SPRINGTIME OF THE HEART

I was reading a short story on the life of St. Francis of Assisi and he stated that it was spring, of all the seasons it was his favorite, and the birds sang in every tree.  The flowers were in full bloom and yet he felt only winter in his heart.  He went into a cave for solitude and prayer and facing of self and discovered he was to give away all his worldly goods.  It was living in poverty of body and soul that he found joy in not having but in giving. It was in doing what he was called to do that changed his life.

When I am doing what I enjoy whether it is quilting or attending my class or reading a good book that  I  am most content .  When I am with my grand kids I definitely feel the Spring time in my heart.  Meditation and contemplative prayer helps to quiet my monkey brain.

Yesterday was the 100th day of school and the first graders were so full of life and happiness.  As they each had their turn to read they all made me happy.   One little girl was struggling with some of the words in the story so I read the sentence back to her, and as she turned her head towards me with her beaded braids flying and eyes wide said 'you make the words come alive for me'.  This remark from a six year old made my heart leap with joy.

And then there was the light brown skinned boy who over the last several weeks had approached me, and said he wanted to read to me.  As I was talking to the teacher at our tiny desk in the hallway I was telling her about the student that wanted to read to me.  He came out of the bathroom and almost ran to me and the teacher.  He grabbed me and hugged me and laid his little head on my shoulder.  After the teacher witnessed this she added his name to my list and he was so happy and he reminded me of his turn when I went to get the next student.  They were making necklaces with one hundred fruit loops to represent their one hundred of school.  They had crown shaped hats with math problems, glitter and anything they wanted on it.  They also had big paper glasses and the frame and  openings looked like the number one hundred.  But the most exciting part of his day was getting to read to me, and the best part of my day was the three hugs he gave me that day.  

The students are to call me Miss Kathy or Grandma Kathy.  I asked him which he preferred and with eyes wide said Grandma Kathy.  I wonder why this this little six year old wanted to read to me.  Did he somehow know I needed his hugs as much as he wanted my hugs?

Red or yellow, black or white....they are precious in His sight.  And each any everyone of them bring me blessings of spring to my heart.