I immersed myself in the culture and literature of the Church,
embracing simplicity and a disciplined prayer life
taking myself on
through spiritual direction and inner healing.
I spurned materialism and the culture of modern society
as I mothered nine children on a small farm
Till exhaustion
Forced me to realize that I was trying to save myself
with my own efforts.
Shocked to realize I was
ignoring the salvation power of Christ
Stealing Christ’s job
Humility lead to surrender.
I finally gave up trying to save myself
Annie Henrie
J0Y followed automatically
as I discovered life as a child of God.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Jeremiah 24:7 I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.
Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,
Melanie Jean Juneau serves as the Editor in Chief of Catholic Stand. She is a mother of nine children who has edited her kid's university term papers for over a decade. She blogs at joy of nine9 and mother of nine9. Her writing is humorous and heart warming; thoughtful and thought-provoking. Part of her call and her witness is to write the truth about children, family, marriage and the sacredness of life. Melanie is the administrator of ACWB, a columnist at CatholicLane, CatholicStand, Catholic365 , CAPC, author of Echoes of the Divine and Oopsy Daisy, and coauthor of Love Rebel: Reclaiming Motherhood.
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7 thoughts on “Change Me”
Dear Melanie,
This post….the words….they described my years past, they describe the periods I still go through trying to raise my children right. I had a mother, who in all likelihood, suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder. So, too much of my time is spent ensuring the apple (me) falls as far as possible from the apple tree. I also fear life can end all too soon, and this leads me to overdo spirituality lessons with my kids.
A few months ago, I began to sense a difference. When I got overwhelmed by the children and household issues, I felt an odd longing to collapse against Mother Mary, and to let her take over.
I’m donkey-stubborn by nature, but I am glad I listened to the longing within me. The moment I began to let go to Mother Mary, I knew something had changed. She took charge, and I saw what I could never have achieved on my own.
You were spot on to recognize this malady for what it is: Taking Over God’s job. I cant even do mine, and yet, I want to do His!!!!
It is by no coincidence that I’ve come back to this post since August. God wanted me to know that after a hiatus of sorts, I am back at it – Stealing Christ’s job!
So beautiful! I sure have missed your posts! I don’t expect you to remember me, but I three years ago I was pregnant blogger with two kids trying to figure it all out. After my third came I just couldn’t keep up; so, naturally, I had a fourth and I’m back in the blogging world I have missed so much. I am in South Africa now, and I’ll have to look into getting digital copies of your beautiful books.
I must be one of the Lord’s chosen Mothers! I have been blind since my second child, my son was diagnosed with affective schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. I have cried for years wondering why this would happen to my child? The one who always was the easy going one and minded his manners! He joined the Navy to become something more, but came home a week before graduation. He had a PSYCHOTIC breakdown and has never been the same since. Unable to tell fantasy from reality he carried on. I wore myself out trying to help him and I was a Nurse trying to help the critically ill patients at the hospital. I left nursing bc he clearly needed me with him to protect him and find the right help for him. I weighed 93lbs, but my heart was bigger. I became a broken Mother trying to “fix” her broken child. At first I blamed God for this illness and I found myself at a church food pantry praying with a tiny older frail lady and we prayed for my son! She reminded me even if the medicines weren’t working God can do miracles. My son did get some better and I owe that to God, through prayer to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!! I see today that he’s still thriving and he prays every day, the prayers are not like you and I would pray. But they’re his prayers and he thanks God every day and night. Maybe I’m the one who is messed up, he’s never once had an unkind thought about you God and he accepts his life and is joyful for it! He’s thankful for me, no matter how undeserving I feel I am. God he’s your child, he loves you!!! Please watch over him, through Jesus Christ I pray Amen He is truly a gift from heaven help me be worthy of him and guide me to the path of acceptance and healing. This I pray through Jesus Christ Amen
joy of nine9 
Dear Melanie,
This post….the words….they described my years past, they describe the periods I still go through trying to raise my children right. I had a mother, who in all likelihood, suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder. So, too much of my time is spent ensuring the apple (me) falls as far as possible from the apple tree. I also fear life can end all too soon, and this leads me to overdo spirituality lessons with my kids.
A few months ago, I began to sense a difference. When I got overwhelmed by the children and household issues, I felt an odd longing to collapse against Mother Mary, and to let her take over.
I’m donkey-stubborn by nature, but I am glad I listened to the longing within me. The moment I began to let go to Mother Mary, I knew something had changed. She took charge, and I saw what I could never have achieved on my own.
You were spot on to recognize this malady for what it is: Taking Over God’s job. I cant even do mine, and yet, I want to do His!!!!
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It is by no coincidence that I’ve come back to this post since August. God wanted me to know that after a hiatus of sorts, I am back at it – Stealing Christ’s job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
laughing- we do it again and again…
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So beautiful! I sure have missed your posts! I don’t expect you to remember me, but I three years ago I was pregnant blogger with two kids trying to figure it all out. After my third came I just couldn’t keep up; so, naturally, I had a fourth and I’m back in the blogging world I have missed so much. I am in South Africa now, and I’ll have to look into getting digital copies of your beautiful books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course, I remember you, a woman after my own heart AND I especially remember the wonderful title- wings as eagles
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Helpful information I learn something new from these page. God bless you.
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I must be one of the Lord’s chosen Mothers! I have been blind since my second child, my son was diagnosed with affective schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. I have cried for years wondering why this would happen to my child? The one who always was the easy going one and minded his manners! He joined the Navy to become something more, but came home a week before graduation. He had a PSYCHOTIC breakdown and has never been the same since. Unable to tell fantasy from reality he carried on. I wore myself out trying to help him and I was a Nurse trying to help the critically ill patients at the hospital. I left nursing bc he clearly needed me with him to protect him and find the right help for him. I weighed 93lbs, but my heart was bigger. I became a broken Mother trying to “fix” her broken child. At first I blamed God for this illness and I found myself at a church food pantry praying with a tiny older frail lady and we prayed for my son! She reminded me even if the medicines weren’t working God can do miracles. My son did get some better and I owe that to God, through prayer to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!! I see today that he’s still thriving and he prays every day, the prayers are not like you and I would pray. But they’re his prayers and he thanks God every day and night. Maybe I’m the one who is messed up, he’s never once had an unkind thought about you God and he accepts his life and is joyful for it! He’s thankful for me, no matter how undeserving I feel I am. God he’s your child, he loves you!!! Please watch over him, through Jesus Christ I pray Amen He is truly a gift from heaven help me be worthy of him and guide me to the path of acceptance and healing. This I pray through Jesus Christ Amen
LikeLiked by 1 person