My wife, Chris, will tell you that singing is praying twice. As some of you know, she is indeed talented. She shares her gift of time and talent at diocesan and parish events as well as at community events. I was thinking as I lay in bed tonight, this happens a lot: When a gift is given what can be received?
I have often thought that when a person is truly using a gift from God for His glory, unspoken things happen. We have all been in circumstances where a person is sharing of themselves, and the environment changes. The Holy Spirit can be felt when a God-given gift is being shared. That is what happens when my wife sings for a special occasion. Weddings are rather obvious. It is a joyous occasion anyway. But her song at a wedding Mass will take ordinary hymns and turn them into prayers. She gives, then receives the love of the happy couple and their families in return. You can see it in her face. How are our gifts blessings to others, helping lift their burdens? How does sharing in those times of distress of others help them carry their load? It only occurred to me tonight how that can work.
Chris is invited to sing at funerals -- some folks she knows, some are strangers. That list includes the 20-something man killed in a car crash last summer, to my mother two years ago. The latest was Sarah, a special family friend. Chris, as always, carried herself with dignity and grace. I have marveled at how she does not double over in grief at the funerals of people we know. She makes it clear to end of the closing song and then the tears are overwhelming. At Sarah's funeral, Allison and Kara, our daughters, asked, "Why is Mom crying?" And I give my pat answer that she is sad that Sarah is no longer with us … blah blah blah. But now....
Chris volunteered to cantor as a way of helping Sarah's family, and they accepted. I believe in this moment the Holy Spirit acted through her. Because Chris was able to give so freely, she was able to share in their grief -- help them carry their cross in a time they needed help lifting. Sure, some of the tears were her sense of loss. But I wonder if the Lord allowed her to take a tiny part of their grief? She could be strong, in her way, when they could not. We knew Sarah, but did not know Sarah intimately the way her family did. Chris could share her gift and lift high the voices of those that could not make the words. I wonder if part of Chris's tears were God saying, "Because you gave of yourself, because you are strong, I will give you a small piece of them so they suffer a little less"?
That is what is wonderful about stewardship as a way of life. When each of us begins to understand and know our talents, when each of us give time and talent freely, we become a blessing to each other. We are able to celebrate together and make a good celebration exceptional. When our brothers and sisters are hurting, we help them do the heavy lifting and be strong for them when they cannot. We truly become united as the Body of Christ.
