Book Nook

We had all the Little Golden Books as children: The Poky Little Puppy, The Tawny Scrawny Lion, etc. However, my mother hasn't been able to locate them. She was ather excited, then, when someone gave me The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey. It's a cute story of five little puppies who keep escaping from the fenced-in garden to go on adventures. One puppy, though, lags behind the others, alerting them to the fact of their mother making dessert. The speedy puppies rush home only to be tod they can't have dessert for escaping, while the poky little puppy comes home late and eats it. The tables are turned, though, when the speedy puppies fill the hole back in. . .

Sunday Snippets - a Catholic Carnival

Thank you, RAnn, for hosting the carnival. I haven't blogged a lot this week, but have continue my Book Nook series, this time with a book about Sesame Street's Grover Monster. I also mused about the power of words, and how I need to be more careful with my own words. Lastly, I gave a few comments on Scott Hahn's The Lamb's Supper. I hope your Lent is blessed.

The Lamb's Supper by Scott Hahn

Let me start with a bit of background information. I'm a convert to the Church; I was raised Southern Baptist. Some Southern Baptists can be quite taken with studying eschatology using one of the visions in Daniel and the book of Revelation. Such was certainly the case with an interim pastor we had, who ran seminars on that. I don't remember the exact details (I attended said seminars when I was in late middle or early high school), I seem to remember them laying out fairly specific time lines for the end times. Not that he gave an exact year, but a fairly exact timeframe once things got started. I enjoyed the seminars, for they seemed to make the book a bit less scary, for I certainly didn't understand Revelation.

By the time I went to college, I'd pretty much dismissed the rapture theology that was such a centrepiece of that pastor's eschatology. I took a New Testament class, and Revelation was covered in the class. Far from using the book to explain/predict the end times, the professor provided a letter from some early Christians (for the life of me I can't remember the details now) to show that they regarded the book as a sign of hope because we win in the end. S that was that, as far as I was concerned. My fascination with the book remained, but in the background.

With that background, I was intrigued by the description of Scott Hahn's book The Lamb's Supper, for it said it looked at Revelation being a description of the Mass. As it turns out, Hahn's description of his background concerning the study of Revelation somewhat parallels mine. Since he was a pastor, his education and background in it was more extensive, of course, but it seems he also focused on the end times. So I could relate to his experiences to an extent.

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What he said shouldn't be news to cradle Catholics who have received good catechesis (or at least that was my husband's take on it). But to me, it was wonderful. I agreed with Hahn that the other approaches/interpretations I mentioned above felt unsatisfactory because they were temporally limited, and Scripture should be applicable to all times, in my opinion. It's not that those interpretations are invalid necessarily, but that Revelation is more than just about the end times or providing comfort. It is both of those, and more.

I was really struck by the liturgical elements in the book. Other than readings at Mass, I haven't read through Revelation since my conversion, but I need and want to reread it now. I was amazed at looking at the ties between the liturgy and the book of Revelation. Turns out the early Christians saw this connection, too, from what I've seen thus far. It certainly gave an added dimension both to the book and to Mass. I highly recommend giving it a look. I really don't feel I can do justice to describing it, so you'll just have to read it. ;-)

The Power of Words

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me". Or so the rhyme goes, but I don't believe it. Years later, it isn't the skinned knees I remember as much as the careless words spoken by various people, either malicious or not. Words are powerful, and leave lasting impressions, for good or ill. I can remember becoming self-conscious about my voice and appearance as a teen due to comments from others (at least one was just careless, and at least one was manipulative).

I can also recall the kind words people have said, so words do not only have power to hurt, but to build others up. Of course, as a Catholic I am well aware of the good power of words, given that we believe God spoke the world into existence.

Having been a teacher, and now having children of my own, I am more keenly aware of the power of words. All too often I have hurt with my words, albeit unintentionally. It is usually a careless comment, too. I am aware now that I rarely out enough thought into my words to ensure they do not hurt. I pray I can be given the grace to do better with at, for, contrary to the rhyme, words can hurt, and their scars can last a lifetime. I do not wish to be the one through whom such hurt comes, but instead wish to speak charitably, kindly, making my words build up, not tear down. I fail a lot, but with e grace of God, it is possible. And I know I would give just about anything to keep from hurting my children.

Book Nook

The kids and I had a real treat last week. A lady at our parish approached me after Mass and asked if I'd like some books for the kids. As it turns out, she'd gotten a bunch of books from a library sale, and she let us go through them and take what we wanted. Among the books was the treasure of Down on the Farm with Grover. My children love Sesame Street, so I snatched that up immediately. I'm so glad I did! Grover is, as always, hilarious. Kieran and Charlotte both love the book and ask to read it frequently. If you can find it, I recommend nabbing a copy!

Sunday Snippets - a Catholic Carnival

Sunday again, so time for the weekly carnival over at RAnn's blog.  As usual, I discussed a book my children have enjoyed recently.  Attending daily Mass with my children can be an adventure, but I was given a nice reminder of how they pray in their own way thanks to our wonderful Monsignor.  I've also ranted a bit this week, lamenting the misinformation about breastfeeding that even comes from the medical professionals who should be supporting mothers.  And finally, I've worked more on Charlotte's cardy.  Only a bit more to go now.  I hope everyone is continuing to have a blessed Lent.

Crafty Thursday

This week has been spent working on Charlotte's carry, since her birthday is next. I've finished the left front and started the right front. I like to put things together as I finish the pieces, so I can see how it's looking, so I went ahead and attached the left front to the back and sewed part of the side seam. While their instructions say to bind off all the top stitches for front and back, I chose to put the back stitches on holders and then do a three-needle bind-off for the left shoulder. Today I got some cute buttons to go with it, too.