First Communion

So the Oldest goes to Sunday School (or Religious Education), has been for a couple years now. I think it's fantastic, it helps us reinforce teaching him about God, and why we think it's important for him to know God and how to open his heart and mind, while showing him how he can live his Faith. Granted. He's just eight and he cannot possibly understand it all; the implications of how God (and Jesus) have affected our lives already even taking Lucas out of the equation, it's still huge. AND I acknowledge that we cannot force him to believe anything and I want to be open to the fact that the Oldest may grow up and want to take a different path with a different religion. I hope he doesn't, but I'll accept it if he does. I just want him to know God and of God. I think that Catholisicm encompasses so much of what I believe and what is comfortable and peaceful to me. I hope that he grows to know the same but for now, I want him to know the simple things. Like that he can pray to God in whatever way he is comfortable, in his own words, his own voice, that he should not be intimidated by it. Or like the fact that he can believe in God, and know that he is there always even in the worst of times, especially in the worst of times, even when we might not think that He is there, He is.

He has already gone through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and given his first confession. This was tough for me because at such a young age, do they really have huge transgressions they have to speak on and ask for forgivness for yet? BUT I know that this is a learning process and that they are being taught of the importance of asking for forgivness and being forgiven and not to miss the point, it's a teaching, its the beginning of their life and the hope is they live the rest of it in this way. So when the big stuff happens, they already know the right thing to do, where to go, the safe place besides home is always God.

First Communion is the next step in this process for the Oldest. He has taken classes for about two months and he will get to get first communion or the Eucharist for the first time at the end of the month. It will be a huge celebration. We went yesterday to the last class, it was a retreat and every activity they did had huge meaning. I of course got emotional several times. The overall implications and the huge sense of real love that comes from this is so very personal to me, and I hold it very very close to my heart, and sometimes, it just comes out however it does. Yesterday=tears at times.

This has been a good little road he's been on. At times, we've all been with him then we've gotten off the road and let him go ahead without us to be led by others, then we step back on. I want to document all of it so that he doesn't forget anything. When I think back to when I was a little girl, I have had to rely on my sister, Minner, to help me remember my First Communion. But you all know how my memory is an issue....I want him to remember all. For a memory to rely on, know that it was there, to be able to count on it, and for him to remember how proud we are of him. This is a small effort in that vein...somehow one day I'll get all these posts off here and upload them somewhere else so they can always be kept...somehow...

For Lent, he is giving of his time and volunteering once a week at a Retirement Community, Assisted Living. This teaches him the value of other people, to be able to intermingle with other people, to be less shy, and how to give charity other than monetary, that giving of your time and heart is just as good sometimes even better. This will parlay into other things later in life. This I can hope and pray, right?