Believing

Fr. Kevin said that he was one of four priests who took part in a wedding on Saturday.  The bride has spina bifida and is in a wheelchair.  He said it was one of the most special times in his priesthood.

I'm thinking that we know the mother of the bride because years ago she spoke at a Magnificat breakfast.  She had a number of adopted children at that time, one of whom had a very serious illness and needed hospitalization and complicated surgery.  A younger daughter who was also very ill had to be left at home in the care of hired nurses, who although they tried to do a good job did not notice the early signs of trouble.  That trouble led to the little girl's death, and the mother was still just terribly sad at her loss.

One of the most remarkable parts of the story that she told is that the day after the little girl died, a friend called who also had a special needs child.  The friend inquired about the little girl, not knowing what had happened.  When she was told, she expressed her profound grief, and then suddenly said, "Oh, my goodness, now I know what Jimmy (made up name) was talking about this morning."

The woman went on to say that her son had told her that the little girl had come to his room the night before, and he was so surprised, particularly because she was DANCING.  This little girl had never been able to dance.  He kept saying she was so happy, so joyful.  He had no trouble believing in the miracle of being able to see her again, of being able to share in her happiness, and perhaps even to anticipate what awaits him when his own time comes.

That's what I love about children.  They are so willing to believe.  If they can believe an older, obese man wearing awfully heavy and hot clothing no one would choose can huff and puff all over the world in a single night bringing sacks full of toys and assisted by diminutive little people -- if they can believe that a bunny comes on Easter morning to each house bringing not only candy but also eggs AND he has the time to hide them -- if they can believe that a fairy knows when they've lost a tooth and flies to their house, takes the tooth from under their bed and leaves money -- then why should it surprise us that children believe in actual miracles.

And that's what God wants of us -- to believe as the little children do.  To never lose that wonder, that sense of the amazing, that willingness to credit God, and to never forget what children understand so well -- that stuff happens we can't figure out from science.

I have absolutely no doubt that the little special needs boy saw his friend that night; she wanted him to know that everything was all right. 

A friend of mine died from ovarian cancer.  During her final days in the hospital, a nurse asked about the fragrance in her room -- the scent of roses.  She wondered who was wearing that perfume.  No one was.  The scent that she noticed was the presence of Mary. 

A few days after she died, I had a vivid dream about her and saw her at some sort of event.  I was shocked to see her there, knowing that she had passed on, and went to her.  She told me that she was well and very happy. 

Another friend said that this dream was not just some kind of happenstance.  That she was able to come to me in the dream so that I would know she was all right.  And that I should share that information with her grieving husband.

If you ever have a dream like that, a dream about a loved one, then perhaps they are trying to tell you that they are well so you won't worry.  Of perhaps someone else might tell you about a dream they had about your loved one.  Again, this might be the way that those who have died are able to communicate with us.

It is so easy to become jaded and suspicious of the miracles that occur, to look for some other explanation.  And we aren't expected to be simpletons because we have a brain, and there are fakes out there.  But there is a time to just let go and allow ourselves to be in the presence of God and thank him for his help.  There is a time to be little again.

Hope you had a wonderful Mothers Day!  It was beautiful.

Karen