Quick Trip to Indian Creek

Dear Diary,

This morning at Mass, Father LeRoy talked about how Jesus told Peter that one day he would follow Him even all the way to the cross. Peter loved Jesus very much, but he was still a little afraid because he remembered how he had failed before. Father said Jesus didn’t tell him this to scare him, but to comfort him, and to show him that his love would grow strong enough to carry even a heavy cross.

On the ride home, I kept thinking about that. Father said there are two kinds of crosses—ones we choose for love of Jesus, like little sacrifices, and ones that come to us that we didn’t choose at all. Those are harder, but they count so much when we carry them patiently. I tried to understand that in my own little way. Maybe it means being cheerful when things don’t go just right, or waiting quietly when I want something very much.

And oh, I am waiting! I am so excited to make more tape recordings of prayers, but I have to wait for the mailman to bring my new tape cassettes. I keep listening for his truck and watching down the road. I’m trying to be patient about it, offering that waiting up to Jesus like Father said. Maybe even that can be a little cross.

Before dark, Mini and I hurried down to the cave. The air was getting cool and still, and everything felt quiet like the day was folding up. Shaggy Coat was there by the water, and when he saw us, he didn’t run away. I knelt down very slowly, and he let me pet his little head. His fur felt soft and damp, and I gave him a carrot which he took so gently. It made my heart feel so warm, like a tiny secret friendship.

Walking back, I thought about Peter again. Maybe loving Jesus means staying close to Him, even when things are hard or when we don’t understand everything yet. Just like following a path through the woods, one step at a time.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus,

please help me to love You like Peter did, even when I feel small or unsure.

Teach me to carry my little crosses patiently and to offer them to You with a quiet heart.

Bless the mailman on his way, and thank You for the joy of small things, like kind animals and peaceful evenings.

Stay close to me, dear Jesus, and help me always to follow You.

Amen.

Love,

Kathy,

The Lord's Prayer 

The Circling Year

Dear Diary, 

This morning the sun came up soft and golden over the pasture, and Mini and I sat on the old bench watching the cows. The sky looked so wide and quiet, like it was holding a secret. I kept thinking about what Father LeRoy said—how Jesus asked Peter, “Lovest thou Me more than these?”

I tried to imagine Jesus asking me that while I sat there. Not in a big, scary way—but gently, like the sunrise. “Kathy, do you love Me?”

And I thought… I do love Him. But sometimes I love other things too—like being comfortable, or having things go my way, or not wanting to do hard chores. It made me feel a little small, like Peter must have felt. Not sad exactly, just quiet inside.

The cows didn’t hurry. They just kept grazing, peaceful and steady. And it felt like maybe that’s how love should be—simple and steady, not loud. Just doing what needs to be done, because you love.

I reached down and scratched Mini behind her ears, and I whispered, “Jesus, You know I love You.” I think that’s the best I can say right now. And maybe tomorrow I can show it a little better.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus,

When You ask me if I love You, help me answer with my whole life.

Teach me to choose You in the little things, even when it is hard or quiet or unseen.

You know my heart—please make it love You more.

Amen.

Love,

Kathy

 A Little Prayer to our Dear Mother

Third Sunday After Easter

 
Dear Diary,

It was a cool morning, and the air felt soft and a little quiet, like it was thinking about something. Robert picked us up as usual and right on time, and we all rode to Church together—Sister Mary Claire, Mini, and me. Mini sat so nicely, just watching out the window with her little ears up.

When we got to St. Mary’s, we went inside and it felt warm and cozy with the wood stove gently burning. The soft crackling made everything feel safe and peaceful. I held Mini close for a moment before we found our place together.

Father LeRoy talked in his homily about how Jesus told His disciples that they would have hard times, even while the world around them seemed happy. I’m not sure I understood it all at first, because it sounded a little sad to me.

But then Sister Mary Claire whispered to me that even though things can be hard when we follow Jesus, He puts a quiet kind of joy inside us that no one else can see. Not the loud, laughing kind—but a peaceful, hidden joy that comes from loving Him. That made it feel different to me, like the hard things weren’t empty after all.

Father said that God sees those hard things as very precious, even if the world doesn’t understand. I tried to think about that while I knelt there, and I asked Jesus to help me believe it.

On the ride home, I held Mini and looked out at the fields. Everything looked so simple and still, but I started to think that maybe those hidden joys are like little gifts tucked inside ordinary things—like sitting close together in the truck, the warmth after the cold, or even just knowing Jesus is near, even if I can’t see Him. It felt like a quiet happiness, the kind you don’t have to say out loud.

