Take a look at the world as a connected family, rather than as a walled off collection of circles, cities, and countries. When you do, you'll realize how much you all have in common. May you be blessed with family so large and so far-reaching that wherever you go, in body or spirit, you belong.

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It was the early 1950s.

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with the look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food. John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store.

Visualizing the family needs, she said, "Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can." John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store. Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two.

The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family. The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?"

Louise replied, "Yes sir."

"Okay" he said, "put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries." Louise hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it.

Then she laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully, with her head still bowed. The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down. The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it." The customer smiled and the grocer started putting groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocer stood there in utter disgust.

Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a grocery list; it was a prayer which said: "Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in Your hands."

The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence. Louise thanked him and left the store.

The customer handed the $50 bill to the grocer and said, "It was worth every penny of it."

Only God knows how much a prayer weighs.

Please pray for my friend Brian to have a change of heart, to find peace, forgiveness, love, to reach out and fight his internal demons. He is loved and appreciated, and needs Divine miracle. Amen

-Val A.