A Party under the Oaks A Party under the Oaks

Directly across the street from my house lived a loving and large Catholic family. I remember when they moved into the brown-stone ranch; at that time they were only a family of three. I was happy after so many years the single story house would once more become a home. I was delighted when they asked if I was Catholic and what churches were in the area. They became parishioners at my home parish, and we became good neighbors as their family grew.

It was a pleasant September day and I was out in the front yard gardening. Looking up I saw the small crowd across the road with the oldest daughter carrying a birthday cake. They were headed for the picnic tables under the big oak tree.

For the life of me, I couldn’t recall which one of the children’s birthday it was. I stared at the kids and kick-started memory cells trying to recall each child’s birth…and the accompanying pink or blue stork shoved into the lawn on delivery day. I also wondered if I had an appropriate birthday card in the drawer that I could sign and hurry over to the appropriate child—once I remembered which one it was. Before I got across the lawn, heading for the house, the mother waved me over to come join them.

I was delighted by the children’s boisterous greeting and amazed at the vivid-blue frosted cake. The gaggle of children excitedly told me it was the Blessed Mother’s birthday. Now this was a cause for celebration!

Before the cake was cut each child offered the Blessed Virgin a gift…a sincere and heartfelt prayer of gratitude. What a lovely birthday bouquet our Mother Mary received.

Read more of Margaret’s reflections on spirituality and nature at Morning Rose Prayer Gardens on Patheos.

Copyright 2013 Margaret Rose Realy

Read more reflections and prayers by Margaret Rose Realy, Obl OSB, at Morning Rose Prayer Garden, on Patheos Catholic channel.