A loving soul harbors God

By Mary Regina Morrell
©Catholic Online 2005

___________________

"There is no such thing as a "self-made" man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success." George Matthew Adams

___________________

Recently, while looking through a pile of papers that my son had given me to sign, I came across one that was an invitation to him, as a member of the school's Theatre Company, to fill out a Who's Who questionnaire for the spring production program.

One of the questions was, "What is your favorite quote?"

I remembered having to choose such a quote myself for my high school year book, as countless others have done since then. Mine had been one of the beatitudes, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God."

Certainly, it remains one of my favorites - a way of life for which to strive rather than just a pithy saying - but I wondered what I would choose today if I had to answer that question all over again.

Being a writer, my files are filled with quotations that have struck me at one time or another as being thought-provoking. But when I received a very beautiful letter recently from someone very special to me, a quote came to mind that would be my favorite at this point in my life -- "Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another." (George Eliot)

I have been greatly blessed in my lifetime to have experienced the influence of such loving human souls - people who, if only for a moment, were able to empty themselves of self and walk in another's shoes.

These were the people who listened, who cared, who responded, not because they were expected to or obligated to but because they chose to. These are people who have truly chosen to walk in the sandals and footsteps of Jesus, though they might not recognize the wonder of what they do.

Maureen was one of those people. A kind, humble, simple woman, she was forever baking cookies and filling up a vase with flowers from her garden. Her house was so small her cats could barely find room to linger but it was as cheerful as the sunshine itself, as was Maureen.

I often found it difficult to understand how, and why, she always radiated such warmth and joy, especially after the death of two sons. Whenever I was troubled we would sit around her table, drinking tea and eating cookies, and she would remind me "Trust in God and enjoy the day he has given you. You will have time to cry tomorrow, if tomorrow is one of God's gifts."

It was she who gave me a well-worn rayer card that reads, "Trust the past to God's mercy, the present to God's love and the future to God's providence."

But Maureen gave me something more valuable than good advice. She gave me a piece of herself. This was possible for her because she was a woman with a powerful faith in God and, so, a woman without fear. It was not a gift I could put out on display, but one that has a more permanent place in my heart.

Today when I think of Maureen I am reminded of another favorite quote: "Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love."

Contact

Diocese of Metuchen
http://diometuchen.org NJ, US
Mary Regina Morrell - Associate Director, Office of Religious Education, 732 562-1990

Email

mmorrell@diometuchen.org

Keywords

God, love, soul, harbor

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