A Meal Grown with Love

Mashed potatoes, harvested on this day.  Garden fresh tomatoes with green onions that had grown along side. Cool cucumbers off the vine. Bruschetta made with garlic and herbs picked just moments before. The chicken had been marinating in tarragon and rosemary, again grown just metres from our door.

A fine meal brought to the table courtesy of sun, rain, soil and a loving God who created all.  This excellent repast gave the pre-meal Grace special meaning today.  For all of this, again, I thank you dear God.

Socks

Yesterday, I bought socks, by the dozens, with the intent of donating these to the homeless in our community with notes attached from my Children's Liturgy friends.

My older son, seeing the piles of socks, asked if he could have some.

Of course, I obliged. I can always pick up more socks. Little did I know that my own child would benefit from my planned generosity.  I wonder what he would have thought if there was a note attached?

Careful What You Say

A couple that we met today shared a common experience with us.  The lady's left foot was in an Aircast, just like my husband's left foot. It is always interesting to see conversations begin from these visible commonalities.

As my husband spoke of what he can not do this summer being hindered by the left foot cast, the gentleman spoke of a young co-worker who often came to work driving  his father's Mustang because the father was laid up and could not drive it.

Later in the afternoon, my son joined us at this family gathering.  As God had planned it, the gentleman that my husband and I were speaking with is a co-worker of my son's.  This new friend was telling us about my son and my husband's car.

Yet, one more time, our dear Lord chose to help us to understand why we must always be careful what we say.

Gathering

My older son went home this afternoon.  He lives with one room mate and his conure in a small Toronto apartment. As I drove him to the bus station he commented that when he lived at home he did not realize how busy our household is.  Now, having been away for years, the constant and continuing flow of seven people, in and out of the house is dizzying to him.  I think I can understand how our brand of chaos can sometimes feel like that.

We were invited to a porketta roast this afternoon. This was a large family gathering with over 35 people gather to share a delicious meal. My niece, the hostess of this event commented to me how she likes dinners at my house because our 'family' consists of my little group of seven, her husband, her son and herself - only ten people.

It is all perspective.

Happy Day

August 26, 1950 is the day that my parents were wed.  Over sixty years ago they joined hands and hearts for 54 years of marriage - some days good, some days not...but all days were loving.

When my father passed away in 2004, we anticipated that my mother would continue to live forever, but it seems that her body had other ideas.  Arthritis stiffened her limbs eventually taking even her ability to walk.  It seems that her body chose to enact this autoimmune disorder in reaction to her lost love.

My mom's earthly journey ended last October.  This is the first Anniversary that the two are reunited.  I can picture them, bodies waltzing in eternal unison, continuing the dance of love they started so many years ago.

People Matter

"People who matter are most aware that everyone else does, too." 

Malcolm Forbes

Today I was asked by a lady for some spare change.  I make it a habit to not just give spare change. On this day, I simply walked past this lady.  I suspect that even though she asked, she did not expect an answer.  She seemed accustomed to being invisible.

Although I was in a hurry to get to my next destination, what would it have cost to respond, even if it were to say 'no' or better yet to say 'hello'?

I am still learning at this game called 'life'.  I hope next time to respond. To show a stranger that he or she is NOT invisible, but important.  After all who am I to judge who should be rendered important or not?

Thank You

Think about it!

Did we really need a commercial to remind us to be kind, generous, thoughtful...?