It’s easy to sometimes feel like motherhood isn’t compatible with true Christian works of mercy. After all, not many of us are able to manage the kind of charitable activities that our sisters called to single life or religious vocations might be able to do.
I have never once visited a prison. I’ve never brought the gospel to naked savages or pagan Irishmen. I’ve never handed out sandwiches to hobos from the back entrance to the house. My house doesn’t even HAVE a back entrance.
In my Exactly How to be a Good Catholic post, I indicated that those of us who, because of our station in life, weren’t really able to perform these acts of mercy ourselves could support those who do financially and with our prayers. That’s important. We should TOTALLY do that.
But also . . . I took a closer look at the list. And, I was like . . . hold the phone! I do that stuff in my home . . . as my job. I hardly do anything BUT that stuff. And I do it . . . with FRANKIE.
Let’s take a look, shall we?
First the Corporal Works of Mercy . . .
Feed the Hungry
Yes. Yes, I do. All day long. Three meals, sometimes snacks, sometimes dessert. Sometimes neighbor kids want to eat too.
And sometimes, Frankie will say something like, “I want beans. But plain. No beans. A soft.” And *I* have to figure out that he wants a tortilla.
Give Drink to the Thirsty
Kids also like to drink. At every meal. In between meals. In all cars at all times. At EVERY drinking fountain we happen to pass. But I draw the line at while napping or sleeping. I just can’t. So I don’t.
Clothe the Naked
I get my kids dressed in the morning. But you wouldn’t always know it to look at them. We even have a specific rule meant to address this issue: DON’T TAKE YOUR PANTS OFF WITHOUT A PLAN. It’s a good rule. But it has its limitations, and most often those limitations are manifest when we have a repair guy over.
Shelter the Homeless
We let him live here. Rent free. Even though he makes this face. A lot.
Visit the Sick
I visit Frankie when he’s sick. But he’s not usually interested in a lot of interaction. Mostly I’m useful to him as a means to refill his juice and start up Mater’s Tall Tales on Netflix again.
Visit the Imprisoned
Even though Frankie’s imprisonments are most often my doing, I do visit him. I check to see if he’s STILL wailing over getting the green cup instead of the blue cup, or if he’s ready to rejoin the family. I also come to his rescue when he’s imprisoned himself up on the top bunk. Again.
Bury the Dead
Most of our burying of the dead is backyard chicken-related. But also, we bring our kids to funerals, and it turns out they’re cool with that sort of thing.
Next the Spiritual Works of Mercy . . .
Admonish the Sinner
Woo, boy. Do I ever do this one. I’m admonishing all OVER the place. Even at DISNEYLAND. Kick your little sister with your pointy cowboy boot? Boom. Admonished. No ice cream-type admonished. I am MEAN MERCIFUL.
Instruct the Ignorant
Also yes. For instance: Frankie believed this to be a drawing of “a super happy baby who is smiling.” I was able to use this opportunity for a little discussion about what SMILING is.
Counsel the Doubtful
Frankie is doubtful about many things. Taking naps and trying new foods are high on the list of things about which he has doubts. Here for instance, he is entertaining doubts about the edibility of Indian food. But I COUNSELthreatened him into trying it. And he liked it just fine.
Comfort the Sorrowful
Frankie is also sorrowful about many things. Having to eat off of the “You are special today” plate on his special day, for instance, will sometimes make him VERY sorrowful. But with some careful COMFORTthreatening he can always be brought back around.
Bear Wrongs Patiently
Oh, Frankie. The things you’ve said to me.
- Sitting in church: I want to touch you, I just don’t want you to touch me.
- After I got a manicure: Why do your fingers look like an old lady?
- Tucking him in at bedtime: You can just give me my Lotso and go out of here.
- Whenever he’s doing anything: I don’t need you to talk to me.
- At all other times: Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom. (repeat)
And imma BEAR it. For you, Frankie. Because I love you. And you mostly don’t mean it.
Forgive All Injuries
I do. I forgive them all. And honestly, it’s not even as hard as I would have thought. Because I love you. And you don’t ALWAYS smile, so when you do . . . it all feels worth it.
Pray for the Living and the Dead
Our home is far from perfect. But it IS a place of prayer. And few things are cuter than the things kids come up with to pray about. Some are sweet, “That I would be a good boy and not dwive everyone cwazy.” Some are hard, “That mommy would feel better soon and so she doesn’t have to shout so much.” But both are good prayers. I could use both.
Speaking of . . . After the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy came up in this post, and again in this one, reader Rebecca asked if I would make a printable featuring them.
So I did. Hope you like ’em.
As with all my printables, you are welcome to save the images to your computer for your own personal use. You may print the images and/or upload them and have prints made for your personal use or to give as gifts. (These are sized for 8×10) First click on the image to bring it up in a new window, then right-click on the image to save it to your computer. You may use my images on your blog, just please link back to my blog. If you would like to sell my images, please contact me first. To request a custom printable, visit my Etsy shop here.
For LOTS MORE free printable prayers, check out my Pinterest board.
