Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”

Ann Nalley is a reader of these reflections. Married with grown children she teaches fourth graders and says: "I love going to work." Apparently the fourth graders love her and school. Recently she assigned the task of making cards on colored paper and/or with various colored crayons. They were to be birthday greetings for this Father Talafous who writes the Reflections. Ann sent 30 such classroom-made cards to me. I think they will tell you why Ann enjoys teaching and why they enjoy being taught. My thanks to Ann and her students. (I did write back to Ann and the class.)

A more elaborate card goes thus: "Happy Birthday! It's so cool that you have had such a long life! I'm guessing that it's been preposterously exiting. At first, I thought I was supposed to be a nun but then I realized that married life feels right. (My favorite animal is a Dragon. What's yours?) Love, Colette" I suspect that she was trying out new vocabulary and left out the c in the word that follows preposterously. But "preposterously exiting" is tantalizing. Special knowledge about my 'exit'?

Ann suggested they ask a question of me. E.g. : How does it feel to live in a monastery? – What is your favorite prayer? – What was your favorite moment in your life so far? – What is it like in Minnesota? – Do you like your job? – Do you read Harry Potter? If you don't, you should. – Do you have a favorite football team? – Do you like baseball and do you like to swim? – What is your favorite place to go?

Other comments: I like all sports. – I love art/drawing. – I love to read. – I can't believe that you lived to be older than my great-grandparents! – I have five siblings; my favorite color is green. – I like to go outside to see God's creation. – From Wyatt, you probably don't know me. – Please pray for my great grandma. – I love to Irish dance. – In a few more years, triple digits! – My mom is going to have a baby! – I might even be a monk myself one day. – Please write back.

Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”

Reply to Fr. Don at: DTalafous@csbsju.edu

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