From the Archives: For Her Family

This post was originally published at The Happy, Resourceful Home on September 11, 2011.

Each Tuesday there is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the local Catholic Church.  It's from 5-7pm.  That's usually when the baby needs to be fed and dinner needs to be made, served, and then cleaned up.  It's not the best time in the world to get three kids ready, in their carseats, and then into Church and seated calmly for Holy Hour.  However, we go for 20-30 minutes each Tuesday.  I'll be the first to admit that sometimes it's an interior struggle to get myself geared up to make it on time.  It would be easier to simply stay home and say some prayers, but I want my children to have the experience of prayer in the Presence of Our Lord, so we go. 

And it is at Tuesday evening adoration that we have met some of the most wonderful people . . . many of them elderly.  There is one lady in particular who is dear to us. She comes every Tuesday.  She walks from her home behind her walker if she doesn't have a ride.  She is small, with a slight bent in her back.  It is evident that her body is now weak, but her soul is alive . . . and beautiful!  She stays for the entire two hours and then goes back home.  My children and I are drawn to her.  She radiates joy and I can tell that there is much more to her than an exterior that is fast failing her.  She does not hear well, so it makes it difficult to communicate with her.  But she smiles when she sees my children and I sense that she enjoys seeing us as much as we enjoy seeing her.  She told me that she had 8 living children and two who died due to miscarriages.  And it was only recently that I learned that she was left to raise her children on her own. 

The other week the air conditioning was not working in the Church.  It was hot . . . very, very hot.  I was worried about our elderly friend sticking it out for two hours in the heat.  I asked another regular if we could do something about the air since I was worried about the older members of the parish present that night.  The lady went over to our elderly friend and asked if she wanted a ride home early.  Our friend's response?  She was doing it for her children.  Her entire back was drenched in sweat; she was clearly quite warm, and yet she was offering it up for her children. 

I was so moved by her response.  How often do I complain of little inconveniences?  How often do I miss opportunities to give those inconveniences to God?  I have learned so much from our elderly friend's quiet example.  Life has thrown her some curve balls and the years have been hard, and yet there she sits every Tuesday night offering her prayers for her family.  She could offer all the excuses in the world, and she would be right, and yet, she is faithful. 

This past weekend we were looking for a pew in which to sit for Mass.  I spotted our elderly friend, all alone at the end of an empty pew, hunched behind her walker, silently engrossed in prayer.   I knew where we were going to sit. 

Sometimes God sends people into our lives, and if we're paying attention, it is through their example that He speaks.  Our elderly friend does not know it, but she has inspired my Faith and changed my life.