Good morning…
Reflecting on this fall, do you remember the 15 Bags Of Abundant Love we created for the overnight retreat at Ignatius House hosted for women recovering from homelessness and addiction? So many of us contributed special items to fill the bags with symbols of God’s extravagant love.
Well, on Tuesday I received the following note from Maria Cressler, the Executive Director of the Ignatius House Retreat Center:
Dear Sue – I am so embarrassed for letting so much time pass in getting this out to you and your friends. A lot of moving parts as they say! Tara informed me that you suggested you might post our gratitude to your friends who participated via a blog post, since you did not have all their email addresses. If you wouldn’t mind passing on this message to them all in some way I would truly appreciate it. Maria
Dear Sue and friends,
Please forgive the lateness of my note and know how tremendously grateful we continue to be for your support of the Ignatian Spirituality Project. Thank YOU for the luggage bags you prepared in October for women recovering from homelessness and addiction! We were absolutely delighted to receive the 15 bags you assembled. By your creativity and by your thoughtfulness for those who are rebuilding their lives, each of you participated in an act of mercy – comforting someone in need with hope and tangible essentials. Please know that all of us at Ignatius House are personally grateful for your compassion.
In Christ,
Maria
The brave women on our ISP overnight retreat felt so pampered by the love of God poured through our generosity.
Creativity.
Thoughtfulness.
Participating in an act of mercy.
Comforting someone in need with hope.
Tangible essentials for women rebuilding their lives.
I love the words Maria choses to describe our collaborative compassion.
“A joyful heart helps healing,” explains Proverbs 17:22a (CEB). The joy shared from our hearts helps to stimulate healing in the heart of others. What a mutually beneficial dynamic set in motion by the Spirit of God.
Thank you for joining me in the seed-bearing joy of abundant generosity!
…Sue…
P.S. Speaking of joyful generosity, today I will take a $3,000 check to PAWkids from artist Sally Mitchell, a kind donation from the proceeds received from Wednesday night’s fabulous art sale we hosted at her home studio. (For details see yesterday’s post, Art, Art Everywhere.)
A huge thanks to Sally and her awesome husband Jim!
