I recently traveled to Ohio to do a few things. I visited with Marcus Grodi on EWTN’s very popular “Journey Home” television show, I also did a live radio show with Mark Shea on “Catholic and Enjoying it!” which happened to fall on the evening of my filming with Marcus. And, the following evening I gave a talk to a wonderful Legatus group in Columbus.

Since I was leaving for Ohio on Saint Patrick’s day I was sort of lamenting that I hadn’t had time to bake my annual (and I always question that–why do I only make it at Saint Patrick’s day? It’s so delicious!) Irish Soda bread.I usually make it right on Saint Patrick’s day.

made this loaf with my son Joseph in years past

I headed out for the airport with my husband. I was looking forward to what would unfold ahead of me, knowing there would be some sort of adventures in store for me in Ohio. There is usually at least one interesting encounter. I pray to be open to God’s amazing graces. I always take blessed Miraculous medals with me in case I am inspired to give them out along the way.

On the way to the airport I called my Aunt Pat on my cell phone and wished her a very happy birthday. It was her 96th birthday! She said she was doing just fine and had no aches and pains. She said she doesn’t know why she is living so long and why her siblings have passed on. I told her that I think God has more for her to do! We had a very nice chat and then she wished me a good trip.

At the airport, before I checked my bag, I was both surprised and delighted to see some sweet Irish dancers, dancing their little hearts out!

My husband and I paused for a few minutes to watch. We were early and didn’t have to run to catch my flight. So, it was nice to have the time to observe them.

You can click here: Dancer_Video for an extremely short snippet of their dancing.

It was a very sweet treat and a perfect reminder of the feast day of Saint Patrick. As I made my way to the counter a little girl came up to me and quickly handed me a green carnation and said, “Happy Saint Patrick’s day!” It was delightful! I was very happy to have received the surprise gift.

she gifted me with the green carnation!

Beaming from receiving the unexpected gift and with green carnation in hand, I made my way through the crowds to get my bag checked and also asked if I could bring the flower on the plane. I was told that it would be fine. Now I had to figure out how I was going to manage to keep the carnation from getting broken throughout my two flights and traipsing through airports and more. I usually have a shortage of hands trying to manage all of my trappings on my trips! Now, I had something else to worry about. But, I knew immediately that I wanted to give the flower to Barb, someone I had not yet met but whose Bed and Breakfast I’d be staying at that night.

I headed over to the security area and then made my way through the security process. Upon getting to the other side, I observed a woman crouched down getting her shoes back on her feet and apologizing for being in the way. I reassured her that she was just fine. She told me she needed to get to Gate twelve. Mine was to be Gate four. I wished her well and she was on her way.

After I noticed the signs, I realized that she was headed the wrong way. I yelled to her since she was already quite a distance from me. The woman didn’t hear me so I ventured closer and called out to her again. She turned around and came toward me. When she caught up to me, motioning with my hand, I told her that we both needed to head the other way. She glanced at my green carnation waving in my hand. So I asked if she had seen the festive Irish dancers earlier. She said she hadn’t seen them. I told her that I had a snippet of their dancing on my phone in case she’d like to see it.

As we walked towards our gates, I scrolled through my cell phone to find the short video and then played it for the woman as we continued towards our gates. She was delighted. When it came time for us to part as we got to her gate, I suddenly felt an urge to give her a blessed Miraculous Medal.

“I’d like to give you something.” I said as I reached into my pocket for the medal I placed there that morning before leaving for the trip.

“This is a blessed Miraculous Medal” I explained. I will touch it to the on that Mother Teresa gave me. This is Mary, Jesus’ mother. I pray that the medal brings you much grace.” And I placed it in her outstretched hand.

“Thank you!” she immediately said. “This means so much to me. My husband just died of fourth stage lung cancer.” He JUST died! I NEED this!” she told me.

I was so happy that I could give her the blessed medal. I quickly dug into my purse to get a business card and then handed it to her. I told her to get in touch anytime. She stretched out her hand to offer a hand shake and said, “My name is Esther. It’s Esther.” she repeated. “I’ll be in touch.”

I told her my name too and we parted. I quickly called out to her and said, “God bless–safe journeys! Email me!”

