Oh, Kateri, Kateri, Kateri!
How did the time fly by so very fast? Why do the nine months last forever and then the next twelve whiz right by? How is that?
One morning I saw a friend at daily Mass, the only time I have ever seen her at this church. Just back from her honeymoon, she had with her a gift of a relic. The newlyweds had visited a priest friend who collects relics. He was sending a relic of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha to a mutual friend who has a special daughter named after Blessed Kateri. And so my friend was going to drop off the relic to this other friend after Mass.
Jonathan piped up, “We’re going there too after Mass! Mom has to drop off a rosary!”
And so it was true– I had just made a Mother Teresa rosary as a gift for this friend.
“Can you drop off this relic for me?” my friend asked.
I was elated at the opportunity! I knew my friend would be so excited to receive this most special gift, and I was going to present this surprise to her. She just lived a few blocks from the church, and I drove the short distance fairly bursting with anticipation. I had put the relic in my lap for the brief trip to keep it safe and close at hand. Then I looked down at my lap and realized where the relic was resting. And I asked Blessed Kateri if she would intercede for me for a new blessing. Just a few weeks later it was clear the answer would be Yes!
We went through the cautious elation, clinging to Jesus, I trust in You once again. We remember the sheer joy of all of the ultrasounds- that most glorious sound in all the world of the lovely lub dub coming from within. And then later we saw the lub dub came from a perfectly formed heart. It was a very joyful time. I was due on April 16, Easter Sunday!
But there were new lessons of patience to be learned. I remember my friend telling me that Blessed Kateri’s feast day used to be celebrated on April 17, the date of her death. I laughed out loud at the ridiculous thought that my baby could be born then – I’m always several weeks early! Easter came and went and neither I, nor any one else, could believe how very great with child I still was. Eventually we had the most lovely labor and birth, waking up at 2:12 on the morning of the 18th and it being very clear that, honey- it’s time!
I’ll also never forget the first night home with her. She was born at 3:44 in the morning and I spent the rest of the day in the hospital never sleeping a wink. So when we got home that evening I was quite looking forward to a well- deserved good night’s sleep. But God and Kateri had other ideas. I’m a very slow learner with this Patience stuff. Kateri was up every hour screaming, not very pleased with the harsh realities of Life Outside. If I held her upright to burp her or tried to change her diaper the screams grew even louder. I remember blithering and praying, “Lord! Have mercy! We’re old!” I remember thinking of Sarah and Elizabeth and wondering about the trials of geriatric motherhood. I remembered people long ago foolishly asking if Mary Rose was a ‘good’ baby, and I would foolishly reply, “Oh yes! She has to be – she’s number five.” Then Eliza never had the energy to cry a peep as an infant. And our dear sweet Kateri has taken it upon herself to cry enough for all three of them. Lots more of that Patience training. Lots of time to spend singing and dancing and rocking and praying with this precious baby girl.
Kateri still does everything with full-bodied gusto! She screeches with glee and shrieks with displeasure. We call her Kat-eri when she’s happy and Ka-teary when she’s sad. Tonight her brother observed that she looked fierce eating her birthday cake. She stuffed that cake in her mouth with such delight, alternating fistfuls, savoring every crumb. She squealed at her presents and immediately smothered her new baby doll with squeezes and hugs.
We are so very blessed to have this lovely, lively little girl! One smile from her melts your heart. One screech will certainly get your attention. And one soul, this precious little life, reveals so very much about the goodness and love and mercy of the God who created her and gave her to us to love and cherish.
Happy Birthday Kateri! We love you!
