TKC!
My latest LifeZette article: http://www.lifezette.com/faithzette/raise-christ-centered-child/
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Inspirational thoughts
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends in Christ,
“Know yourself, accept yourself, better yourself.” (St. Augustine)
During my 10 years of caddying, I had my eyes set on becoming “Caddy of the Year” at Forest Lake Country Club. One of my older brothers, Jim, had reached this goal and for the first 9 years, I never quite “passed muster.” This award was based on your total number of loops (rounds) and double carries, and member recommendations based on your capacity to read putts, clubbing, hustle in finding balls and replacing divots, capacity to carry on conversations, etc…
It was a good thing for me to attend 9 award ceremonies and not win. Too many parents are concerned about their kids “self-esteem” and “confidence levels”…but learning how to lose and to come back stronger is a huge life lesson. I realized that more work was needed and the details mattered….riding my bike early around the course to gather the fresh pin placements, to go the extra round when your buddies would head off to the pool, studying the member’s game so as to know the right club to recommend, getting to know the greens inside and out, etc… The 10th awards ceremony was so much sweeter as a result.
Chivalry
I am always edified by the deferential treatment of so many good men towards their wives here in NY and during my time in DC, in so many details.
1. Holding the door or elevator, insisting that they go first, taking off and putting on their coats…
2. Offering the seat with the best view in the restaurant, and holding their chair back before they sit down, standing up when their wife excuses herself from the table.
3. Patiently and lovingly listening to their wife’s perspective in a conversation without cutting them off.
4. Offering to cook dinner, and standing up during the meal to pick up the plates and bring out the dessert.
5. Making a real effort to arrive home on time so as to have dinner as a family.
6. Publicly expressing gratitude to their wife for a great meal and a clean house, and for all the time and attention that she spends helping the kids.
7. Privately praising their wife with their co-workers (and priests).
8. For those who have stay at home moms, perhaps to say “There isn’t anything more valuable and more important that you do, than to raise our kids”
9. Always having his wife’s back with both kids and friend alike.
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
De-stressing kids
TKC!
A special thanks to Jen Roach who contributed to my recent LifeZette article below:
http://www.lifezette.com/momzette/help-kids-avoid-stress-crisis/
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Just do it?
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“There are some desires that are not desirable.” G.K. Chesterton
This nike ad has done so much damage. If it feels good, you probably should really question if you should do it, question the consequences of the action, and ask yourself how Christ would “feel” about it. True peace and happiness actually comes from practicing a little self control…
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
What is love?
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” CS Lewis
Love is risky and almost always involves being hurt, it means a lot of bending and compromising…but it is much better than locking yourself up in yourself. Give your neediness to God….then you will find it easier to give your unconditional love to others.
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Sibling Rivalries
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends in Christ,
”We must sometimes bear with little defects in others, as we have, against our will, to bear with natural defects in ourselves. If we wish to keep peace with our neighbor, we should never remind anyone of his natural defects.” –Saint Philip Neri
Siblings can be really tough on each other. A boy once told me, “Fr. Michael, my charity with my sister is going great, I haven’t spoke with her in 1 week, so we have had no problems at all!” I try to remind them that the home is truly a “training camp” of virtue and that Christ is their invisible brother who sees everything and blesses their efforts to live self control and kindness. Parents, please give your children this example!!
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Not annoying
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“Everyone feels benevolent if nothing happens to be annoying him at the moment.” CS Lewis
True virtue is tested when your feelings and emotions are not going your way, when things simply go wrong, and you feel the world is against you…this is the time to say, “Christ, I love you, and I will be a kind person, even now, when it hurts, with the hope of offering a little consolation to your Sacred Heart.”
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
End abortions!
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends in Christ,
“Abortion destroys the image of God. It is the most terrible plague in our society, the greatest killer of love and peace. Those little children still unborn have been created for bigger things: to love and to be loved.” St. Mother Teresa
Let’s pray not only for an end to an abortion, but also for all women who have had abortions. Their darkness, pain and emotional suffering often runs very deep…”Lord, please heal their broken hearts with the healing power of your merciful love!”
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Media usage
TKC!
Special thanks to Jay Hauck and Thomas Lloyd, my friends from Chevy Chase Maryland, who contributed to this article. http://www.lifezette.com/momzette/social-media-worries-for-kids-put-your-own-phone-down-first/
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC