One title of the Our Lady is “Mother of the Poor.” Historically, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph were most likely poor, due to the events that are written about in the bible. One example is when Mary brought forth Jesus in a stable for animals. Another example is the Presentation of Jesus where they offered two turtledoves, which was common at the time for poor families to offer. We also know that St. Joseph worked as a humble carpenter.
Despite this, the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph are the two greatest saints in the Catholic Church. What does God tell us about the fact that He sent His one and only Son into the world to a poor mother and foster father? Why didn’t He send His Son to a wealthy couple that would have been able to give Jesus a more comfortable life?
I believe that God did this to show us that it is important to be detached from worldly possessions and to set our sights on heaven instead.
In His sermon on the mount, Jesus echoing the above-mentioned title of Mary, Jesus advised us that “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) Poor in spirit means to be humble and to not set your spirit or your desires upon riches.
Infants are a perfect example of being detached from worldly possessions. They come into the world naked and do not own anything at all. Even if their parents are extremely rich, infants rely entirely on their parents or caregivers to keep them alive. Yet, in my opinion, aside from the Holy Eucharist and the Sacraments, they are the most precious gifts from God.
Jesus Himself chose to come into the world as a poor, cold and vulnerable infant and He told us that we must become like little children to gain heaven.
That is one reason that I encourage our children to give me and my husband presents on special occasions that cost very little, if anything at all. It makes them happy to give us gifts; however, we want them to realize that you can’t buy happiness and we want them to see us enjoying and treasuring the “little” things in life.
Last year, our oldest made us a makeshift guitar out of some rubber bands and a yogurt cup. For some reason, it greatly upset our toddler, who apparently had other plans for the yogurt cup. But my husband and I thought it was a cute and ingenious idea and it was something our oldest was proud of making.
Here are some examples of gifts for moms on Mother’s Day:
Hand drawn cards: One of my favorite gifts to receive are cards from my children that they have made. I love to keep them and see how they have progressed over the years in their writing, art skills and their unique ideas. Card-making helps to foster their love of art as well.
Chores for mom: Sweeping, dusting, washing, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. While I believe children should have chores, it is nice when moms can get a break from doing any chores for one day. Letting mom “put up her feet” while the family works together to get the house clean is a gift that doesn’t cost anything.
Day trip for the family: This is a gift that will take some work from dad and older children but can be fun for the entire family. Pack snacks and water bottles and hit the road. Some ideas include the beach, a park, playground, Newport, Beavertail or even a hike.
Planting a garden: May is the perfect time to plant a garden. Our children love to get their hands in the dirt and are excited once their seeds sprout and they see the fruits of their labor. If your family has a statue of Mary, you could plant a Marian garden with flowers.
Concert for mom: Our children love to put on little concerts and shows for us. It is heartwarming to see them work together and have fun. Even the younger children get involved and it is a great way for them to have everyone take a turn. Sometimes this turns into a family-wide dance party.
Special Mass for mom: I think one of the greatest gifts is to have a Mass said in my name. It gives such graces that we will not be able to realize fully until we, God-willing, get to heaven. While a donation should be made for the Mass, it is a great gift for everyone. Bonus if you can attend the Mass that is offered for you.
I know that for my husband and me, these are the moments that we will treasure forever, which is a good thing since Jesus said “Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12: 31-34
