It was milder this morning, about 46°, which felt almost warm after the frosty days we’ve had. The gravel road was damp but not frozen, and the air smelled sweet and earthy. Robert’s pickup rumbled up right on time, and Mini gave her little hop of excitement before he helped her into the cab. At church, Father LeRoy already had the wood stove going, and the warmth filled the plaster walls so nicely.
Today’s Gospel reading was from Saint Luke, about Jesus telling the Pharisee not to invite only his friends or relatives to dinner, but to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Father LeRoy said that Jesus wants us to give without expecting anything in return—that’s how we share in God’s generosity. He told us that true charity means doing good quietly, for those who cannot repay us, because God Himself will repay in His own time. I liked that. I thought about how Sister Mary Claire always saves a basket of eggs for Mrs. Donovan at the edge of town. She never tells anyone.
Mini stayed perfectly still under the pew between my legs, her warm little body pressed against my shoes. I think she likes the quiet hum of Father’s voice and the soft echo of prayers around her. When we knelt, she shifted just enough to keep her chin on my shoe.
After chores this evening, Sister read a few pages from The Glories of Mary, and Mini snoozed beside the stove. The night feels gentle and peaceful, and I keep thinking about how kindness doesn’t always have to be seen to be real.
Evening Prayer:
Dear Jesus, teach me to give with a happy heart, and to love others the way You do, quietly and kindly.
Amen.
Love, Kathy
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