I arrived to my gate and sat down, keeping an eye on my flower so it wouldn’t get bent. I wanted Barb to have it. I settled down and silently gave thanks to God for the blessed unexpected encounter with Esther and said a little prayer for her. It seemed that the Irish dancer’s gift of the green carnation to me was the ice breaker in speaking with Esther, or at least it helped in continuing our conversation, giving me a bit more time to realize I needed to give her a blessed Miraculous Medal before parting.

Standing in line waiting to board I noticed a young gentleman beside me also holding a green carnation. We shared with one another that it would be interesting to see how we would get the flowers to our final destinations without breaking them! I smiled and told him that I already knew who I was going to give mine to on the other side. He seemed delighted by the idea of giving his away and said he thought that maybe he would gift his to someone too!

My flight was pretty turbulent but my green carnation stayed safely in its resting place in the seat pocket throughout the flight.

I saw that young man again when it was time to get off the plane and I asked about his carnation. He said, “Oh! I gave it away!” And he motioned behind him. I noticed a young lady carrying a green carnation and smiled at his kind gesture. Maybe Saint Patrick smiled too.

One more flight to go and I’d meet up with Scott, the producer for the Journey Home television show on which I would be featured. I met Scott just outside the airport. He drove me to his home where I’d be staying at the Bed and Breakfast while awaiting the filming of the show the following day.

When I arrived at his home, we went into the kitchen, the heart of their beautiful home, to see Barb, his wife. She was behind the kitchen counter busy with some sort of preparation. The kitchen was beautifully decorated with all things Irish! Irish songs were playing in the background too–what a perfect ambience! I approached Barb and immediately hugged her, saying, “I’m home!” and then handed her the green carnation. It sure felt like home. Theirs was a welcoming peace-filled abode and that’s why I was so quick to offer a hug to Barb rather than a simple hand shake.

Whew, I thought. At long last, the gift of the green carnation had reached its final destination. I shared with Barb that a cute little Irish dancer had surprised me and had given it to me earlier that day with the beautiful greeting, “Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!”

While Barb’s father’s favorite Irish tunes were playing, Barb explained to me that she thought that perhaps Saint Therese must have arranged that flower to come to her since sometimes a rose will show up unexpectedly when asking for Saint Therese’s intercession. She quickly added, “But, my very Irish Daddy, whom I greatly miss, would have said it was from him.”

It would have been her father’s 90th birthday that day!

Barb thanked me for the green carnation and smiling, she trimmed it and put it in a little Irish vase which happened to be empty and adorning her kitchen counter.

Doesn’t it look pretty here at its journey’s end?

Later on when Barb had a chance to express what was going on in her heart and mind when I arrived at her home, she said, “It was such a surprise to receive the carnation, in the midst of a ‘perfect storm’ of circumstances.” Barb had been reading a book about Saint Therese. She shared, “I have been praying for her intercession on a specific issue.”

Everything kind of all came together in a few moments time.

Barb recalled, “My dad’s old Irish music playing, his birthday, St Patrick’s Day–there really aren’t words to describe the spiritual lift your gift of a flower gave me.”

She added, “The fact that you traveled so far, lovingly carrying that single flower, for me, really touched my heart.” Barb had a deep sense of what she described, “Sweet, precious, and holy moments our Lord gifts us with!”

The following day when sitting at the breakfast table, Barb told me that a friend had just emailed and had a little Bible message. It was from the Book of “Esther,” she said.

Esther? How interesting! Maybe God had a message for me.

I listened to what Barb read me from the email. The message was a little interpretation of a verse in Esther:

Be still for a while and praise God for His favor, His grace and His awesomeness. God is able to do the impossible and is always near. He
loves us unconditionally.

Yes, God always has a message for us. This little prayer followed:

Dear God, This is my friend whom I love and this is my prayer for her.

Help her live her life to the fullest. Please cause her to excel above her expectations. Help her to shine in the darkest places where it is
impossible to love. Protect her at all times, lift her up when she needs You the most, and let her know when she walks with You, she will always be safe. Amen!

I told Barb the story about meeting Esther at the airport the day before. And now, I have just told you! Let’s pray for Esther, who lost her husband and for all those who have experienced the recent loss of a loved one.

Since I am back home in Connecticut, I think I’m going to bake a couple of big round loaves of Irish Soda bread!