I am called to be a disciple of Jesus. Being one of the sheep of Jesus’ flock, I am expected to tend to that part of the flock which Jesus entrusts to me by caring, loving, and protecting them. Isn’t that the role of a mother too?

I am blessed to have an active Mom in her 80s who refuses to feel old, worn, weak and worthless. Instead, she embraces each day to its fullest in mind, body and spirit. Her secret: she starts her day off with a cup of coffee and a crossword puzzle. She continues on to attend daily mass to count her blessings. She volunteers at mass as a greeter and a money counter. Each nice day she either plays tennis or goes for a walk. On rainy days, she plays Rummy Cube or Mahjong. She also prides herself in her daily work for an estate sale company where she enjoys sifting through other people’s junk and life’s treasures and promising that she’ll never become a hoarder! She also enjoys waitressing for parties at the Elks Club. In the afternoon, she reads by the pool, catches up on family photos posted on our family iCloud, and talks to everyone around her. She goes out dancing once or twice a week. And, she’s happy!

My mom raised 5 children close in age. She ruled with an iron fist. I put her rules to the test, but in the end, I mostly conformed. I learned a lot about being a Mom from my Mom. I’d like to think that I took the best and left the rest. My own 3 kids were also brought up going to church, religious education, active in our church Youth Group, being kind, serving others, having a home cooked dinner every night, praying together, enjoying breakfast together, going on family vacations, doing chores around the house, visiting relatives and being good students.

At OLC, I am often a 2nd Mom to the teens that are in our Youth Ministry Program. I am expected to tend to them, the part of Jesus’s flock that He entrusts me with by caring, loving and protecting them. Like on the Antioch Retreat this weekend. I started working with teens, right out of high school. I’m guessing that I’ve had an average of 100 kids per year come through my part of the flock. I pray that in some way, I was able to help shepherd each of those 40,000 sheep along the way! Those I remember the most are those who strayed but were guided home and those who also learned to shepherd His flock! I am grateful. I am blessed.