September 4
rich men endowed with resources, living peacefully in their homes – Sirach 44:6
He was so excited about the early Christmas gift he had for them! However, the young daughter-in-law had no way of fully appreciating what this gift would signify as the years went by.
They brought the boxes to the “kids” apartment, the mother and father-in-law. Huge boxes and one small bag that looked a bit odd, they carried in. As he began to open the boxes and eagerly set up the 10 gallon aquarium, with his son and daughter-in-law at his elbow, the father-in-law began to explain what would need to be done on a regular basis to sustain the life of the fish that would be living there. “So that’s what is in the oddly shaped bag!” the daughter-in-law thought. Expecting her first child, she felt a bit overwhelmed and bit her tongue from saying “Just what I need, another thing to do!” Yet, she found herself quickly becoming attached to the little living creatures in that tank, and did all she could to care for them. Trial and error, many losses and new fish, different approaches to the maintenance of the tank, many frustrating times, yet before they knew it, that tank was part of their family.
Then one day when the young couple finally purchased their own home, the fish grown and tank getting too small for them, they decided to purchase a larger one that filled one corner of a room in that new house! It became a corner of peaceful beauty and the years went by. The babies in the family would watch the fish in awe. The toddlers learned to be gentle and to have boundaries with what they could touch and as they grew, some responsibility for it. The cat would spend hours, serenely observing the activity in the tank, her furry little head following the glittering fish as they swam this way and that as the dogs looked on puzzled. Even the teens and older people in the house could be found absorbed in moments mesmerized by the flowing fins of the colorful, swimming beauties; their exquisiteness adding a peaceful dimension to the life of the family.
The young daughter-in-law, much older and wiser now, had learned that with just the right amount of patience and care, given at just the right time, those fish lived happily and healthily. With a little attention, when it was needed, the fish survived and grew, so like with the care of all the people she loved; and so like her faith - with time and patience and just the right amount of action on a regular basis, they all flourished and grew. She learned also, it takes having God’s creations surround her to help nurture her spirit to fulfillment. `
And the father-in-law, much older now, thoroughly enjoys sitting and looking at the aquarium. “How long have you had this?” he’ll ask with amazement. And when we tell him it is because of him we have this peaceful corner, he is in awe. And we just hug him.
Oh Lord! How filled with gratitude we are, for the people and gifts of so many years ago, that are peaceful treasures to our faith.
Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson
rich men endowed with resources, living peacefully in their homes – Sirach 44:6
He was so excited about the early Christmas gift he had for them! However, the young daughter-in-law had no way of fully appreciating what this gift would signify as the years went by.
They brought the boxes to the “kids” apartment, the mother and father-in-law. Huge boxes and one small bag that looked a bit odd, they carried in. As he began to open the boxes and eagerly set up the 10 gallon aquarium, with his son and daughter-in-law at his elbow, the father-in-law began to explain what would need to be done on a regular basis to sustain the life of the fish that would be living there. “So that’s what is in the oddly shaped bag!” the daughter-in-law thought. Expecting her first child, she felt a bit overwhelmed and bit her tongue from saying “Just what I need, another thing to do!” Yet, she found herself quickly becoming attached to the little living creatures in that tank, and did all she could to care for them. Trial and error, many losses and new fish, different approaches to the maintenance of the tank, many frustrating times, yet before they knew it, that tank was part of their family.
Then one day when the young couple finally purchased their own home, the fish grown and tank getting too small for them, they decided to purchase a larger one that filled one corner of a room in that new house! It became a corner of peaceful beauty and the years went by. The babies in the family would watch the fish in awe. The toddlers learned to be gentle and to have boundaries with what they could touch and as they grew, some responsibility for it. The cat would spend hours, serenely observing the activity in the tank, her furry little head following the glittering fish as they swam this way and that as the dogs looked on puzzled. Even the teens and older people in the house could be found absorbed in moments mesmerized by the flowing fins of the colorful, swimming beauties; their exquisiteness adding a peaceful dimension to the life of the family.
The young daughter-in-law, much older and wiser now, had learned that with just the right amount of patience and care, given at just the right time, those fish lived happily and healthily. With a little attention, when it was needed, the fish survived and grew, so like with the care of all the people she loved; and so like her faith - with time and patience and just the right amount of action on a regular basis, they all flourished and grew. She learned also, it takes having God’s creations surround her to help nurture her spirit to fulfillment. `
And the father-in-law, much older now, thoroughly enjoys sitting and looking at the aquarium. “How long have you had this?” he’ll ask with amazement. And when we tell him it is because of him we have this peaceful corner, he is in awe. And we just hug him.
Oh Lord! How filled with gratitude we are, for the people and gifts of so many years ago, that are peaceful treasures to our faith.
Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson