What's really important

Like I said a few posts ago, I'm part of a two-woman team responsible for preparing 25 kids for some combination of the Catholic Church's sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation and Eucharist) in May. So far, the group is still exceptionally easy to manage. We'll see how they do at the end of the two-week hiatus we're currently enjoying.

It's hard to tell at this point how much they're absorbing what we're telling them. That "aha!" moment comes much later in the year.

But I had one of my own "aha!" moments last Saturday while I was reading the products of one of the "busy" assignments we give the kids at the start of each class. I had asked the class to write a thank-you note to God. At the end of every class, we go around the room and have the kids share one thing they're thankful for or one thing they're praying for...it's an introduction to praying. Most of the responses have something to do with "a great day," "life," "food," "good grades on a test," etc. Your basic stuff kids come up with when put on the spot.

But what I discovered while reading their thank-you notes was a stark contrast to what I expected to find. I'm thinking a group of mostly 8- to 10-year-olds are going to be thanking God for things like video games or a favorite toy.

Nope.

There were thank-yous for:

food
a roof over their heads
parents who give them what they need to do well in school
the ability to play soccer
good friends you can trust
family who loves them

These are basics. A reflection of the current mood of the nation? A factor of a 9-year-old's reaction to an assignment from his Sunday school teacher? I don't know.

But I do know that that kind of mentality is sorely needed in a lot of places in our world these days. Because it's those basics that form the foundation of a good life.

Autumn glory

I love this time of year. In this part of the world, the leaves just started to turn colors about a week ago. We're nowhere near peak, but I don't always like the peak of the color. I don't feel like I really get to appreciate all the different colors at peak.

But this time of year, it's like someone's taken a paint brush dipped in fire engine reds and flame oranges and lemon yellow, and dripped the paint on a hunter green canvas. They're little spots of color here and there that shock you when you run across them.

And it's just great!