Supergirls and halos…sign me up!
As the mom of four girls, I want them to dream big.
Not just…I want to one day be the President big…..but…I want to change the world big…
I want to bring others to know Christ in whatever way God calls me….that kind of big…..
Those are my dreams for my girls…..
To know that God has blessed them with gifts that are to be used for His Glory and His Purpose.
Every November, my four girls and my son, rummage through our basement dress-up trying to recreate a saint’s costume for the All Saint’s Day parade at our Catholic co-op.
We have our favorites….St. Kateri (our Indian costume has been repurposed multiple times for this) ….St. Elizabeth of Hungary (maybe it’s just the fact that they get to carry some bread)… St. Dominic Savio (my son loves him) and St. Joan of Ark.
St. Joan of Ark…..fearless, brave, courageous…….
When my youngest was around 4, she looked at me and said, “Mom…I want a saint who is really tough…and carries a sword like St. Michael…and I want her to be really brave”.
Check…Check…Check…
“Ok…I have just the saint….St. Joan of Ark”…
As I strapped that fake plastic armor breastplate around her little waist, I saw the look on her face change. She was proud as she looked at her older brother and said, “see…girls can do anything…even carry swords and fight battles”.
“Yes, honey,” I confirmed “but she also trusted God and His Plan for her life…and that is what has made her a saint.”
Isn’t that what we all want? To live our life trusting God’s Plan for our life? To be totally abandoned to God’s Will?
St. Teresa of Avila says:
“Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.
This quote taped to the mirror in my bathroom is a personal reminder that God is in control of my everything. I’ve read that quote with tears running down my face, and with utter joy in my heart. She’s right. “Whoever has God lacks nothing; God never changes”.
St. Teresa of Avila’s words have been a source of comfort, and reassurance for me over the past few years.
When my children are struggling, I often used quotes from the saints or scripture to provide encouragement to them as well.
So when I was asked to give an honest review of the book Super girls and Halos by Maria Morera Johnson…I jumped right in.
Review a book about inspiring little saints?…yes.
A great book to recommend to all my homeschooling mom friends….yes
Boy was I wrong.
What I thought was a book for my children was actually a book for me.
Maria Johnson has done a tremendous job of immersing us, chapter by chapter, in this comparison of super girls and saints. She allows us to journey with her in discovering the beauty of such concepts as truth, courage, and virtue in light of these everyday women whom we emulate and their saintly counterparts.
This is a great read for all of those who want to be inspired by these courageous saints.
Every chapter focuses on a virtue such as temperance, fairness, or justice and then makes a comparison between a heroine from a movie, TV show, or super hero, as well as a saint who envelops that same virtue.
As I stated before, I happen to love St. Teresa of Avila. So when I came upon the chapter entitled “Paragons of Wisdom and Truth- Agent Dana Scully and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross”, I couldn’t wait to see how she addressed this. Agent Scully had started my love of all good detective shows, and it was my introduction to the X-files that spiraled my love for shows such as CSI, Murder She Wrote, and Law and Order. After reading this chapter, I realized that what I loved about the X-Files was their search for truth. Maria had opened my eyes to my clear need for Truth. It was what I loved about Agent Scully…she continuously sought Truth whether it questioned the truths that she currently held or not.
Through this chapter, Maria introduced me to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and her love for St. Teresa of Avila. A saint who was convicted by her love for St. Teresa of Avila??….this chapter would be the one that would speak volumes to me. This chapter has inspired me to read more about the life of a saint I knew nothing about.
As a mother, wife, and daughter of the King, I, too, must find inspiration and encouragement for this journey in life. I, too, must dream big, not just for my girls, but for myself. What a gift to find a book, like this, that will inspire us to dream big about the virtues that are important in life. To seek Truth and Heroic Virtue, as well as others.
I believe that the Lord has a plan for my life which He constantly unfolds each day.
Grab yourself a copy of this book..and be inspired.
