Imelda the punctual

Well not exactly on time... but present and accounted for.

At 7:30 am mass this week... Imelda was there. The boy that was also supposed to be serving with her.. well, let's say, that even though he is older than she, he was not as responsible. Monday an Thursday he was a no show. Ok.. that was because of band. All righty... Never mind, that the rules are that you are supposed to go mass over band... he left Sophie, on her own. If she had more experience it would be a different story... To date she had only done one task (significant task that is...) wash the priest's hands. Now she had to do everything. ring the bells, which she feared above all things... and everything else.

Silly girl. She has the bells down.. the jobs that she needed to do.. she managed all by herself. Now the funny part, was that you have never seen an acolyte book her way across the altar the way she did... and the bells? Oh she rings them perfectly!

On Friday, I see one of the ladies that comes to mass. She is tiny with snow white hair and lively eyes. She has told me that she thought it was lovely that my little girl treated mass as a priority to band... Then she grasped my hand.. there was something stiff in her palm. she told me, "Please make sure that she knows that we appreciate her efforts." I realized that she had folded up money and pressed it into my palm. I explained that this was not necessary. "I know," she told me smiling, "I do this sometimes. She is so young, but so mature." I smiled and thanked her. She tells me, "I didn't do it for him, when he started out," she indicated nodding to the boy.

Saturday morning.. no boy again. But Imelda had already taken the time to go to Miss Gertrude, as she had introduced herself to me as, and thanked her for her gift. Miss Gertrude had given her five dollars.

Imelda was immensely proud. As am I. She made a committment and kept it. She is ten years old.