God sent me here for a reason.
I thought it was to raise money for the St. Joseph’s Home where the Little Sisters of the Poor work diligently to serve, provide and protect the elderly poor. On my first day I was so excited to start, I wanted to do everything at once. Sister calmly told me, “you need to capture the ‘spirit’ of the Sisters.” So much was rattling around in my head; I need to do this or that by this time or that deadline and now I need to capture a “spirit.” What is this “spirit?” Is it the Holy Spirit? Is it the “spirit” of St. Jeanne Jugan?
Later that afternoon I return to my office to find a book lying on my desk, Jeanne Jugan, Humble So As To Love More, by Paul Milcent. I start to read. The book tells the life story of an amazing, humble, very poor, simple peasant woman who in her quiet way was able to move mountains. Her mission: to care for the elderly poor. Her mantra: “If God is with us, it will be accomplished…” There is a little “ah ha” moment.
St. Jeanne Jugan had a calling and she listened. I doubt very seriously she ever thought about the chain of events that would happen when she carried that poor, sick, blind woman home on her back, laid her in her bed and nursed her back to health. She did know that “God wants me for himself. He is keeping me for a work as yet unknown, for a work which is not yet founded…” Total faith that God will provide what is necessary to do the work needed … his work.
I do believe God sent me here to learn from the Little Sisters and follow their lead in continuing the mission of St. Jeanne Jugan. I am coming to the realization that it is not what I can do for the Little Sisters, but what God can do through me.
The journey continues.…
*If you would like to read more about St. Jeanne Jugan, the above mentioned book is available by contacting St. Joseph’s Home.
Getting to know St. Jeanne Jugan