Jesus and The Little Girl
By Carol Ann Gieske
“OK Jesus, stay right there. Don’t move. You look perfect. Now…stay!”
The little girl gave Jesus a pat on his hand and a stern look as she slowly walked away, looking back to make sure he didn’t move. She had put on him a big, red, velvet cloak and a crown of gold. She’d set a sceptre in his hand and made him sit on a big, old, metallic throne.
He looked like a king; just like she thought he should. She rubbed her hands together.
“Now,” she said, “I’ll get to work.”
She marched out to the street, where the people were hurrying by.
“Hello,” she said to one man. He didn’t even glance at her. “Excuse me; I’d like you to meet someone…”
Her voice was an echo in the wind as he breezed by, bumping her aside. She tightened her fists and tried harder. All day she coaxed, pleaded, shouted, and stomped her feet, trying to make people come to meet her King. She imagined herself putting chains around the crowd and roping them in, but, she was far too little.
Why wouldn’t they come? Why couldn’t they see? She didn’t understand. Exhausted and near tears, she fell in a heap. She felt so discouraged, broken, empty. She had failed her Jesus. Suddenly she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Startled, she looked up. There he was. No cloak, no crown, no sceptre. Jesus stood before her clad in the simple clothes he always wore. He looked so ordinary, so commonplace. Yet, there was nothing ordinary about his eyes, so filled with love for her. There was kindness in his face, strength and mercy. He gazed at her for a moment and then with a soft smile, he spoke,
”My daughter, I have a better way.”
He held out his hands to her, and while helping her up, knelt down to her size. Now face to face, he put his arms around her and explained.
“You see, I want to walk with you. I want to be with you. It is so simple, my little one.”
Looking at her tenderly, He said,
“If I take your hand in mine and walk with you, then wherever you go, I will go, too. Whoever you meet will meet me also. I wish to journey with you. Will you let me, my child?”
He sat back and with a twinkle in his eye, awaited her response. There was a moment of silence as she processed this. This wasn’t how she thought it should be. It hadn’t turned out as she had planned. But then…so what? She made up her mind. Looking at him with a twinkle.
Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn 14:6)
Adapted by Carol Ann Gieske from a fable by Melanie Murphy of Madonna House
Previous Months Letters from Madonna House
July 2024: Dont Forget to take Jesus Home By Jeanne Guillemette
June 2024: Living Under Mary’s Mantle By Fr. Michael Weitl
May 2024: Vocation & Journey in Christ’ By Mathieu Dacquay
April 2024: Christ Lives! By Carol Ann Gieske
March 2024: Putting everything ‘on the altar’ By Jeanne Guillemette
February 2024: Finding Peace in Surrender to Christ By Mathieu Dacquay
January 2024: Celebrating Epiphany with the Christian east By Fr. Michael Weitl
December 2023: Journeying through Advent with Joseph By Carol Ann Gieske
November 2023: The Saints Are Alive By Jeanne Guillemette
October 2023: Ordinary Miracles By Mathieu Dacquay