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Even in a grist mill there are miracles to be found
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By Mary Regina Morrell
©Catholic Online 2005
"Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth . . ." (Acts 2:33)
It's amazing how fast our hopes are raised and how quickly they are dashed to the ground. Take last week, for example. Getting to the office just after the mail was delivered, our extremely adept receptionist, Catherine, was quick to hand me an official looking envelope. "It could be a check," she said excitedly.
Looking it over, I was happy to agree to the possibility. The return address was Chicago, the location of the publisher from whom I was expecting some funds. I stuck my finger in a small opening and roughly tore the envelope open.
Sliding the contents out, I was struck by the large words printed in red: "YOU HAVE EXHAUSTED OUR PATIENCE!'
In that second I knew - another creditor. Disappointed, but not surprised, I stuffed the card back in the envelope and stuffed that back in my brief case to be relegated at home to one of several plastic supermarket bags that hold all my unpaid bills. Talk about exhausting someone's patience!
I had to admit, though, that the frustrated parent approach, unique among the creditors I have previously dealt with, left a lasting impression on me. I suppose it was because I could empathize, being a frequently frustrated parent myself.
With six children at home you can be sure that what one hasn't thought of doing or not doing, the others are sure to include in their youthful repertoire of choices.
In our home we have run the gamut of bad report cards, summer school, traffic tickets, dropping out of college, drinking, occasional visits from the local constabularies, falling away from the Church and a host of other frustrating scenarios common among youth. Honestly, there were many times when I questioned my own abilities as a parent and wondered where God was in all of the confusion.
The miracles I prayed for didn't always happen -- except when I prayed for certain gifts. We know them as the gifts of the Spirit. When I stopped praying only for intervention and began praying for wisdom, understanding, knowledge, reverence, courage, right judgment and wonder, for myself and my children, I was never disappointed.
Life has been the grist in the mill for my children, as for all God's children, but it is the gifts of the Spirit that have brought miracles into all our lives.
When I heard one of my more "single-minded" sons say to me, "I'm going to apply for a second job," I knew another of my prayers was being answered and a miracle was in the making.
Now, if someone could just help me up off the floor....
Contact
Diocese of Metuchen
http://www.diometuchen.org
NJ, US
Mary Regina Morrell - Associate Director, Office of Religious Education, 732 562.1990
mreginam@aol.com
Keywords
miracles, prayer, Spirit
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