The Best Gift

Jackson at the prayer table during Holy Week. 

 Two days ago I turned 32.  It was a wonderful day, complete with breakfast in bed (sourdough pancakes with chocolate hazelnut butter & bacon), a parish volunteer dinner extravaganza (people accused me of planning a really wonderful birthday party for myself.  What can I say?  I love Mexican food--and volunteers!), and then a bedtime prayer service planned by A & J where Jess read the blessing while Ani doused me in Holy water.  I couldn't really ask for more, but our extravagant God is, well, extravagant . . . 

Opening up the model Tabernacle.

Near the end of the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, my aunt, who works in our Atrium for 3 to 6 year old children with me and another teacher on Wednesday mornings, asked if she could show her 20 year-old daughter the classroom.  As I went downstairs to open it up for them, a few children joined us.  First it was only Jackson and Aunt Janet's younger daughters, but before too long we had 7 children busily at work. 

One grabbed an apron and began to water the plants, another stepped up to the foot stool by the counter and mixed some Leaven.  Jackson, my crazy, wonderful, almost 4-year old raced from the Map of Israel to the Infancy narratives and demanded to be told the "Adoration of the Magi" and "The Presentation at the Temple."  Thinking he was only looking for an abbreviated version, I began to summarize the events of the 3 kings' visit to Jesus, "Wait!"  Jackson stopped me, "We need The Book."  He dashed over to the prayer table and came back proudly bearing the Bible.  What can one do in a situation like this except open up to the Gospel of Matthew and proclaim the Word of God? 

After setting the model Altar. 

This year has held so many wonders for me, but one of the greatest is the gift of being with children as they delve into their relationship with God. 

In a recent publication of the Journal of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a United States catechist told of visiting with Sofia Cavalletti, one of the co-founders of CGS, many years ago in her home in Rome, Italy.  The catechist had prepared a careful speech telling Sofia how much her "yes" to God in her work with the children had enriched this catechist's own life.  Sofia looked at her and said, "I didn't say 'yes.'  I was given a gift and I said, 'Thank you.'"

So it is with motherhood and ministry.  Thank you for the gifts that take us by surprise!

PS--Our parish uses a process of spiritual formation for children called The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  To learn more you can go to the National Association's website at:  www.cgsusa.org