While I get my thoughts, photographs and commentary from the MCHEC conference in order, I thought I would share with you a brief true story that took place last Friday.
Note: I shared this story at the conference, so if you were there you may skip this post.
Go have a coffee.
Feed your cat.
For those of you who weren’t at the conference, you should have been! (And not just for this story.) In any case, here it is:
I told the kids that we were going to Mass for First Friday. They were all on board with this announcement, except for one child who shall remain nameless and who may or may not have been a teenager.
“Look,” I said to this child, while racing through the arguments in my mind for the best possible way to win him over. “The Mass is the highest form of prayer, and you never know who may need your prayers today!”
“Mom.” (You know the tone: half groan, half please-don’t-start.)
“I’m serious! Maybe it’s the person who’s going to die this day. Maybe it’s the child who’s starving in Uganda. Maybe it’s Megan [our babysitter] who’s in Uganda right now!”
The little girls all oohed and nodded.
“Maybe,” I said, leaning forward for emphasis and because it was the last example, “It’s the soldier in Afghanistan who needs your prayer this day.”
“Fine,” said this child, worn down if not entirely convinced. “I’ll go.”
We drove downtown—and were even early—but there wasn’t a single spot in the parking lot. It turns out the parish was having a Mass for St. Boniface, and every local German (and his dog mom) was there. We had to park on the street next to a meter, and to our dismay discovered that we only had three quarters.
We have everything else on the floor of the van. Why couldn’t we have more quarters?
“It’ll be fine,” I told my middle child who is prone to fretting. “We have to trust that 30 minutes will be enough.” Still, when I saw a nice, older lady walking up to church, I approached her and held out two dimes and a nickel.
“Do you have a quarter for the meter?” I asked with a grin. “We ran out.”
(My children all stood quietly by, the undeserving victims of near-death-through-embarrassment.)
She took a small coin purse out of her bag and pressed three quarters into my hand. “No no,” I said, feeling uncomfortable with her generosity, “We only need one.”
“Take them,” she insisted, and smiled at the children.
“Okay,” I replied, “But we’ll pray for you! What’s your name?”
“My name is Sally,” the woman said, “but don’t pray for me.”
“Pray for my grandson in Afghanistan.”
And so we did.
Lesson learned.
Well, that just makes me a little teary.
Oh my goodness! What a great story. You made me laugh and cry all at the same time (or it might be the hormones). I wish I could have heard that one in person.
Amen! Arn't teenagers "great" 😉
me too, Jennie, me too 🙂
did you get a little divine quivering feeling up your spine when she said that?! I just did!
Oh, that is SUCH a wonderful story!!! WOW! One of these days I'll make it to the Conference. It's quite a hike from VA, but in my dreams I plan on attending one year!
I'm teary too.
I do not comment very often, but this had me teary eyed! I am going to share this with friends today!
Gulp.
Oh my, that gave me goose bumps!
made me cry. You are such a good story teller.
Thanks for this story…totally AWESOME!
You're welcome, Christine, and Anonymous? It's easy to tell the story when God sends you such a good one! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this with the rest of us! I'm going to pray for her grandson, also, and for all soldiers who've served and are serving our country. And especially those who made the greatest sacrifice.
Isn't it amazing, the ways God speaks to us?
God Bless,
Stacy
Stacy, her grandson's name is Bill. Thank you for praying for him and all the others.
Brought chills and tears, both in person and again just now.
Thank you again, Maggie, for everything. With Love and Blessings~
Oh, my gosh, I'm totally crying now!
I wasn't expecting that!
His name is Bill? Wow, he's getting prayers now!
That is a moment! Thanks for sharing…
What an awesome, awesome story. Teary eyed here as well.
Margaret: I thorougly enjoy your blog every day, but have never commented. I got chills when I read this post and called all the kids in to read it to them. Thank you for sharing your life with us!
Stephanie
I can't say that story didn't jerk a few tears and sniffles out of me.
Ditto what Jennie C said.
I don't often comment because I'm usually zooming through posts in google reader, but I'm a faithful reader.
Thank you for sharing this story. It brought tears to my eyes and reminded me how much God is with all of us.
That is the best story! Thanks for sharing that at the conference and again here.:)
Okay, Margaret, after Sally was out of sight, did you elbow your son in the ribs and say, "See!" I would have been sorely tempted. 🙂
Thanks for sharing that story.
Janet
Love it!
I'm sure that soldier is well-covered in prayers thanks to your family–and anyone who reads this 🙂
Our family prayed for him tonight.
You always write amazing things! Thank you so much.
well if that didn't just give me the chills!!! i just shared this story with my boys…and now my oldest is expressing his desire to be a marine…giving me more chills!!
love to you, wish i could've been at that conference! i could use a pep talk!!!
Ooh. Aah.
BRAVO! And just said a prayer for him too.
Whew — that made me start crying. You have such a wonderful way with words and expressing such emotion in those words.
Goodness.