How Beautiful

I felt the tears coming. Oh man. 😝

It took extreme focus to simultaneously savor the beauty I was witnessing and not ugly cry right there.

I have attended a lot of First Communions in my lifetime of being a Catholic, but today it all felt different.

Today, I found myself standing behind the altar table, witnessing. As a Eucharistic Minister, I was instructed to wait there until the First Communicants and their parents had received first, then I could head down the aisle to distribute the bread to the back half of the church.

From where I stood, I could see their faces.

It was remarkable!

The beauty of their hearts were on display.

The parents were overflowing with pride, humility, and joy, all at once. And the childlike innocence of each First Communicant, as they nervously fumbled around and received Jesus for the first time, it was a gift to my soul.

Blessed are the pure of heart! ❤️‍🩹

Meanwhile our choir was singing, “How Beautiful” 🎵, as they stood together in the choir loft in front of the most gorgeous stained glass window with the light beaming in.

From this unique vantage point I took in all of it and love flooded my heart with so much hopefulness and healing, which was truly overwhelming in ALL the best ways. ❤️‍🩹

THIS moment!

THIS gift!

THE bread of life! 🙏🏻

On Good Friday, a few weeks ago, I made a Consecration to the Eucharist, guided by the book, “33 Days to Eucharistic Glory.” This 33 day journey allowed me to see the Eucharist with new eyes, opening my own soul to the gift of this miracle in a brand new, amazing way. (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ HIGHLY recommend!!)

I guess it’s not surprising that this First Communion would be a new experience for me this year.

“The Body of Christ” ❤️‍🩹
“The Body of Christ” ❤️‍🩹
“The Body of Christ” ❤️‍🩹
“The Body of Christ” ❤️‍🩹

As I repeated these words, I smiled from my soul with deep joy.

What a gift, in this moment for each of us, no matter if it’s your first time or your 5,000th time receiving Jesus.

How beautiful! 🎵

❤️‍🩹 ❤️‍🩹 ❤️‍🩹

(Photo of our youngest daughter, twirling her beautiful white dress on the afternoon of her First Communion a few years ago.)