Jeannie loved the car.
It had huge sentimental value
but Jeannie needed the money
so the car had to go.
Jeannie had buyers lined up
who seemed very interested
in the car
but Jeannie was afraid
of not getting a fair price
as she didn’t really know
that much about cars.

Oh, dear!

Her son, Andy, stepped into the breach,
saying he would be happy to meet the buyers
and negotiate a fair price with them.

Andy was true to his word
and, when the day came,
Jeannie simply introduced Andy
to the buyers
and Andy took over.

Jeannie watched.

Andy smiled, shook hands
and chatted in a relaxed manner
as he showed the buyers
around the car,
explaining all of the mechanical details
confidently and truthfully.
A short while later,
Andy shook hands with the buyers again,
money was counted out,
car keys were handed-over
and the buyers left with a wave
and a smile.

Jeannie watched all of this,
absolutely fascinated.
Could this amiable, self-assured,
business-like young man
really be her Andy?

Jeannie was seeing her Andy
in a whole new light
and she felt a glow of pride.
Wow!

Sometimes I wonder
what Our Lady and St Joseph thought
when they found Jesus in the temple
after losing Him three long days earlier.

What did Our Lady and St Joseph think
when they spied Jesus,
deep in conversation
with the Jewish teachers?
This didn’t look like an exchange
between adults and a child;
rather it was more like man-to-man
with everyone listening intently and respectfully,
and nodding
as a conversation took place
that was obviously stimulating
and thought-provoking.

Jesus looked so different
from the wee boy
who used to help Joseph
in the workshop
or run about the streets playing
with friends.

Looking at Jesus,
Our Lady and St Joseph must have felt
a huge sense of relief
that He had been found.

I suspect that they also felt
a glow of pride.

But might they also have felt
a hint of apprehension
as they wondered
what lay ahead for Jesus
as He prepared to enter
this adult world?

The highs and lows of parenthood –
something found in all families
(even the Holy Family!)

© Claire Murray, 25th March 2026

It’s that time of year again –
the time when we divide the plants
that return year after year.
We take a healthy, sturdy plant
and divide it into several
(or sometimes many!)
smaller plants.

That’s what we’re doing today –
dividing our Black Eyed Susan’s.
At the moment,
they’re just hefty, leafy clumps.
We pull and cut them apart
and, after a while,
dozens and dozens of tiny plants
lie on the grass,
ready to be planted.

Most of the plants
divide cleanly
but every now and again,
a wee plant gets damaged
and is lost.

When this happens
Paul is devastated –
every … single … time.

Dozens of wee plants
lie waiting to be planted.
Is one wee lost plant
really that important?
Well, it is to Paul
who laments the loss
of even the tiniest plant.

And that’s sort of how it is
with God.
He loves every single one of us
deeply.
No matter how old or weak
or insignificant we might be
in the eyes of others,
we are precious, loved and cherished
by God.
He wants each one of us
to be saved.

Each of our Black Eyed Susan’s,
so terribly important to Paul
and each one of us,
so precious to God.

I can’t help feeling
that dividing those plants
has given me a wee, tiny glimpse
into the infinite love
that God has for us.

Isn’t that amazing?

© Claire Murray, 11th March 2026