I have no intention of condemning the nun or her religion in this little episode that happened when I was 5. I knew many nuns throughout my 8 years at St. Joseph School, and some of them were especially kind and sweet. This one was trying to do her job of keeping the children quiet in church. We met when the first-graders sat as a group at Mass for the first time. You will find reasons to excuse her action and that's ok. She still missed an opportunity--or a couple of them I can think of!
~~~
In awe, the child gazed upon the splendor of the place
As the priest droned on in Latin, appealing for God’s grace.
She folded dainty fingers to mimic all the rest~
The Sister had admonished, “Behavior must be your best!”
The little girl was thankful the Lord Himself was here;
With brimming heart, she giggled~ Jesus to her was so dear.
So happy to be close to Him, her smile lit her face,
Simplicity of worship ~ the joy of amazing grace!
Then, suddenly -- intrusion – an older, frowning boy,
For sixth-grade Sister sent him to dismantle the child’s joy.
“Stop laughing in church!” the warning that quelled the carefree smile;
Communion with her Best Friend was snatched from the little child.
Too bad Sister Stern-Face slammed the door to the Savior’s throne.
Like the child, she may have seen Him
if only she had known!
Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. Luke 18:16
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When I was 20 and in a Catholic hospital awaiting surgery on my spine, I had a cold. The dry winter air and constantly blowing my nose created a nosebleed. The very stern, and seemingly angry head of nursing, came in the room and saw me holding a tissue or towel to my bleeding nose. She plopped down beside me, grabbed me around the shoulders and pinched my nose so hard I thought she was going to break it. The torture lasted for a while, but the bleeding did not stop. Eventually, like it always did in those days, it stopped on its own.
But I'll always remember how that nun treated me. More with anger than with loving patience. She seemed to be much more compassionate when she saw me lying in bed paralyzed after the surgery.
Ron
Surely it be a reminder to all of God's kingdom is like.
David