Wrapped in Faith

Sr. Karen Mohan, vhm

By Sr. Karen Mohan, vhm

FAITH PLEASES GOD.  That is the inscription on my new blanket.  Whose faith?  Mine?  Or the one who made this soft new covering for my bed?  Or the young man who gave it to me?  Or the one in whose honor it was given?   I am reflecting on these questions as I put the blanket on my bed this week to ward off the inevitable Minnesota winter soon to be upon us.

This recent gift to me is a replacement gift.   15 years ago, our neighbor, Sharon, crocheted a special afghan for each Sister in our community, and gave us her labor of love — in our favorite color — as a Christmas gift.  I had used my green and yellow afghan ever since, and it served me well throughout our long Minnesota nights.  When Sharon died very unexpectedly last summer, I wanted to give this afghan to one of her grandchildren.  Mario, the oldest, wept when I handed him this treasured memento of his grandma.  Tears filled my eyes as well; for our community’s friendship with Sharon and her husband, George, had been strong and enduring.  After 45 years of marriage, George died in March and Sharon four months later.

“Let the Sisters always try to fall asleep with some good thought.”

Two weeks ago Mario arrived at our back door with a very special gift, a blanket that he and his wife had purchased at a craft fair. On one side of the blanket the recurring word, FAITH, is printed in the  multi-colored pastel fabric.   The other side is a solid color, a slate blue, and it contains one phrase embroidered in its corner:

FAITH PLEASES GOD.

That’s the message that Mario chose for me to be wrapped in each night.  That’s my gift from Sharon, renewed in her grandson’s generosity.   And now that is part of my night prayer, a prayer of gratitude for my faith and a petition that my faith may be renewed and strengthened at rest and in rising.

Mario’s generosity leads me to recall two guidelines from the spiritual directory for the Visitation way of life:  “Let the Sisters always try to fall asleep with some good thought” … and “at the end of each day, the Sisters should thank God for all God’s blessings… for the gift of their vocation, for preserving their life this day, and for providing for all their needs by God’s loving goodness.”

It is good to give and to receive.  It is a blessing to have friends who care and to have a way of life that fosters a relationship with God.  It is a joy to witness others’ “faith that pleases God”. Thank you, Sharon. Thank you Mario.  Thanks be to God.