Gracie: God holds on to you and never lets go. But you can't feel him holding on, can you?
Me: Sometimes you can
Gracie: What does he hold on to?
Me: Your heart.
Gracie: Oh! Your heart beating is how you feel God holding on!
* * *
Over the last few days, it has been obvious that Gracie's heart has been open to the voice of the Good Shepherd. He has been working through her that is for sure.
This last Sunday I had no duties at the parish where I work so we went to our home parish. During the homily Gracie was finger crocheting. At first I was leery about whether it was a good idea for her to bring it in. I am now convinced that it was a good thing. She was so engaged in the everything that the priest was saying. She was chatty during the homily. She was asking questions, "Daddy, what does that mean? Mommy, that's funny, right?" It was so refreshing. Justin and I were happy to have her participating on a new level.
Toward the end of the homily, the lady sitting next to me, while staring strait ahead, said, "I wish your daughter would shut up." I was mortified, embarrassed. It took every ounce of me to not retort back to her in defense of Gracie's new level of engagement at mass. As I stood up for the creed Gracie whispered, Mommy, I need to tell you something. I bent down to hear her. With a beaming smile, Mimi said we are supposed to pray for people who are mean. The tears welled up in my eyes. All my anger vanished. I was able then to offer up the gift of my portion of the Eucharist for this very angry woman. She refused to shake my hand at the kiss of peace. It was ok. I will continue to hold her in my prayers at the reminder of my daughter.
As I mentioned in my previous post, The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is intent on listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd with children, as they are so much closer to the Kingdom. These recent moments have helped me to enter my work in Catechesis with a new sense humility at the wisdom that the child reflecting on the life of the Good Shepherd has to offer.
Toward the end of the homily, the lady sitting next to me, while staring strait ahead, said, "I wish your daughter would shut up." I was mortified, embarrassed. It took every ounce of me to not retort back to her in defense of Gracie's new level of engagement at mass. As I stood up for the creed Gracie whispered, Mommy, I need to tell you something. I bent down to hear her. With a beaming smile, Mimi said we are supposed to pray for people who are mean. The tears welled up in my eyes. All my anger vanished. I was able then to offer up the gift of my portion of the Eucharist for this very angry woman. She refused to shake my hand at the kiss of peace. It was ok. I will continue to hold her in my prayers at the reminder of my daughter.
As I mentioned in my previous post, The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is intent on listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd with children, as they are so much closer to the Kingdom. These recent moments have helped me to enter my work in Catechesis with a new sense humility at the wisdom that the child reflecting on the life of the Good Shepherd has to offer.
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