"Doing a Hard Thing"

I recently had the privilege of taking care of my niece’s children while their older sister made her confirmation. During the course of the morning, Dominic, a kindergartner, came up to me with a dollar in his hand and said, “I want to give this to Megan because she is doing a hard thing.” He went on to say, “But if I give this to Megan then I will only have three [dollars] left.” We talked about this for a few minutes. Finally, I asked him if he wanted me to get an envelope, and he said, “Yes.”
 
I was so touched by this child’s thoughtfulness and generosity, his level of understanding and observation!
 
I later found out that he had already given Megan a gift, but this moment, Megan’s confirmation, required more. He realized he would have less, but he gave anyway. No one ever told him that confirmation was ”a hard thing.” He did, however, observe all the preparations including study time, meetings and a retreat, and in his five-year-old wisdom he knew this was indeed hard.
 
His parents were surprised when I told them what Dominic had done, and Megan was shocked that he gave her a second gift. I saw the presence of God in this ”hard” thing that not only Megan did but Dominic did, too!
 
- What “child of God” (age doesn’t matter) has offered a glimpse of the loving presence of God in your life?
 
Anne Scanlan is a member of the RENEW staff, serves on the Why Catholic? team, and is an exceptional liturgist.