“You can’t pour from an empty cup.” This is true for parents and especially parents of younger children who typically require more hands-on attention and love.
Now, let’s apply this phrase to our faith. Parents: we can’t pour wisdom, grace, and knowledge into our children (and others) from an empty cup.
So how do we fill up our cup so that we have enough wisdom, grace, and knowledge to pour out?
First start with the “Precepts of the Church” which all Catholics have an obligation to adhere to:
— Attend Mass on all Sundays and holy days of obligation.
— Confess at least once a year, if not more often due to mortal sins.
— Receive Holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter season.
— Keep holy the holy days of obligation.
— Observe prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.
— Provide for the material needs of the Church, according to one’s ability.
While these precepts seem easy to maintain, there is an important factor to consider. They are the bare minimum. Think of it as the bare minimum that one needs to eat and drink each day. If you just eat and drink the bare minimum, you’ll receive nutrition and hydration, but it is the bare minimum to survive. Therefore, your body won’t be able to adequately store up reserves in the case of illness or other situations.
Now think of it from a faith perspective. Do you really want to do the bare minimum to reach Heaven? Would you want your children to do the bare minimum to get to Heaven? I often look at a Crucifix when I am feeling tepid in my faith. Gazing upon Our Lord, I am reminded that Our Savior certainly did not do the bare minimum to open the gates of Heaven.
For us to walk the narrow road, without falling off, we must go above and beyond the precepts and we must constantly grow in virtue which will help eliminate our sins.
Speaking of sins, last year during a confession, a priest gave me some counseling regarding the virtue of patience. I confessed I was having an increasingly hard time keeping calm and not overreacting with my children. The priest advised that instead of asking God for more patience, I needed to spend time in prayer thinking of all the times throughout my life that God was patient with me. Afterwards, I spent time in prayer and realized that by filling my cup up with thanksgiving to God first for his patience throughout my life, I was able to share his patience that he had given me, with my children.
This lesson from the confessional that I received can be applied to all sins. For each of the seven deadly sins, there is a heavenly virtue that can help to overcome it.
So, the second step for filling up our grace cup is to heed the exhortation of our Lord in Matthew 6:33 to “seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you your predominant sins. Then consider the following tips to overcome sin and grow in virtue. Sacraments and practicing virtues fill my cup up with his grace.
To overcome pride, become humble. Reflect on Philippians 2:7-8. Jesus “emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.”
To overcome sloth, think of the diligence that Saint Joseph had when he was told to flee to Egypt with Our Lady and baby Jesus to keep him safe from King Herod’s massacre of the Holy Innocents.
To overcome greed, become more generous. Reflect on how generous God has been with you in your life. Both in monetary blessings and the very gift of being Catholic.
To overcome lust, embrace chastity. There is a plethora of Saints to read about and ask their intercession to overcome the sin of lust. Some include St. Maria Goretti, St. Augustine, St. Lucy, St. Benedict and St. Agnes.
To overcome gluttony, practice temperance. The best way to practice temperance is to practice it often and to have patience with yourself. We teach our children about moderation for things such as television, games, playing outside and encourage them to develop a daily routine for prayer, chores, homework and other activities.
To overcome envy, become more charitable. Think less of what you want and more of what others need. A great activity for children would be to go food shopping for a food kitchen. Churches also host drives and fundraisers that your children can get involved with. Read and reflect on Mark 12:42-44.
In all things, start first by asking God for help and “have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not upon thy own prudence. In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Christina Frye is a lifelong Rhode Islander, wife, mother and founder of Catholic Mom Rhode Island, www.CatholicMomRI.com.
