A little Grace

No, I don't mean my little (well, relatively speaking for 5 feet tall "little") Grace.
Today was just one of those days where you would really like to just hit the start over button.  Forget the easy button today. 
You know, every time days like this happen, I'm reminded of God's grace.  My family and I pray the rosary every day and I really try to teach the kids to really meditate, (OK, I say "think") on the mysteries we're praying about in Jesus' life.  Today is Monday.  You typically pray the joyful mysteries today.  Well, I have found nothing joyful about today.  Matter of fact, between someone having a classic terrible twos temper tantrum in Target this morning, to the nutty people of New York, who I am CONVINCED have a closet full of spare cars, who drive like they have nine lives, to the woman at Wegman's, all alone, shopping peacefully with no children, who was less than kind as I tried to lasso two dozen containers of yogurt into my cart and wrestle with that blasted toddler. I was having a pretty hard time finding the JOY in today.  But the mysteries of this particular part are my favorite.  The annunciation, when the angel Gabriel came to Mary and said she would be with child.  I pray especially for the grace Mary had when she accepted the greatest birthing challenge of the millinia in my sight.  I think I have it rough.  What she was undertaking is mind boggling to most. 
The Visitation.  While with child, Mary traveled to see her cousin Elizabeth.  Traveling was no easy task.  You walked or rode a donkey.  Sometimes us moms think we're dying when we walk across a parking lot in the heat of the day.  We should really contemplate Mary's "walk" to see Elizabeth. And not only that, but that John the Baptist leaped inside of Elizabeth.  HE KNEW HE WAS IN THE PRESENCE OF A GREAT KING, in the womb!!!  What a PRO-LIFE statement!  wow.
The Birth of our Lord is the third joyful mystery.  What a profound mystery to ponder.  Jesus' birth.  In a dark, dirty, animal filled glorified barn.  You know what animals do. It was probably pretty darn stinky in there.  Why be born in such filth and lowliness?  To show us how Jesus came to save us all.  Not just the righteous and holy, but those who are poor, lonely, homeless, loveless, drug dealers, prostitutes.  The lowest of the low.  Another wow.
The fourth mystery is the Presentation in the Temple.  All children were presented in the temple after their birth and what makes this mystery so great is the news Simeon gave to Mary.  A sword would pierce her heart, too.  Can you imagine?  Knowing your son would die.  Knowing people would kill him?  I have only one son, and I would just die knowing one day someone would actually kill him on purpose.  Pondering this mystery, I pray for patience in dealing with my children.  As difficult as five children may "perceive" to be to some, it's just as difficult for me with my five as it is for you with your two, or one, or four.  And to be quite honest, this mystery makes me actually pray more for the courage to have more children.  I would love to have another child.  What stops me?  My pride.  I am made fun of most every day I'm in public and it begins to wear on you when you are constantly bombarded with the questions, wow, are those all yours? You know how that happens right?  Are you "done?"  You can do something to stop having babies.  Well, I can't.  Because you see, having my husband basically mutilate his God given gift to have children, or mutilating myself, or taking something that interferes with Natural Law, not only goes against the Catholic teaching, but you can't tell me that God wants that of us.  All my children were planned and we use a very effective method, called NFP.  But my children are asking when we're having another baby!!  I won't get old and say, "wow, I wish I hadn't had all you crazy kids," but I worry that I will say, "Wow, I wish I hadn't let my fears get to me and had more."
The fifth Joyful mystery should be a favorite among parents.   Jesus being lost and then found in the temple.  Jesus was with all of his extended family.  Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, tons of people.  Mary and Joseph assumed he was with his cousins or other relatives.  When they realized he wasn't they went back to the temple and found him teaching about God.  He even told them he was doing his Father's work.   But you see that he never did it again until it was time for his  public ministry.  Or at least, he never left his family without them knowing.
Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow.... to have that kind of discipline with my own kids.
Anyway, I prayed for grace today, for God to help me forgive those who trespass against me, cut me off in traffic, embarrassed me in Target, stole my recycled bag when they saw it had fallen from my cart, cried because I wouldn't buy them a scooter for their birthday that is over a month away, and all the other goofy things that just weren't very joyful today. 
The peace I have felt since, must be grace.  I was flustered, but you gave me peace.  I was hungry and you filled with your word.  Naked and you covered me with your love, inprisoned and you showered me with blessings.
Thank you for all you have done for us, Jesus.
I hope your Monday is a little more peace filled, too.