Welcome, loved & accepted

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Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me…”  Mk 9:36-37a

Sunday’s gospel brings to mind a teaching memory from years ago.  Kenny was in my 4th grade once a week art class and he was, to put it mildly, a handful.  He was hyper, always moving, unable to focus – his classroom teacher couldn’t wait to send him to the art room. Although so exasperating he created some great artwork, and I displayed a drawing of his for the fall Open House knowing he would not have any other papers posted with wonderful comments or good grades.  Greeting parents and students that night saw I saw Kenny with an older man, gray haired, wearing bib overalls. I pointed to Kenny’s drawing and said to him, “Did you see Kenny’s picture?”  The man looked up at it with a huge smile and then putting his arms around this youngster looked up at me and said, “Oh, Sister, he is the apple of my eye.”   Celebrate and remember that each of us is welcomed, loved, and accepted exactly for who we are by our loving God.

Priscilla Wood, OP

Dubuque, IA

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