Dear Diary

 

Dear Diary,

“The Holy Ghost gives us the gifts we need to be saints.”

This morning, while Mini circled the mailbox sniffing dandelions, Sister Mary Claire and I waited for Robert’s pickup. The rain from yesterday had settled the dust, and the air smelled clean and green. When Robert pulled up, he gave us that cheerful nod he always does, and Mini jumped into the truck like she’d been invited—which, of course, she always is.

Sister brought along our meditation on the seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost, and we read it quietly as we rode. She whispered little bits to me between turns in the road, and Robert listened while keeping both hands on the wheel. He said, “I’ve always prayed for wisdom, but I forget the Holy Ghost is the one who gives it.” I liked that he said “prayed” and not just “hoped.”

At Holy Mass, Father LeRoy’s homily followed right along. He said the Gifts—Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord—help us not only do what is right, but love doing it. He said it’s not enough to know the way—we need the strength to walk it and the love to keep going when it gets steep.

On the ride home, Robert spoke up again. “I think Fortitude’s the one I forget,” he said. “But maybe that’s the one I use most, just doing what needs done every day.” Sister nodded and said something lovely: “Sometimes we climb the ladder to Heaven by sweeping the porch or forgiving a neighbor.” I looked out the window and saw the corn standing straight and green, like each stalk was listening too.

After we got home, Sister and I packed a little lunch and went down to the big rock at the edge of the field. It’s just about a mile from St. Mary’s Church if you follow the winding lane. The breeze was soft, and the birds were chattering like schoolchildren. Mini curled up next to us, and we sat a long time, not saying much.

I thought about the Gifts again, and I wrote them out in my notebook—each one in its own line, like petals of a flower. I want to ask for them every day, even if I don’t understand them fully. Maybe the Holy Ghost likes it when we ask anyway.

Evening Prayer:

Holy Ghost, thank You for the ride to Mass, for kind voices and quiet fields, and for the Gifts You give. Please grow them in me: make me wise, gentle, and strong. Let me love You with all my heart and walk the mile to Heaven one quiet day at a time. Amen.

Love, Kathy