Today’s Blog Tour Stop is at “Catholic News and Inspiration.” Patti writes:
“Sadness was not what I expected while listening to a popular Catholic speaker. His love of God and family bubbled over as he and his described a beautiful coming-of-age tradition when kids became teenagers in her family. That’s when it hit me. “Wow, our families are so different!”
Their event included relatives who called with affirming messages. I imagined trying to arrange the same thing among my relatives. First would be an awkward pause. Then: “You’re kidding, right?”
That realization hit with a pang of sadness. But quickly, my Catholic mindset shifted into gear. God gave me my family and he knows the challenges. Everyone’s crosses are different but we all have them.
That moment laid on my heart the sensitivity that many parents struggle with family challenges beyond their control. Friends have shared such pain with me after listening to good Catholic speakers then feeling salt was rubbed into their wounds. For example, at a Catholic high school, it’s a great idea to bring in speakers for a parents’ night to impart good family values. But inevitably, some parents will go home feeling sad for what they are lacking.
The Kiss of Jesus
It was that very realization of the pain and struggles in the lives of others that spurred Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, a popular author, speaker and EWTN TV host, to share her shocking past. I have known Donna-Marie for several years and knew parts of her story, but not all. I often thought, “She is so sweet and graceful, no one would ever suspect what she has been through.”…
