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November 15, 2018By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press
Humor helped get serious messages across at Saturday’s Women’s Conference.
“I’m just a mom,” said Susie Lloyd, telling listeners they are too. To the world, they represent “the puddle in the high chair,” she said. Well, not the puddle, but ….
Her talk was titled, “Be Not Afraid of the Puddle in the High Chair,” reminiscent of an experience of eating out with family which she recounted humorously for conference-goers.
The mother of seven and 25-year homeschooling veteran is author of “Please Don’t Drink the Holy Water!” “Bless Me, Father, for I Have Kids,” and “Yes, God!”
Speaking of negative comments strangers make about mothers, she said, “They’re not about me; they’re not about you. … They’re about … the people saying them. They’re scared of kids,” or, rather, responsibility. She’s scared too, she said.
“It’s a vocation,” she said. “And what’s the purpose of a vocation?” It’s a purification, the death of what St. Paul calls “the old man.” (Her vocation is to remove “the Grinch” in herself, she said.) Like stones bumping one another smooth in rushing water, family life rubs away one’s ego and “gimme, gimme,” she said.
“The world doesn’t want marriage and family to be that way,” she said. It wants only the rewards.
Mrs. Lloyd named attributes of “a worthy wife” from Proverbs 31: opens her arms to the needy and is clothed with strength and dignity.
“That’s just a mom,” she said. “And our Lord gives us just a mom.” She recounted experiences from the Blessed Mother’s life to show she understands what today’s mothers go through.
“We’re called to be with God now,” Mrs. Lloyd said, urging prayer, with the expectation of interruptions.
The conference’s speakers are amazing and culture-changing, “but so are you,” she told listeners. “We can change our culture” by having a great family. “Be not afraid of the puddle in the high chair. But keep a gas can and matches” handy, she joked.
