Catholic Revelation

An Unexpected Christmas Gift

My Story

My sister and I were about to leave the sandwich shop and then rush off to complete some important errands. I took my final bite of sandwich and picked up my tray to get ready to leave. As I was discarding my trash I thought I would make a quick trip to the restroom before I left. That is when I spotted an elderly woman with a cane making her way to the restroom. “Great, I thought to my selfish and impatient self. I need to wait because it would be rude to rush in ahead of the slow moving woman.” Just then, a handicapped woman headed in the same direction. I looked over at my sister, rolled my eyes and said in a whisper, “Forget it.” At that moment, the elderly woman said, “That’s okay, go ahead.” My heart skipped a beat, and I was horrified at the idea that she heard my sigh and was speaking to me.

It didn’t appear that she was talking to me as she looked at the handicapped woman heading toward the restroom door. I was relieved. She was speaking to the handicapped lady who began heading for the restroom at the same time she did. Whether she noted my frustration or not, did not really matter, however. What did matter was my uncharitable heart. I had just witnessed one elderly and slow moving woman exert patience as she graciously offered to let a disabled woman go ahead of herself. This woman who was originally an annoyance getting in my way, was suddenly a kind and patient angel, and here I was a selfish and able bodied inconsiderate clod. I knew at that moment that it was time for me to go to confession again, and this confession wouldn’t be like other confessions where I simply say I am impatient with people. No, this particular sin was disappointing enough to require a description of my thoughtless feelings and actions. Read more...