When Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is, Mark’s Gospel cites Him as saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength…[and] you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Those words are The Christophers’ guiding principles every year when we write and publish our annual “Three Minutes a Day” book of daily stories and reflections. Volume 60 is our newest, and while the entries may be brief to accommodate the busyness of life, they also convey profound insights on faith, love, courage, selflessness, joy, sacrifice, hardship, and hope.
Consider this story: The bullet was meant to kill her. When it didn’t, she had it fashioned into a heart-shaped necklace to remind herself that she is a survivor. As reported by Jennifer Antkowiak in the Pittsburgh Catholic, Gina endured “a life of abuse and trafficking” at the hands of her ex-husband, who shot her when she tried to escape from him. Thankfully, she didn’t die. Instead, she found help and renewal at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Penn.
Gina said, “Catholic Charities gave me hope again. I wouldn’t be here today without [them] and my faith. They didn’t judge me. They took me in and found me a safe space. They helped me with medical care, counseling, and even helped me find an apartment. They were my lifeline.”
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With its new headquarters, Catholic Charities is initiating a program called Compassion Corner, which will allow them to help even more people in a wide variety of ways. Gina remains thankful. She concluded, “It is because of the Lord that I am here right now…I know He has my back.”
This story is a wonderful reminder of how Catholic Charities agencies all around this country serve as a lifeline and reflection of God’s love to so many people. Organizations, of course, are made up of individuals who make the choice to get involved and help. That is the case with this next story:
“Fair weather friends are only there when everything’s good for you,” 64-year-old Lyn Story told CBS News. “But a bad weather friend is there to help you in times of need.”
Story is proud to categorize herself as “a bad weather friend.” Yet, this was not the case 45 years ago when she was a different person, who was arrested for shoplifting. “I learned to stop it, to be better,” the Fort Worth, Texas resident recalled. “I went into therapy and kind of got a feel for why I felt the need…for shoplifting…I was finally diagnosed as bipolar. And that helped, because I got on medication to make me even…That’s made a big difference.”
Story’s improved health inspired her to go the extra mile to help others. Recently, she developed strong friendships with two of her neighbors: Apryl Goodwin, who suffers from uterine cancer, and Kevin Horrigan, who is legally blind, but still needs to work for financial reasons. Story makes sure both her friends get to where they need to go, whether that is chemotherapy or a place of employment. “She’s my guardian angel,” Goodwin concluded.
The stories in “Three Minutes a Day” offer beautiful examples of loving God and neighbor. So, consider buying copies of Volume 60 as a Christmas gift for yourself and others for $10. Call 1-212-759-4050, ext. 241—or visit us online at www.christophers.org.
A ‘three minute’ reminder