Now We (Actually) Know Our ABC's:
An Alphabet for Mom

By Sarah Hart

D is for DELIGHT

NCYC (National Catholic Youth Conference) was one of the most amazing events on the planet. 20,000 Catholic youth converged on Columbus, Ohio, having fun and fellowship, completely on fire for God. It was a sight to see. For the first time, as I looked out on all those amazing youth, I thought about all the equally amazing parents of those youth. If you are a parent of one of them, you have every reason to be proud, and every reason to delight in your kids. They are awesome people.

My daughter was in a school play in honor of Veteran's Day in November, and there was much rushing in flying home late from Ohio, trying to get her there on time with her costumes, a full tummy, and ample assurances that "she'd be great" — while trying not to fall over from exhaustion myself! What a joy it was, and how proud I felt, just to finally sit in the audience — watching her sing her heart out while waving two miniature American flags; run out the door halfway through one of the songs for a potty break; and grin from ear to ear and hug her friends. I was able to simply delight in this little life enjoying the moment, so delighted and full of joy, being every bit of who God meant her to be.

How different so many moments of the day might be if we could stop for a moment, just to delight in the people our children are; to see in them all the joy of God wrapped up neatly in this amazing way, in this most astounding gift to us: their life.

There is just so little time
Just too little of this life
And she is only mine for a little while . . .
- Sarah Hart, For A Little While

People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. "Let these children alone. Don't get between them and me. These children are the kingdom's pride and joy."

- Luke 18:15