Tonight, I want to try to carry my little crosses without complaining, even the small ones. Maybe Jesus will tuck that quiet joy inside them.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus,

please help me understand You better,

even when things feel hard or confusing.

Put Your quiet joy in my heart,

and help me trust that You are always near.

Amen.

Love,

Kathy

The Prayer Jesus Taught Us

Dear Diary,

This morning Sister Mary Claire had me record the Our Father. Before I began, she reminded me that it is the prayer Jesus Himself taught us, which is why it is such a beautiful way to begin the day.

She said it gives God first place before all our work and worries. It also teaches us everything we truly need to ask for—our daily bread, forgiveness, and help to stay close to God.

When I recited it, I tried to say it slowly and with love. It made me feel peaceful to think that Jesus gave us this prayer Himself.

Tonight I am thankful that my recording was just the Our Father. It is a simple prayer, but it holds so much.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for teaching us the Our Father. Please help me to pray it with love and mean every word. Keep us safe tonight. Amen.

Love,

Kathy

Jesus Is So Gentle

Dear Diary,

This morning Sister Mary Claire and I walked down to the mailbox, and Robert picked us up as usual and right on time. Mini came along too, trotting beside us like she belonged to the whole trip. It was a quiet sort of morning, and I felt glad we were going to St. Mary’s.

At morning Mass, Father LeRoy talked about the holy women meeting Jesus on the path after He rose from the dead. They were hurrying along, trembling and full of love, and then all at once Jesus came to meet them. Father said that Jesus was so gentle with them. He did not speak in any hard way at all. He just said, “Fear not,” and let them come close to Him and hold His feet and adore Him.

I kept thinking how good Jesus is. He knows when people are afraid, and He does not pull away from them. He understands weakness and does not scold us for it. Instead, He comes close and gives us the courage we need. That made me feel peaceful inside, because sometimes I feel little and unsure too, and it is a comfort to know Jesus is so kind.

Father LeRoy said that Jesus still says “Fear not” to us now, especially when we stay close to Him in prayer and in Holy Communion. I thought about that for the rest of the day. It seemed to me that if I bring my worries to Jesus and lay them at His feet, then He will help me bear them. He is not only our Lord, but our Friend too.

When we came home, I still had those sweet words in my heart: “Fear not.” I want to remember them whenever I start feeling troubled.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for being so gentle and good to me. When I feel afraid or weak, please help me remember Your sweet words, “Fear not.” Keep me close to You and teach me to trust You more every day. Amen.

Love,

Kathy

Our Lady in God's First Plan

Dear Diary,

This morning after we prayed the Morning Office, Sister Mary Claire explained something beautiful to me. She said Our Lady was never an afterthought with God. He had her in His loving mind from the very beginning, even before the earth, the mountains, and the waters were made. She was part of His first dear plan for Jesus and for the whole world.

While she was telling me this, I kept thinking about our old cement statue of Mary standing on the porch under the light. It has been in our family a very long time. Long ago it stood in the courtyard of a closed convent in Boston, where it had already been watching and waiting for about eighty years. That made Sister’s words feel even sweeter to me. The statue seemed like a quiet reminder that Our Lady has been lovingly remembered for a very long time by so many hearts.

I thought how lovely it is that before there was even a Littlemore Farm, God already knew His Blessed Mother and had chosen her for something holy. The porch light shone down on that old statue so softly, and it made me think of Mary standing peaceful and steady in God’s plan from the very beginning.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank Thee for giving us Thy dear Mother in Thy first loving plan. Dear Mary, keep me close to thee tonight and always lead me to Jesus. Amen.

Love, Kathy

Morning Star

Dear Diary,

Today Sister Mary Claire and I worked on our little writing about one beautiful part of Matins, where Our Lady is called the Morning Star. Sister said that this is such a dear name because the morning star shines when the sky is still dark, but it tells us that daylight is coming. She said that is how Our Lady is for souls. She does not take the place of Jesus, who is the true Light, but she gently leads us to Him.

I liked that very much, and it made the prayer seem even sweeter to me. It felt like one little part of Matins opened up all bright and lovely, just from stopping and thinking about it awhile. Mini stayed near us while we worked, and once she looked up at Sister as if she were listening too.

It was a quiet and happy kind of study, and I felt thankful for that one shining thought from the prayer.

Love, Kathy.