Imagine a collection plate at the gates of heaven where everyone going inside could leave all their money that won't be required after entering
Daddy was a family man who worked hard 5 days a week . There were five of us kids who he took for long walks up the mountains on Saturdays .
Sundays was devoted to his work with the men’s confraternity and every Sunday morning he would be there passing around the collection plate at church . The people always gave whatever they could afford , to help the priests , who in turn were able to assist others in need around the parish .
There were two collections back then , one before communion and another before the people left the church . So Daddy who start at a certain row in the aisle then go from row to row with his wooden collection plate . He would wait as it was passed around from hand to hand by the congregation .
The people all knew what to do and the plate treated reverently as it went around quickly and quietly .The collection plates were lined with this soft green felt , to absorb the sound of the falling coins pelt , whenever they were dropped from people’s hands .
Everyone’s eyes would check the money in the plate as it went around . There would be notes and coins in the plate . Decent people paid their dues and offered what they could .
When the collection was finished Daddy would bring all the money in the plate up to a room at the back of the church and empty all the takings into a bag for the priests .
The same routine would occur for the second collection Usually before the plate went around for the second collection there was a special time to contemplate in silence the thoughts of everyone who were sitting in the pews . The priest would sometimes mention it’s always better to give than receive do before they passed around the plate for the final collection , it allowed just enough examination time for the conscience of those who were better off than others . Then after the last collections final blessing was given by the priest to everyone there . When mass was finished and everyone had left the church , Daddy would go around the village collecting the envelopes from those people who had committed to a weekly offering .
Later on that Sunday all the money from the collection plates and the envelopes was counted up by the priests . It’s amazing how that money benefited others in need . It was more than a fundraising effort , it connecting people together , it built respect , it brought an awareness of love and care around the district . The wonderful memories of people who gave more that they could afford is really what’s its all about . Money on the plate was a comment from the soul of what its all about It made me think about a plate left outside the pearly gates over spilling with cash while an empty plate would be left at the doorstep of hell with an IOU note inside .
Let this coming of age story of a boy named Bean take you back to a simple time. Set in a small southern town in the 1960's, encircled by a river and gleaming white cotton fields.
A wicked Cajun Fairy named Robes Pierre entered the impenetrable Magical doll land of Sha Bebe. Queen Faustina, the ruler of the doll land, thought she had destroyed him, but he's back! Will the doll land survive his evil ways?
Daddy was a family man who worked hard 5 days a week . There were five of us kids who he took for long walks up the mountains on Saturdays .
