“The best way to make new friends is just smile. The rest just falls into place.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Yikes, another hot day. Crazy! No end in sight. It was SO hot today… How hot was it, Miss Toni? It was SO hot that when the deacon mentioned the intentions to pray for, one was for rain and relief from the heat. “Lord, hear our prayer.” 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
I arrived at church nice and early and chatted with friends before greeting at the door. I ran down the hall and caught the ladies getting off the Chateau bus. I asked Miss Marilyn if she would save me a seat, as both Helene and Jerry are on vacation, and I don’t get in until after Mass starts.
Today, the parishioners were especially cheerful, with big smiles and a few hugs. I greeted Miss Barbara with a hug, and the lady behind her, who I didn’t know asked, “Oh, are we giving out hugs today?” I replied with a smile and a hug. I hold open the huge heavy metal door for folks, keeping the door closed when there is a brief lull. We don’t want to waste all that air conditioning. I even received a sweet compliment this morning. One lady said, “You have such a beautiful smile!” Aw! Made my day.
Today’s Gospel was the story Jesus told the disciples about the master returning from a wedding, and if the servants were prepared and vigilant, they would be rewarded by being served by the master at his own table…
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”
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My take on it…. I guess we always have to be prepared for our last day or judgment day. No one knows the exact day or time that will be our last, do we? If you live a good life, you will always be prepared.
Then, we had another baptism and welcomed Callahan John to our Catholic community.
I walked over to Tom Thumb to get a few sale items. I always look to see if Miss Suzy is working and I go to her check out line. I was in a silly mood, so I asked her to pose for a photo op. She was feeling silly too.
On my way out, I saw Mr. Alex, who works in the floral department. He and his wife are artist friends. So, he had to show me a couple hundred pictures of his new grand baby.
Also, when I was getting ready to leave, I received a smile and a wave from a young man that I didn’t recognize. He said, “I know you from St. Gabriel. I see you every Sunday greeting at the door, even years ago at the old church.” He introduced himself, and we shook hands. We chatted a few minutes about how much we both love St. Gabriel. He said that he taught vacation Bible school and CCD for many years, but as his kids got older, he stopped. He missed it.
This is Gilbert. Another new friend, another smile. So many smiles today.
The rest of my Sunday was lazy, lazy, lazy. A nice FaceTime call with the granddaughters after dinner. Now, if my California boy calls me tonight, my day will be just perfect.
Happy Sunday, my friends. I hope you are smiling. And, oh yes, join me in praying for some much needed rain here in Texas. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 Every little bit helps. Thank you.
Toni Andrukaitis 