Little Olympian

The Olympics have started. In this house they're on pretty much all day long. I love watching them. I love hearing the back stories. I love the camaraderie between the athletes, the teams, their moms. The moms... Don't even get me started on the "Thanks Mom" commercials P&G has put out!

As we started watching the competitions starting on Thursday night the kids were glued to the slopestyle competition. Instantly the boys were telling me that they wanted to learn how to snowboard. Thankfully we live in an area where a few flurries in the air send kids to the tv screen wondering if school will be cancelled.

As we watched athlete after athlete attempt the course most of them did so successfully. There were a couple who came through with a rough landing which incited an "Oh! That had to hurt!" shout from the boys. Then there was one that had a major wipeout. The Olympian was obviously injured and it was sad for me as an adult to watch as her Olympic dream ended before it really began.

While my oldest said, "MMOOOMMM! Did you see THAT?!" it was my middle little who said, "Oh My Gosh! I'm going to pray for her." My heart skipped a beat with pride. Then and there my four year old stopped and said a "Hail Mary" for her. We pray for people when we see an Ambulance fly by us on the street with lights and sirens blazing. Usually I initiate it, but not this time. This time it was all him.

On the drive to school on Friday we were praying and his intentions were for "Pope Francis and his family, Deacon Pete, that I can have a great day and for the person who skied and fell and got hurt." Then when we finished he asked if we could say another "Hail Mary" just for the person who got hurt.

Again last night we saw some boarders fall and get injured. My sweet guy stopped every time and offered up a "Hail Mary" for them. When I asked why he chose to pray a Hail Mary specifically over something like "God watch over that person that was hurt" he said, "Mary is Jesus's mom and mom's help people when they're hurt."

Oh sweet boy! How you help your mom when her faith starts to slump or hurt! I get so bogged down with the failures of life. I was stewing an hour before hand over his loud whispering during mass and his sister's crying. I felt exhausted and all I wanted to do was receive Christ and spend an hour as a family praising Him. Instead I felt like I had run a marathon and competed in a cross-fit competition. I keep trying to sow the seeds, but most days I feel like they're being blown way off the mountain. Then there's moments like that one. Moments where they get it. Moments where I feel like I suck a little bit less as a mom.

Thank you Lord for the moments like that. The reminders that I'm doing 'okay'. Thank you Holy Spirit for guiding their paths, for working in them when I don't see it all the time. Thank you for letting them see people who fall and get back up. And those that fall, stay there a while, then muster a smile or wave as they're being helped up. Thank you for filling their hearts with the fire of your love.