Our 11 month old has developed a pretty strong will – made of iron really; and in the past week he’s chosen to vocalize his passionate opposition to Bed Time. The Baby Bed Time To Dos will be totally checked (fed, burped, changed, soothed, medicated if teething, etc.), but as soon as he’s put down, he SCREAMS. Our modestly-sized home resonates with his inescapably powerful shrieks and Friday night, after a trying and very long week, I couldn’t take it. I was on the verge of a pretty big open-the-floodgates break down when my calm, resolute hero sent me from the house commanding me to enjoy myself and leave it to him. What a champ!
I indulged and treated myself to book store meanderings. I walked through the doors of Barnes & Noble determined to lose myself in the million other worlds offered on the shelves in an effort to explore something new. I wandered throughout the whole store, picking up any book that looked remotely interesting and by the time I submitted to the weight of my stack, I had about 15 books on me. Falling into a chair and sloughing my load into one next to it, I took my time paging through each book to my heart’s content and disregarded time and obligation according to my husband’s charge. It was a beautiful and freeing experience. I haven’t been to a book store or library in ages and my visit was long overdue.
I’m horrified by sharks, but terribly fascinated as well
photo by bryan scott photography
Here comes a confession though. All of of the books I picked up had something to do with Catholicism – devotions, autobiographies, explorations and essays on the Faith, etc. Every single book, but one. Among the small Christian library I selected from my wanderings was a giant photography book of the ocean. I examined my pile of undoubtedly good literature and settled on the ocean book to spend most of my time perusing and it was exciting! It had been so long since I’ve thought about, read, or looked at anything outside of the Catholic Faith and I found myself refreshed.
The point: Being a Catholic calls for knowledge of the Faith, for practice and dedication and prayerful devotion. I’m learning little by little to maintain a prayer routine throughout my day and to be in frequent conversation with God (working on constant) – to enjoy readings from the saints and reflections from other Catholic bloggers; however I lost sight of truly appreciating the rest of the world around me. Every CD was a Catholic talk, every book a biblical reflection or daily instruction. Most of my ideas for The Catholic Wife spout from occasions when I’ve been down, miserable or overwhelmed with good-ol’-fashioned Christian suffering. Granted, these things are good, but in immersing myself in Catholic things only, I neglected to see and relish in the world around me – the world which God created for man. Christian music is good, but it’s not the only good music just as Catholic reading is good, but not the only literature worth reading.
Being a Catholic calls for knowledge, practice, devotion, etc. It offers endurance in trials and hope in Christ, and allows for fullness of joy, too! It’s in being Catholic that I’ve learned to value God’s creation and to relish in the things often considered to be “outside of religion” by others. Happiness and contentment are not limited to religiosity, but are rather enhanced by it.
Very insightful and true! I appreciate your post as sometimes I feel guilty for not reading the bible at night and instead reading a book for “fun”. I’m 9 months pregnant, and also feel guilty for not reading “baby” books. Sometimes I just want to clear my mind with something completely different!
Agreed! Sometimes I NEED some “candy” reading!
I have to say that there are some pretty good Catholic/Christian fiction books out there that are both amazing reads and truly edifying to the soul.
Two that I’ve loved: Francine Rivers’ “Mark of the Lion” trilogy (so goooooood!) and more recently, some YA books by Regina Doman. Doman has rewritten a few Grimms’ fairy tales into modern days stories based in New York City. I loved the one where she replaces the seven dwarves with seven hilarious monks (“The Shadow of the Bear”).
On another note, I am SO sorry that you are dealing with a feisty baby right now. Babies screaming is one of the most painful, terrible sounds I can possibly think of. I get it and am praying for you. Praise God baby T is just about the cutest baby in the world! I bet that helps things a lot, right?:)