Dear Diary,
January 25, 1956
This morning, as I stepped into the kitchen to warm my hands over the woodstove, I saw that Sister Mary Claire had circled today’s date--January 25th--on the calendar. I immediately knew it was a special day: the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Sister explained that it celebrates the miraculous transformation of Saul into Paul, an enemy of Christ who became one of His greatest apostles.
The temperatures had moderated to 21 degrees, which was a relief after the bitter cold of the past weeks. Since Robert had to take a little job in town today, we couldn’t rely on him for a ride. But honestly, I was glad to walk again. The gravel road felt good under our boots, and the crisp air on our faces reminded us of God’s handiwork.
Mass was beautiful. Father LeRoy preached about how Christ’s light pierced the darkness of Saul’s heart, turning his fury into love and his zeal into grace. Afterward, Sister and I stayed to read the meditation on St. Paul’s conversion. It spoke of how Jesus, with infinite patience, stopped Saul in his tracks--not to punish him but to guide him toward truth. The line that struck me most was about how Saul’s blindness symbolized the inner light Christ was kindling in his soul.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Paul’s total surrender. The words, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me do?” echoed in my heart. Imagine being so open to God’s will that every action becomes a reflection of His divine plan! I prayed that I, too, could have the courage to trust Him that much.
For lunch, Sister made grilled cheese sandwiches with ketchup and sweet pickles on the side. It was simple but delicious--just the kind of meal to warm us up after the walk back home. Mini kept trying to nudge her nose toward the plate, but I managed to distract her with her squeak ball.
Now, as the day winds down, I find myself thinking about St. Paul’s readiness to leave everything behind for Christ. I want to carry that same spirit into my daily life, whether it’s walking to Mass, gathering eggs for the Breakfast Club, or taking care of Mini and Omelette.
Before bed, Sister Mary Claire and I knelt together for our evening prayer:
Dear Jesus,
We thank You for the example of St. Paul, who turned his heart fully to You and became a vessel of Your grace. May we, too, be transformed by Your light, letting it guide us through moments of doubt, fear, and uncertainty. Teach us to say, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me do?” in all things, surrendering ourselves to Your holy will.
Bless our family, our neighbors, and all those who, like Robert, work so hard to keep their homes and dreams afloat. Grant us the grace to find You in our everyday tasks and to love You with the same fervor St. Paul carried to the ends of the earth.
May we sleep peacefully tonight, trusting that You are always with us, and wake tomorrow ready to serve You anew.
Amen.
Goodnight, Dear Diary. My heart feels full tonight.
With love,
Kathy
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