Browsed by
Tag: faith

Learning From Mary: Saying Yes to God With Cheerful Readiness | sarahdamm.com
Learning From Mary: Saying Yes to God With Cheerful Readiness

Learning From Mary: Saying Yes to God With Cheerful Readiness

In today’s Gospel, Mary sets out to visit Elizabeth “in haste” (Luke 1:39). Just a few verses back from the Visitation account, we remember that Mary also responds to the angel’s request with a cheerful readiness. Mary does not delay in giving her “yes” to God (v. 38). When God invites me to do something, however, I am a little slower in my response than Mary is. I am grateful for His invitation to be His servant, his handmaiden. But…

Read More Read More

Learning Life Lessons on a Paddleboard | sarahdamm.com
Learning Life Lessons on a Paddleboard

Learning Life Lessons on a Paddleboard

“Some of us would be surprised if they knew what God could make of them if, in the decisive moments of their lives, they gave ear to the voice of grace!” —St. Ignatius of Loyola This summer, I checked something off my bucket list. I went paddleboarding for the very first time with eight women from my running group. Many of these ladies run marathons, and all of them workout way more than I do. I have not run longer…

Read More Read More

Savoring Summer: 10 Things I Love About the Season | sarahdamm.com
Savoring Summer: 10 Things I Love About the Season

Savoring Summer: 10 Things I Love About the Season

Last week, one of my kids told me, “Summer is almost over.” Say what? When I shared this with Greg, he didn’t sound surprised. Apparently, one of his coworkers said something similar to him. Something along the lines of it being the end of July. On July 10. I returned to my child, and we counted the remaining days of summer. We discovered that we have a few more than 40 days left of summer break. I thought that would…

Read More Read More

Bless the Lord, O My Soul: Summer Reflections of God's Goodness | sarahdamm.com
Bless the Lord, O My Soul: Summer Reflections of God’s Goodness

Bless the Lord, O My Soul: Summer Reflections of God’s Goodness

It is Saturday. I sit on a bench in the garden, just after dinner. Lush trees surround me. The creek below flows freely. The cool breeze blows as the warm sun begins to set. Everything that surrounds me is full, ripe with goodness, extending up and out. The trees’ branches exhibit a fullness of green. The shining sun just celebrated its brightest day of the year. The gentle breeze rustles the grass and tickles my nose. And the colorful flowers cheerfully…

Read More Read More

Helping Each Other Even in Times of Struggle | sarahdamm.com
Helping Each Other Even in Times of Struggle

Helping Each Other Even in Times of Struggle

Opening my inbox, I saw the email waiting for me. I knew what it would entail, before I even read it. Your deadline is approaching. Please submit your article ASAP. Panic set in. I could not even think about adding one more thing to my overflowing plate. In addition to the panic, I noticed that sadness set into my heart, too. I wanted to write that article. I wanted to do it, more than anything on my to-do list. And…

Read More Read More

Summer: Making a Plan, Keeping Your Sanity, and Having Fun (+ 2 FREE Printables) | sarahdamm.com
Summer: Making a Plan, Keeping Your Sanity, and Having Fun

Summer: Making a Plan, Keeping Your Sanity, and Having Fun

Tomorrow marks the beginning of summer vacation for my six children. And they can’t wait. Currently, my oldest three are cramming for final exams, while my younger three are cleaning out desks and making teacher gifts. As for me, I am switching back and forth between excitement and trepidation about what the next three months (87 days to be exact) will bring. I am the type of mom who likes the predictability of the school year—the rhythm of the day,…

Read More Read More

Living Out Our Destiny as Daughters of the King | sarahdamm.com
Living Out Our Destiny as Daughters of the King

Living Out Our Destiny as Daughters of the King

For much of my life, I considered myself to be fairly insignificant. As a young girl, I was shy, quiet, and often picked last for kickball games. Growing up, I was a good student, but I was not exceptional. My gifts and talents were not noticeable on the stage or soccer field. Even into my young adult years, I saw friends sparkle through their passions—music, art, fitness, you name it—and I wondered why my life didn’t shine as brightly as…

Read More Read More

Here is Your Mother: Loving and Honoring Mary | sarahdamm.com
Here is Your Mother: Loving and Honoring Mary

Here is Your Mother: Loving and Honoring Mary

The Blessed Virgin is like a good mother who, not content with looking after all her children in general, watches over each one separately. —St. John Vianney I have written about Mary, Jesus’ mother, a lot. If you type “Mary” into the search engine on the right sidebar, you will find an array of blog posts about her. If you click on “31 Days” at the top of my website, you will find a 31-day series I wrote on her….

Read More Read More

Five Mother's Day Gifts That Keep on Giving | sarahdamm.com
Five Mother’s Day Gifts That Keep on Giving

Five Mother’s Day Gifts That Keep on Giving

The vocation of motherhood is a beautiful one. In Mulieris Dignitatem, St. John Paul II writes, “Each and every time that motherhood is repeated in human history, it is always related to the Covenant which God established with the human race through the motherhood of the Mother of God.” Wow! To think that every pregnancy points to the Incarnation is nothing less than amazing! As beautiful as motherhood is, it also can be difficult and even painful. [Motherhood] is constituted more…

Read More Read More

Keeping the Sabbath Holy: Six Tips for Living Sunday Differently | sarahdamm.com
Keeping the Sabbath Holy: Six Tips for Living Sunday Differently

Keeping the Sabbath Holy: Six Tips for Living Sunday Differently

Remember the sabbath day — keep it holy. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God. You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your work animal, or the resident alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh…

Read More Read More