November 19, 2023
I was in the midst of a not-so-good day last Thursday. We all have them, I suspect. I can’t say it was anything in particular that had me down, but I couldn’t seem to shake the blues I was feeling that overcast November afternoon.
On my desk sat letters to open and messages to return; finances to review and the results of the recent parish survey. One particular envelope had a little weight to it, so curiosity got the best of me, and I opened it first.
Imagine my surprise when out fell a stack of beautiful hand-painted bookmarks that a parishioner has been working on the past few years during a time of serious illness in her life. In the note that accompanied her watercolors, she wrote this: “God’s grace gave me this gift which I discovered while bed-bound, and I want you to share these bookmarks with others who might need them.”
Little did she know that I was the one that needed to see them that day.
As promised, I will share with these mini-treasures with others in our parish who are homebound. Each bookmark is a fruit of this parishioner’s prayer and the suffering that she offers back to God for the intentions of all of us at Immaculate Conception/St. Jude. Truly, there are so many hidden saints among us, and we are all the better for the often hidden ways they bring light and love into our world.
Have no doubt, by the way, that one of those bookmarks will forever remain with me on my office desk for those days when tiredness and frustration sets-in. Beneath a leafy stem of red roses are the words: “Faith. Hope. Laugh. Joy. Believe. Love.” Certainly, good reminders of God’s presence on tough days …
On behalf of Fr. Jerry, our deacons and parish staff, we wish you and your families a blessed Thanksgiving Day. Know how grateful we are for your prayers, support, and presence in our parish community.