Cindy, an excited 18-year-old, looked forward to leaving her parental home to attend college. She realized that even though she looked forward to this pivotal moment in her life, she still knew that she had a lot to learn about life and about people.
Seeking wisdom before she ventured out into the big world, she went to see her grandfather who was living in a very small house near her parents’ home. She entered his house and called, “Grandpa! I am here to say, ‘Hello!’” Looking up from his newspaper, he beamed as she entered the living room. “I dare say, you have grown, Cindy!” Smiling and blushing she said, “Oh Grandpa, you saw me yesterday!” Grunting, he declared, “Child, there are many ways that one can grow. Come, share some tea with me. I understand that you are leaving for college?” He put a kettle of water on the stove and placed two lemon scones on a plate.
Cindy began explaining what she hoped her college experience would mean for her. She said, “I will finally have freedom to live like an adult. There won’t be anyone to tell me what to do.” She shared her excitement about traveling to a new state, studying at college and meeting new people.
Grandpa asked, “Did you come here with something in mind?” “Yes,” Cindy stated. “Please, please share with me some wisdom that I can hold onto as I leave for college.” Smiling as he stirred his tea, Grandpa peered off into the distance and said, “Life is often a desert; it is difficult to walk in life, but if we trust in God, it can become as beautiful and wide as a highway. Never lose hope, continue to believe, always, in spite of everything. When we are before a child, although we have many problems and many difficulties, a smile comes to us from within, because we see hope in front of us: a child is hope. And in this way, we must be able to discern in life the way of hope which leads us to find God, God who became a child for us. He will make us smile; he will give us everything. … It is the little ones with God, with Jesus, who transform the desert of exile, of desperation and loneliness, of suffering, into a level plain on which to walk in order to encounter the glory of God.”1
“Stay little, Cindy,” Grandpa said. “Continue to grow into the woman you have been created, but stay little. Little ones trust that God has a greater plan than we can ever imagine. Little ones can see the beauty in life and hope for something greater. Cling to hope as you encounter a world that does not know how to stay little or hopeful. Know that I pray for you on a daily basis and will do so for all eternity.”
As he said this, a single tear trickled down his cheek. Tears also welled up in Cindy’s eyes. She had a sense that this moment was larger than both of them realized because there was a timeless element to it.
I share this story as we continue to live out the Jubilee Year of Hope. All too often, we get caught up in the hum of daily life and forget to look beyond our reality, forget to listen to the wisdom of the elders all around us. The Holy Spirit can work through the smallest child! It is my prayer that during this holy year, you take the time to stop and reflect on the wisdom that you have learned not only from your personal journey but also from the journey of others.
1Pope Francis. On Hope. LOYOLA Press, 2018. Pg. 5-6.
By Sister Geralyn Schmidt, SCC, Special to The Witness
