Hershey Kisses (01/25/2024)

Last evening was faith formation for the youth of our parish. I had baked cookies to share with the students. I find that often they come to class without a meal because of sports practices or other after school activities. I had enough for both the 6th graders at 6 p.m. and the confirmation students at 7:15. However, the 6th graders were really hungry. And so, I was shy the number of cookies I needed for the confirmation class. I decided we’d just have to do without. And then, as I was taking attendance, a woman walked into our classroom, up to me, and put 2 bags of Hershey kisses on the table. “For the students” she told me, and then she walked away before I could even ask her name. The LORD’s ways never cease to amaze me.

Who was this woman? How did she know I was going to be short of a snack? How did she happen to have 2 bags of Hershey kisses on her to share? I found out that she was the mother of one of the confirmation students. I still don’t know the answer to the other two questions. But do I need to know? Not really. It is sufficient for me to recognize that I do not go alone. The LORD is with me always, even when I am unaware, and I have companions on this journey, many whom I haven’t met yet.

As I reflected on my day, full of gratitude for its content and graces, this woman’s generosity as well as the message never spoken (“you’re not alone” and “let me help”), kept rising to the top. I gave thanks to the LORD for her. I resolved that I would find a way to meet her again and thank her. It may seem small to some, but “the miracle of the Hershey kisses” will be forever part of my memory of the goodness of others and the power of the Spirit.

As I reflect upon my life, I realize that there have been many “miracle moments” when something that wasn’t foreseen occurred, when an insufficiency was miraculously filled, when a need was wondrously met, when a lonely stretch of the way was suddenly occupied by one who not only kept me company but, in their sharing, enriched my journey. It never has been a case of “will there be?” It has always been a case of “will I notice?”

May our journeys be blessed by the companionship of others whose love of Christ overflows into their treatment of us. May we be sojourners who not only graciously receive the gifts of our LORD in the hands of others, but who recognize that at times we are called to be the givers.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.