This is my new favorite piece of artwork...
It's referred to as the "Polish Madonna" or as I refer to it, "Mary doing the laundry." I have often struggled with the thought of looking to Mary for help and guidance for this often-impatient, usually-struggling-daily mother of 5. I mean, let's be honest, she was Full of Grace and Jesus was perfect, what could be hard about that??
But God has a bigger and better plan for me...
He has been drawing me closer to the Blessed Mother and showing me the gentle, loving patience that I so desire to give my children and those around me. I have come to realize even more everyday that He is working on me and in me, through the people He brings to my life, namely, the kids. I have come to realize that each of them has been an answer to a prayer, for myself, to grow closer to Him. So, I thought I would share individually what each child has taught me, or what I should say, is what God is teaching me through my life with them.
But first, I want to share about what this painting means to me.
For so long, I have struggled with figuring out how to pray in my daily life. I've tried so many things, and I usually allow myself to get distracted by the daily duties of being a SAHM (stay-at-home mom). Honestly, the best prayer time I generally have is when I'm out of my house and in the silence of the church or retreat place, away from all that is "work". Makes sense, doesn't it?
Well, about a month ago, I started at "retreat" at home, (I read a book), and it helped me to think about one little thing each day, throughout the day, and it was great! But guess what? I finished the book & struggled to find a "routine" of prayer again.
Thank goodness for spiritual direction! This is where the painting comes in. As I shared my monthly thoughts with Father Craig, he started talking about this picture he saw at his last retreat about Mary hanging the laundry with Jesus at her side. I just knew I had to see it as he explained it.
Here is what seems like a simple picture of a lady hanging up clothes. But as you look at the little one sitting on the ground, you notice the little "glow" around His head, (often as Jesus, angels & saints are depicted.) Then, notice that He's playing with something...is it a stick? No, it's a Cross. (Even in His infancy, Christ is contemplating the crucifixion. OK, I'm just making that up...I really don't know if that's what it means.) So back to Mary, (and this is where it hits me), even in her daily chores, Mary's gaze, her attention, is on Jesus. It is in everything she does for Him and her family, she does so for the Kingdom of God. Her daily activities become her prayer, her offering, her sacrifice, her love...all for the glory of God. And so must I! Only I don't have to try to do it on my own, as I have been so stubbornly doing. No, I can bring it to the Blessed Mother, and she will teach me, guide me, love me the way any good mother would do for her children. And if I fall, she's there to pick me up and dust me off, take me by the hand and lead me to the Father.
So, why Mary? Why not go directly to the Lord? Well, I still can, but there are times I don't have the words, the focus, or even the right idea of what I need at that time. Mary takes my feeble offering, coats it in sugar and good stuff, puts it on a fancy platter and offers it to the King. Jesus didn't deny his mother. Scripture reveals that to us. At the wedding in Cana, after she told Him the wine was gone, He told her it wasn't His time yet, but it was at her request ultimately that the water was made into wine. (John 2:1-5)
So how is God working in me through the Blessed Mother? He is revealing His love for me. He is revealing my love for my family. He is revealing my purpose, His plan for me. He is showing me the love of a Mother. The love I desire to give to others. The example I want to follow. The work I'm here to do, no matter how simple...all while keeping my gaze on the Lord.
