FIRST FAMILY

Snippet

The family was ordained of God, that children might be trained up for himself.  The family was before the church, or rather, the form of the church.  Pope Leo XIII

Scripture

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord,[a] for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth. Ephesians 6:1-3

Song

First Family  Rich Mullins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUqA5aEKTys

My folks they were always the first family to arrive

With seven people jammed into a car that seated five

There was one bathroom to bathe and shave in

Six of us stood in line

And hot water for only three

But we all did just fine

Talk about your miracles

Talk about your faith

My dad he could make things grow

Out of Indiana clay

Mom could make a gourmet meal

Out of just cornbread and beans

And they worked to give faith hands and feet

And somehow gave it wings

I can still hear my dad cussin'

He's working late out in the barn

The spring planting is coming

And the tractors just won't run

Mom she's done the laundry

I can see it waving on the line

Now they've stayed together

Through the pain and the strain of those times

Talk about your miracles

Talk about your faith

My dad he could make things grow

Out of Indiana clay

Mom could make a gourmet meal

Out of just cornbread and beans

And they worked to give faith hands and feet

And somehow gave it wings

And now they've raised five children

One winter they lost a son

But the pain didn't leave them crippled

And the scars have made them strong

Never picture perfect

Just a plain man and his wife

Who somehow knew the value

Of hard work, good love, and real life

Talk about your miracles

Talk about your faith

My dad he could make things grow

Out of Indiana clay

Mom could make a gourmet meal

Out of just cornbread and beans

And they worked to give faith hands and feet

And somehow gave it wings

Sentence Prayer

Dear Lord, today I turn to you to give you thanks for my mother. With your own gift of life, she bore me in her womb and gave me life. She tenderly, patiently cared for me and taught me to walk and talk. She read to me and made me laugh. No one delighted in my successes more; no one could comfort me better in my failures. I am so grateful for how she mothered me and mentored me, and even disciplined me.

Please bless her, Lord, and comfort her. Help her loving heart to continue to love and give of herself to others. Strengthen her when she is down and give her hope when she is discouraged.

Most of all, Lord, on this Mother's Day, give my mother the graces she most needs and desires today. I ask you this, in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior forever and ever.

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Mothers/?pagewanted=all#Gratitude