I’m going to be honest here... I can’t tell you the best way to cut taxes. I don’t know how to fix our state budget. I’m not sure of the best way to create jobs. But I can promise you and say that I know more about the political lifestyle than I ever thought was possible. More than that, I’ve learned more about trust and self sacrifice than I thought I could.
When our first “family meeting” took place, I was completely on board about the idea of a major statewide election. I don’t think any of us really knew what we stepping into, but the prayers were said, the discernment was made, and we jumped into the fight. Yet humans crave attention and having an election take place during your senior year of high school is not ideal. Actually, being part of a statewide election is never ideal, whether you are a 5th grader, a high school senior, freshman in college, a first year missionary, or a couple who has been married for 24 years. Elections are disruptive, don’t wait for anyone, and they call for true unselfishness.
This virtue of unselfishness isn’t something that came easily, comes easily, or probably ever will come easy. I wanted my parents to be at every game of Pius X volleyball, to take Prom pictures with me, and to be sitting around the dinner table at night to ask how my day was. I didn’t want to make dinner after a long day at school or drive my brothers to baseball practice. I wanted high school freedom, high school responsibilities, and high school fun. Anything more was too much to ask. The spotlight was really fun in the beginning and I loved telling people about my family’s new adventures, but when I thought people were paying more attention to my last name instead of my first name… I became frustrated. I thought my senior year and my life in general was becoming "the Foley show." It’s easy to be bitter when your beliefs are skewed, and true love of family is one that cannot be centered towards your self.
This is where my siblings come into play. I know you’re not supposed to admit that your siblings inspire you, but mine truly do. Walking into my house and seeing my 5th grade brother cooking dinner is impressive. Hearing my older sister call home just to ask my parents how they were doing is self-sacrificing. Walking down the street holding yard signs with my older brother and knowing that he was giving up a weekend too was inspiring. Knowing that my parents sat for 4 hours with me at my Senior Parent Breakfast the day before the election is something I will be eternally grateful for. My family sticks together and although there were tears, rough patches, and difficult decisions, I know it has only made us closer as a unit. As my parents were inspiring us, we were given the chance to inspire each other and fill roles that were bigger than our own selfish desires. I forgot that an 8-person family was letting go in order to sacrifice for the good of an entire state. I needed to learn the population was bigger than just me. One of the biggest parts of politics is realizing that there are people who need your help and that helping requires personal sacrifice.
When our first “family meeting” took place, I was completely on board about the idea of a major statewide election. I don’t think any of us really knew what we stepping into, but the prayers were said, the discernment was made, and we jumped into the fight. Yet humans crave attention and having an election take place during your senior year of high school is not ideal. Actually, being part of a statewide election is never ideal, whether you are a 5th grader, a high school senior, freshman in college, a first year missionary, or a couple who has been married for 24 years. Elections are disruptive, don’t wait for anyone, and they call for true unselfishness.
This virtue of unselfishness isn’t something that came easily, comes easily, or probably ever will come easy. I wanted my parents to be at every game of Pius X volleyball, to take Prom pictures with me, and to be sitting around the dinner table at night to ask how my day was. I didn’t want to make dinner after a long day at school or drive my brothers to baseball practice. I wanted high school freedom, high school responsibilities, and high school fun. Anything more was too much to ask. The spotlight was really fun in the beginning and I loved telling people about my family’s new adventures, but when I thought people were paying more attention to my last name instead of my first name… I became frustrated. I thought my senior year and my life in general was becoming "the Foley show." It’s easy to be bitter when your beliefs are skewed, and true love of family is one that cannot be centered towards your self.
This is where my siblings come into play. I know you’re not supposed to admit that your siblings inspire you, but mine truly do. Walking into my house and seeing my 5th grade brother cooking dinner is impressive. Hearing my older sister call home just to ask my parents how they were doing is self-sacrificing. Walking down the street holding yard signs with my older brother and knowing that he was giving up a weekend too was inspiring. Knowing that my parents sat for 4 hours with me at my Senior Parent Breakfast the day before the election is something I will be eternally grateful for. My family sticks together and although there were tears, rough patches, and difficult decisions, I know it has only made us closer as a unit. As my parents were inspiring us, we were given the chance to inspire each other and fill roles that were bigger than our own selfish desires. I forgot that an 8-person family was letting go in order to sacrifice for the good of an entire state. I needed to learn the population was bigger than just me. One of the biggest parts of politics is realizing that there are people who need your help and that helping requires personal sacrifice.
