the situation for myself, I will tell you besides never being prepared or doing the homework, the child was drawing very pornographic images in his CCD book and showing it to the other children.) I also could not contact the mom and only got a visit after the report card needed to be returned. When I told her what was happening, she denied it could be true. He had subsequently torn the cover and offending pages from his book. Anyway, I was not very bothered by the dressing down, and shrugged it off, because I was more concerned for this troubled woman and her son than I was for myself. But you are right, our own pride often wants to defend ourselves against untrue accusations, and only by looking into the blood spattered face of our crucified Lord can we see by His example how we are to act. You know, the servant is not above His master. If they did it to Him, they will do it to us. It is a good lesson for lent. 2/21/2013 12:59:32 am
What a moving and humbling post. Thank you for decided to participate. I needed to read this today. God Bless 2/21/2013 04:59:27 am
Gina, you've shown us a way to offer up so much without a craft. Thank you. I'm going to do the same...now watch as my frustrations rise. 2/21/2013 07:16:22 am
Thank you for your post, Gina. :) It's a great reminder for us to offer everything up to the Lord. :D I especially could relate to this:
Yes, it's good that you didn't let that incident take over your desire to participate. God touched you and convicted you in your own role in the Way of the Cross. We all need to be reminded of this because we are all guilty of putting Him there. I appreciate you sharing your struggle with us because we're all frustrated and angry at times. I often pray that God reveal to me what I am doing so I don't keep fueling my frustration or anger. It's so easy to do and then becomes sinful when it takes root and grows. 2/22/2013 02:43:39 pm
I love the name of your blog. Your voice reflects an honesty about struggle and reliance on Christ. Thanks for not pulling rank. God Bless. 2/23/2013 03:26:33 am
I'm so grateful that you decided to take place in the link up. I am blessed by this post, thank you so much. I think this is my favorite post of the linkup. Probably because it REALLY hits home for me. I started my blog after something similar happened to me (a very public, and mostly unwarranted, dressing down, followed by a sudden and undeserved gift of understanding and peace, mostly, I do still get that little surge of adrenalin when I see her!).
Stopping over from the "Keep Love in Lent" link-up...
First, thank you for the committment to progagate the Faith! I've been a CCD teacher on and off for 30 years - currently teaching First Communion children for the past 9 years. So I know first hand the temptations and spiritual battles you face. Keep it up, and don't be disheartened...sounds like many good things have come from your suffering. You have shared with us a very good Lenten "activity", one we could never arrange, but one we can certainly prepare for! Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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