Our family has a hard time getting everyone together at a certain time to pray the Rosary together, and so it often gets put off until later, but later usually results in our missing praying it that day altogether. Firmly but gently I informed my children that we need to pray the Rosary together every day; and that from this day forward, if one of us is occupied, the rest of us will go ahead and begin to pray.
That very day, just as we began praying, the phone rang. One of the children had a look over to see on the caller ID that it was a friend whom I never get to see any more, and rarely can be in touch with even by phone. Still, I refused to answer to the phone, continuing to pray, and our family friend's needs into our prayers. Within ten minutes somebody was at the front door. We kept praying, though my kids were eyeing me steadily to see how I would handle the interruption. I looked over at the door from where I knelt. The visitor knocked all the more determined to bring me to the door, since she could see us all gathered there. I relented and went to see what the woman wanted.
This stranger spoke my full name, which was rather frightening. And then she told me that she had my check. According to her story, a little boy in her neighborhood showed it to her, and she had driven over to get it back to me. She suggested that I had dropped it, and she wished us a happy birthday, repeating the words of the notation on the check. She had placed this gift in an envelope and written my name and "Happy Birthday!" on it. It was an amazing tale, but I opened the sealed envelope and saw the check, and I thanked her. We should have never gotten that gift, for I had not even touched it, most likely someone stole it from my mailbox.
About five minutes later, our friend tried reaching us by phone once again. She was the one who had mailed us the gift, and I assumed that she was trying to make sure that I had received the check. I waited until we had finished praying the Rosary to call her back. I let her know right away that I had never received her check, but that God had put her gift right into the hands of someone who would return it to me. My friend had felt compelled to write her phone number on that check, which she relayed was unusual for her to do. This enabled the woman to contact my friend and get my information and bring the gift over to us.
Interestingly, my friend has a very limited income with no money to spare for gifts, and certainly not to share with a thief. This good-hearted woman sent this blessing to our poor family so that my children could enjoy a rare treat at a restaurant in celebration of their birthdays. For our family, then, this gift is truly a blessing and not something that we have the means to replace or to reciprocate as in typical gift exchanges among friends. I sacrifice a whole lot for my children and trusting God to provide for our family. The woman who returned the check to me does not live in a middle-class neighborhood. She too is struggling financially. She handed over money that had fallen into her lap, because it was not hers to keep, and she went the extra mile take on the responsibility to find me and place it directly into my hands. All three of the women in this true story merit God's graces. They are blessings to others. We chose to do what is right and good even though we could choose not to give of ourselves or to suffer any loss. Our obedience does not go unnoticed by our Lord.
This is an account of a modern miracle. Praise God! Be faithful and persevere in prayer. Some blessings will not be so obvious as this one, but God will bless you abundantly as you put Him first place in your life.
Today's readings: [ 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 ] [ Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130 ] [ Romans 8:28-30 ] [ Matthew 13:44-52 ]
This stranger spoke my full name, which was rather frightening. And then she told me that she had my check. According to her story, a little boy in her neighborhood showed it to her, and she had driven over to get it back to me. She suggested that I had dropped it, and she wished us a happy birthday, repeating the words of the notation on the check. She had placed this gift in an envelope and written my name and "Happy Birthday!" on it. It was an amazing tale, but I opened the sealed envelope and saw the check, and I thanked her. We should have never gotten that gift, for I had not even touched it, most likely someone stole it from my mailbox.
About five minutes later, our friend tried reaching us by phone once again. She was the one who had mailed us the gift, and I assumed that she was trying to make sure that I had received the check. I waited until we had finished praying the Rosary to call her back. I let her know right away that I had never received her check, but that God had put her gift right into the hands of someone who would return it to me. My friend had felt compelled to write her phone number on that check, which she relayed was unusual for her to do. This enabled the woman to contact my friend and get my information and bring the gift over to us.
Interestingly, my friend has a very limited income with no money to spare for gifts, and certainly not to share with a thief. This good-hearted woman sent this blessing to our poor family so that my children could enjoy a rare treat at a restaurant in celebration of their birthdays. For our family, then, this gift is truly a blessing and not something that we have the means to replace or to reciprocate as in typical gift exchanges among friends. I sacrifice a whole lot for my children and trusting God to provide for our family. The woman who returned the check to me does not live in a middle-class neighborhood. She too is struggling financially. She handed over money that had fallen into her lap, because it was not hers to keep, and she went the extra mile take on the responsibility to find me and place it directly into my hands. All three of the women in this true story merit God's graces. They are blessings to others. We chose to do what is right and good even though we could choose not to give of ourselves or to suffer any loss. Our obedience does not go unnoticed by our Lord.
This is an account of a modern miracle. Praise God! Be faithful and persevere in prayer. Some blessings will not be so obvious as this one, but God will bless you abundantly as you put Him first place in your life.
Today's readings: [ 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 ] [ Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130 ] [ Romans 8:28-30 ] [ Matthew 13:44-52 ]
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