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I once knew an elderly woman who seemed to personify the words "inner peace". She didn't really place much value on material things. She made much of the Lord and of loving others.
I think that Jesus would surely have called her "pure of heart". She was, however, a source of embarrassment to her children; she insisted on wearing an old winter coat that had seen better days. So, her frustrated children finally took up a collection among themselves and bought her a new coat. And Mama seemed to be very grateful. She was always good at being grateful.
Later, when the family was going out for dinner, though, Mama put on her old cloth coat. The children tactfully suggested that they would like to see her in her new coat. Without a moment's hesitation, the mother confessed, "Oh, I gave it away."
It seems that a poor woman had come to the door and asked for some food. "But the poor dear had on an old coat with holes in it, so I gave her my coat so she could stay warm."
The amazed children asked Mama the obvious question: "Why didn't you give the lady your old coat?" Mama looked puzzled for a moment; then she asked: "We're supposed to give others our best, aren't we? Isn't that what Jesus said?" It's hard to argue with that kind of goodness.
Sooner or later we must ask ourselves: "What do I make much of ?" The right answer to this question, I believe, can put our feet on the path to peace. What do I think about most often ? What demands my attention ? And what worries me ?
We may have to sit with these probing questions for a long time, but all the answers are buried somewhere deep inside us.
It is good to spend time to do this soul-searching. It is good to make a list of our personal blessings, a grateful count of all the gifts God has given us.
Maybe then, with Mary, we can share the realisation that He who is mighty has done great things in us. We may discover that most of our struggling is from making too much of the wrong things.
For all your gifts and especially for the gift of your Son who lives within us......thank you Father.
John Powell
Through the Eyes of Faith
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