Small Things Count

GROUCH!  He scowls at everyone.  There’s obviously something wrong with him.  Or is there?  Have we wished him “Good morning”–or tried to talk to him at all?  We could approach him with a new attitude, one of openness toward a brother in our human family.  “WON’T DO ANY GOOD!” you say?  Here’s a true story: A woman lived next to a church for many years.  Her family donated much to the church, including land.  But, as she swept in front of her home each day, people bypassed her, thinking the bowed head and grim face belonged to an ill-tempered person not worth bothering with.  Then some  7^th graders from the parish school actually talked with her while distributing flyers.  When one said, “We love you,” her eyes brightened and her smile radiated.  As they left and she turned back to her work, the glow remained with all of them.  The spontaneous act of these kids taught me a lesson: to watch for darkness, light a candle, and enjoy the radiance that was there all along.