After the last prayer, she turned to me and boldly asked, “Where does it say, To whom much is given, much is expected?” I awkwardly stuttered something insufficient, “Well, um, I am not sure but I think Jesus said something like that in one of the gospels. Why do you ask?” She paused for what… Read More Much Is Given
Watching the neighborhood kids play merrily in a mid-winter rain delighted my weary soul. Inclement weather does not seem to spoil their resilience or outdoor fun. Have you ever noticed that children seem to easily discover their daily purpose? Their imaginations lead them confidently in the right direction every time. Kids don’t waste a moment… Read More Play in the Rain
The snow fell out of a dark, cold December sky and settled quietly onto the frozen ground. It continued in earnest throughout the frigid night turning the brown Maine landscape into a snowy winter wonderland. We awoke to the raw beauty of a pure white panorama – untouched and awaiting our imprint – much like… Read More Pause Awhile…
“I’m not in any pain – you are. That is why I worry about you.” These words echo through my heart almost daily. I think of her selfless disposition, especially later in life, in the midst of her heroic battle with cancer. She rarely put herself first, if ever, always thinking of the needs of… Read More For the Others
His greeting was like a warm blanket on a cold winter’s night. It put an instant smile on everyone’s face. I could be having a tough morning but the moment I saw him near my office behind Mrs. Howard’s desk, clad in his signature red Montrose jacket and cap, my day would become instantly better.… Read More Like A Million
“I don’t want any Christmas or birthday presents this year…please. Just take me out to dinner and let’s be together. Not to be so introspective but today made me truly realize that things are really useless and we just need each other and I really don’t want you to get me stuff. I just want… Read More The empty ballet shoe
I hesitated to embark on my daily walk with the temperatures reaching a chilly 27 degrees. But something inside pushed me to bundle up and take the dog for her much needed walk. As I emerged from the warmth of my cozy home, ready to take on the first real cold day of the season,… Read More We are All in this Together
She loved this time of year – the smell of cinnamon and apples, the brightly colored leaves falling from tall trees and the lazy Sunday afternoons watching football. Despite the impending cold, there was something magical about autumn weather. It was palpable – almost like you could reach out and grab the crispness and sunshine… Read More Who’s in your Gang?
The car pulled up to the curb just at the prescribed time. We scrambled to move our huge bags down from Grace’s upstairs apartment, but dawdled due to exhaustion from the weekend’s amazing festivities. It had been a magical wedding celebration between two people who were deeply in love. Watching them joyfully make a lifetime… Read More Through the Red Door
She stepped out of her large SUV and walked toward the house with a gentle smile. I had just pulled into the driveway from Sunday morning Mass and greeted her with open arms. “I figured you’d be home soon,” she said. “I just came by to give you these flowers. I imagined today would be… Read More Kindness Matters
The moment she approached the counter, I knew something was wrong. Her signature smile and characteristically chipper personality were noticeably absent on this chilly fall morning. I gently enquired as to her well-being and without a pause, she willingly shared the reason for her sadness. She was exhausted from working double shifts, getting little sleep… Read More Persevere in Faith
The delicious smells emanating from her kitchen made your hungry stomach rumble in anticipation of a scrumptious meal. Appetizers of every variety would be lovingly displayed on the center island accompanied by matching napkins and serving plates. She would have anticipated every person’s drink preference – the beautiful bottles of wine and spirits would be… Read More Take the Last Seat
When I walked up to the desk to register for my appointment, I looked around the waiting room in amazement. Did the man sitting to my left realize that his phone was on speaker mode? He was carrying on a loud personal conversation about a student and seemed quite relaxed about the whole thing, even… Read More Turn off your Speaker!
The air is light, the soul is content and the heart is happy when one departs from worldly concerns to rest awhile on vacation. It could be a serene spot near the bluest ocean, majestic mountain, medieval forest or perhaps a visit to a fabulous foreign city – the delightful adventure is always the same.… Read More Beauty and the Beach
Standing at the counter of my favorite coffee shop early one morning, I was taken aback when a man barged in front of me boldly stating “I called in my order!” He proceeded to interrupt me and confuse the attentive young gal working at the counter. She looked to me and I whispered “It’s okay.”… Read More Go and do likewise.
Strolling in the early morning light along a scenic tree-lined road, I marveled at the sheer beauty of my surroundings. The deep green leaves on the majestic trees above created a canopy of shade, shielding my friend and me from the hot July sun. We walked in silence quietly pondering the many ways in which… Read More Listen
The stately Cape Cod home beckons you forward from its hilltop perch above the Atlantic. As you approach the side door anticipation grips your heart. Entering, you dash up the short corridor and step into the sun drenched room – windows line the entire back wall – and experience something quite rare, total love and… Read More The Kitchen
It was the end of a long evening walk with my little dog Hannah. We were slowly heading up a steep hill – one that we often avoid – when my eye caught something different behind us. I paused for a moment to get a better view. Coming toward us was a teen boy and… Read More Encounter
The early morning sun shone brightly on the faces of happy children as they skipped toward their last day of school. A small girl clutching a bright summer flower caught my eye. I watched her hold it out to an aging crossing guard who smiled at the generous gift and said “This is exactly what… Read More Seasons of Life
Reflections from our 20th Anniversary trip to Hawaii – 6 years ago. It’s the last precious morning of our tranquil vacation in beautiful Hawaii. As I’ve done all week, I woke early to greet the sunrise. Amazingly, each day, it is always the same…the sun rises from the depths of it’s earthly slumber to shed… Read More Sunrise
