In case you’re feeling a bit defeated by the evil that surrounds and infects us, here are some reminders of the goodness of this world, despite everything the enemy does to pervert it.
At an eighth grade retreat, the kids are standing around awkwardly during free time when a girl with Down Syndrome walks gleefully up to a classmate and asks him to dance. Not a cool kid who can do what he wants without fear of ridicule; not a nerdy kid who’s got nothing to lose. She picks a hanger-on, one of those kids whose social stock could plummet with a single misstep. He takes a deep breath, then takes her hands as she spins and twirls and dips herself. And nobody laughs or whispers or smirks. They hold their breath as they watch. They envy her abandon, they honor his goodness. Middle schoolers, friends. And nobody laughs.
A three-year-old at a children’s holy hour1 runs to the foot of the altar and reaches for the monstrance, shouting in the same voice he uses to demand cookies, “OOOHHHHH! I want JESUS!!”
A twelve-year-old girl comes up to me after a talk at her youth group. She hugs me and slips three dollars into my hand “to help.” A widow’s mite.
Catherine sits with me at Mass every day so that I can take care of one of the twins while she watches John Paul and Cecilia. She carries Cecilia to communion and holds her hand as we walk to the car. Catherine is ten and has no connection to the family except that she sits on the same side of the church as us. But every day she comes and minds the toddlers so I can mind the baby. I could not do it without her.
And finally:
And if that doesn’t make your heart smile a little bit, I don’t know what will.
- God bless that priest! [↩]
:’) how blessed you are!
Reading this was a treat for my soul! Thanks Meg, I needed that!
Oh, they are just precious! Enjoy your time with them. God bless, Cindy