There was a special occurrence that happened to the kids and I as we left St Patrick's yesterday. My yearning for a photo to show the event drew me to do a watercolor this afternoon. We had arrived at St Patrick's just as a wedding was ending. We had fun walking around the church and seeing all the special statues and places to pray, and after a short prayer in the Eucharistic chapel we decided that we needed to head home for reading books and naps. As we walked out of the church... we could see that the wedding party was still there out on the sidewalk and a white limo pulled up and the wedding party was getting out. As I looked over I noticed a cart filled with some stuff like a homeless person would have, and then we noticed an old hispanic woman there with a weathered toothless face and in her hand was a red plastic cup held out for some offerings from those there celebrating. I know that Therese and David have a special mission to the poor. They make hand made pictures and wrap dollar bills inside then when they see a homeless beggar - Maria will pull up beside them and the kids will hand out their little "gift" to them, and then they will say in their sweet voice - "God, Bless you!" One man they have given to more than once grunts to them and they have discovered that he is deaf and mute. He held a sign one time that said - "Will take verbal abuse for money." Maria says that she laughed all the way to Wallmart when she read that as it said that he was more than likely deaf. At any rate, when saw this old woman standing there, we got out some money and the two kids went over and with big smiles put the bills in her outstretched cup. She pointed to heaven with a smile on her face, and as I said "God, bless you." I know that she was saying the same to me in Spanish. She reminded me of one of the older women that Pat took pictures of in Guatemala with the weathered face a few years back.
Today on the way to see Patrick and hold him for a while dressed in a t-shirt, little stocking cap to keep him warm, and wrapped up in a receiving blanket... we saw the same man out begging that had been in the Eucharistic chapel the day that the two grandmas had their time praying for his EEG, as it was being done. Gail, Joe's mom, suddenly got up and went out to give the man some money after he put all his worldly possessions on his back and walked out. "I told him to pray for Patrick."she said. Now to see him out begging just reminded us of how we are called to see Christ in the poor! Jesus, thank you for all the times we can see your face around us. Little Patrick as well as the poor at our door. Jesus, we trust in you. Bless-bless, Barb
St Michael is now watching over Patrick - a gift from his sister.
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