These images are available for purchase in my Etsy shop, in a higher resolution, without the watermark, in multiple sizes from 5×7 to 16×20, and also as print-at-home two-sided holy cards. You’ll find them here. Thanks!
UPDATE 2024: The prints mentioned above are no longer available on Etsy.
You might also enjoy:
This post is 100% awesome. So true + all the Frankie photos!
And it's all totally worth it.
Very true and good reminder when in the trenches.
He is adorable in his own way. That smile!
Oh my. What a terrific post. My girls and I love reading about Frankie. Thanks for another great one.
This is fabulous. Way to bring the Works of Mercy into everyday life 🙂
Really, every vocation would include the Works of Mercy somehow, right? It seems to make sense that they would be built in differently to different vocations, although we're all expected to do them. For married people, our first responsibility is to make sure we do these things with our kids and our extended family–the people specifically given to our care. After that, we can find ways to serve the rest of the world. It's like on an airplane: you put your own oxygen mask on first, then you can help those around you.
I just love to see/read about this child, especially something as thoughtful as this is.
So hilarious and great! Your Frankie and my Eli would be fast friends.
Or frenemies, depending on the day. 😉
Oh, Frankie is too cute! My oldest two are melancholic-cholerics, so on good days it's like living with The Cure and bad days, it's Telenovella style. Thanks for the boost of perspective.
Your post reminds me of one of my favorite blogs (it got me into blogs!), Pondered In My Heart. Kimberlee has a lovely idea for lent and experiencing everyday mercies:
http://ponderedinmyheart.typepad.com/pondered_in_my_heart/2007/02/merciful_cross.html
This is hilarious! Frankie is such the character and I can tell he makes your home so much more interesting. 🙂
I love everything about this post, haha! I totally have a soft spot in my heart for Frankie, especially because he reminds me of my Peter so much (lesson learned: stop naming kids after saints…the saints were all kinda a mess before becoming saint-like 😉 )
I often say that if I get to heaven it will totally be because of Peter. He's my sanctifying child, he works hard at sanctifying me every day. Heck, the kid totally peed on me when he was born, "thanks for all that laboring work you just did mom!"….all amidst much wailing and gnashing of teeth which lasted a good 3 years. And now he likes to pretend he doesn't know any letters, and then proceed to write notes to Grandma with perfectly formed capital letters that he learned who-knows-where.
Btw, I especially love that Frankie was upset by *having* to use the special day plate, what?! lol! And the comfort-threaten combo is oh so true, I think that's like 50% of mothering, haha!
Great minds think alike!! https://americanmominmainz.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/i-used-to-think-my-kids-stopped-me-from-serving-those-in-need/
You just gotta love him with those big beautiful blue eyes. He's quite a character and when he does hug and kiss you he really means it…other wise he's just tell you to go away.
Frankie's face is endlessly expressive! -nancyo
I just love your Cranky Frankie stories. They always make my day!
Probably your cutest (and my favorite!) printables to date. I always love a Cranky Frankie story to make me laugh a little. 🙂
from my blog, in 2007!! 🙂
http://slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com/2007/12/first-cooties-of-season.html
I just love that kid and his stories. It is easier to smile at his frowny face from this side of the screen, though, I imagine 🙂 I was a lot like him as a kid, though. My mom always called me Janie-Complainy. And I turned out to be a (mostly) happy adult. I still have an Irish temper, though.
I laughed all through this post, and now I feel like crying, because it's just SO GOOD to know that, day by day, I'm doing ALL THESE THINGS! Thanks so much for the encouragement!
One of my kids is…requiring me to do extra works of mercy. All the time. I love this!! I'm growing spiritually, not just cleaning up soap! Plus, that Frankie. He's something.
This is the best.
Can you please make a printable of, "Don't take your pants off without a plan?"
Oh my goodness. Now I think I might HAVE to. It's really good advice for EVERYONE, ya know?
What is one example of an acceptable plan?
Acceptable plans around here include: "1. take off pants. 2. get in bathtub," "1. take off pants. 2. put on pajamas," and "1. take off pants. 2. use as floatation device." But that last one only works if you happen to be wearing sailor pants.
Yes please! This whole concept is hilarious to me and something I think my 4 year old might need 🙂
It just works on so many levels!!!
Perfect!
You are awesome. I love this. I don't think I realized how "Frankie" our Thomas is until I read this round-up. Lord, have mercy, indeed.
Hahaha. Hahahaha. This is AWESOME! I love it so very much. Thank you.
I love Frankie!! He's like your house mascot for readers… he keeps us laughing!
May God bless as you wait for your new baby!!
Thank you for writing about parenting challenges. I have spent quite a while convinced that if I were a better parent or stricter or knew the right system that my Little Z, my third, would have been easier. But, knowing that you have been around the block some and have a hard one gives me hope that maybe it isn't just me and persistence will win the day…eventually. I think Z would like Frankie. He likes screaming contests.
Thank you to sharing your big family's life, even the details and the nice pictures. Your children are reallly cute and beautiful! Thanks to God!