Another thing that us Foley kids got to learn together was how to embrace the awkward together. We learned to understand the awkward and even more so, we learned to live and love the awkward. Attitude is everything and my family can make any political party the best party to be at. I’ve gained memories of jumping in a bouncy house with my entire family, passing out candy at St. Patrick’s Day parades, taking selfies with our security guards, teaching state senators how to line dance at the Inaugural Ball, watching my brothers escape our security escorts to go watch football, and getting to spend time with my siblings more than I would on typical Friday nights… even if it was only because a storm had blown down yard signs the previous night. Awkward isn’t easy, but awkward makes life fun and some day these will be the funny memories I remember.
Looking back now I can finally begin to see a bigger picture of what God was doing for my family. We may never know the exact reasons for certain results in our lives, but it is powerful to see Christ halt one plan only to replace it with a more fulfilling option. God’s plan is so great. God doesn’t want to trick us, He doesn’t want to hurt, and more than anything He is doing everything in His power to give us happiness. No suffering or trial here on earth will ever come near the redeeming power that is to come for eternity. The only thing we are asked is to say, “yes.” The newspaper can easily report what was called a “loss,” but in reality it was a closed door for an updated plan. He was holding us in the palm of His hand the entire campaign; He was simply asking us to let Him take the driver's seat.
Over the past year and a half there has been a reoccurring theme in my life. Benedict XVI said, “The world offers you comfort. You were not made for comfort, you were made for greatness.” I first learned this quote while on a TEC retreat and I fell in love with it. It also has come up in my life at SEEK, various talks I’ve heard, and through prayers I have prayed. Most of all, it was the quote my dad said in his speech on the night of the primary election and it is the quote that reminds me of the choice he made to give up a life that was comfortable and go for something that called him to sacrifice for greatness. It was the reason I could fall on my knees each and every day after school in the chapel and say a simple Memorare prayer in trust to Mary. The call of greatness that the Pope talks about in this particular quote is a call of trust, and the trust paid off a few months later when the next door opened.
The second step was never available until the first step was taken and looked like a failure. Sometimes Christ works in mysterious ways, but we just have to set aside our own selfish desires and let Him take His own timing. Life is going to be awkward, life isn’t going to the smooth ride we hope for, and life requires sacrifices… But a life with Christ is a wonderful adventure.
Over the past year and a half there has been a reoccurring theme in my life. Benedict XVI said, “The world offers you comfort. You were not made for comfort, you were made for greatness.” I first learned this quote while on a TEC retreat and I fell in love with it. It also has come up in my life at SEEK, various talks I’ve heard, and through prayers I have prayed. Most of all, it was the quote my dad said in his speech on the night of the primary election and it is the quote that reminds me of the choice he made to give up a life that was comfortable and go for something that called him to sacrifice for greatness. It was the reason I could fall on my knees each and every day after school in the chapel and say a simple Memorare prayer in trust to Mary. The call of greatness that the Pope talks about in this particular quote is a call of trust, and the trust paid off a few months later when the next door opened.
The second step was never available until the first step was taken and looked like a failure. Sometimes Christ works in mysterious ways, but we just have to set aside our own selfish desires and let Him take His own timing. Life is going to be awkward, life isn’t going to the smooth ride we hope for, and life requires sacrifices… But a life with Christ is a wonderful adventure.
Fun Fact: One of my resolutions for this year of 2015 is to spend 3 minutes at the end of day just thanking Christ for what I’ve been given and writing down my biggest blessings. Fr. Holdren always says that if we remember what Christ has given us today, then there is to be no fear that He doesn’t have tomorrow in control. His blessings today are a reminder of His coming blessings tomorrow. This was the simple prayer of thanks I wrote at 2am after the Inaugural Ball:
"Thank you, Lord, for the gift of family. Thank you for cute selfies and classy dresses. Thank you for loving, sacrificing parents, joking brothers, and helpful, beautiful sisters. Thank you for grandpa and grandma’s hilarious comments. Thank you for giving my dad a job. Thank you for my awkward, wonderful life."
So go get the bad guys, dad. True, I won’t be able to understand what you are talking about half the time… But I can promise you more than anything that I am proud to be your daughter and I’m so thankful that you teach me each day to say ‘yes’ to Christ.