Growing up wasn’t always easy. Mom and Dad wanted what was best for me, and that included following the strict rules of our church. We could not eat meat on Friday. We always fasted for three hours before receiving communion. I’m sure the church laws were there to keep us focused on what Christ had done for us, but following them sometimes was hard.

Even when I was very young, I went to Catholic School, bringing a bagged lunch each day from home. One Friday I was really hungry. I tore into my lunch bag and found a beef bologna sandwich. What should I do? I didn’t want to break the rule about Friday, but I was so hungry. I started to cry.

Mother Superior saw me crying and came over to me asking, “Joey, child, what’s wrong?” I told her I was really hungry but Mom had packed me a bologna sandwich by mistake on a Friday. She looked at me kindly and said “Come with me.” She led me to the nurse’s office, where she kept cans of tuna fish and white bread. She proceeded to make a sandwich and give me a lunch that wouldn’t violate any church rules. I ate and no more was said about the bologna sandwich.

Looking back at this small event, I realize that the kindness of that nun did more to bolster my faith in Christ than any church laws. She showed compassion and understanding, a very Christ-like love. For this nun, helping me meet an “obligation” turned into an “opportunity” to show Christ’s love.

In the church I currently attend, fasting is not obligatory. But, we’re taught that fasting and prayer are good ways to honor God. We seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all that we do. God’s Holy Spirit can direct us to use our God-given talents to help others and to glorify our Heavenly Father. I can only pray that some little thing I do will mean as much to someone else, as that tuna sandwich did to me.

Remember – love all, forgive all, help all! Why? Because God loves you unconditionally.

Joey