Page 45 - HQ May June July 2020

Families Strong

Anne Marie Jacques

These days of confinement due to the corona-
virus pandemic, which seem at times surreal for
most of us, have provided me an opportunity for
reflection. Our family, like everyone else’s, has un-
dergone some major and unanticipated changes.
Here in America, and in many parts of the world,
we are coping as best we can, but wondering at
the same time, “Where is this all leading us?”
hen I was a girl, I loved listening to my Dad
talk about his childhood. He had many sto-
Wries, and I never tired of hearing them. Born
in 1922, his father had been a railway man making a
decent living in New Hampshire. Their family were
one of only a few who owned a car back in the days
of the horse and buggy. But when my Dad was 7 or
8 years old, his family moved to Massachusetts, and
shortly afterwards he lost his father. This changed ev-
erything. My grandmother, penniless, was left to raise
six children on her own — 3 boys and 3 girls. I imagine
that she must have often asked that same question, Dad, just after the War
“Where is this all leading us?”
It is said that history repeats itself. I understand uncles gave her after the war, which she always had in
that to include the fact that human beings will always her pocket and which she recited many times through-
face challenges and will have tough decisions and out her day — this was her source of strength.
choices to make. The reality is that our times are not so different
My grandmother was an amazing woman who from hers. Our challenges may be different, but we
was held in great esteem by my Dad and his siblings. are all called to face the challenges as they present
With very little means, she saw the family through themselves to us each day, and to respond to them
what was later to be called the Great Depression. She in the best way possible. It is how we respond that
was a small woman, measuring a mere 5’ 1”, but was makes the difference. In her day it was the loss of my
not afraid to stand up to anyone who threatened to in- grandfather, raising her 6 children alone, the Great De-
terfere with her family. My Dad, who was 6’ 2”, said he pression and World War II. Certainly these were great
and his brothers never crossed her. He once saw her challenges before which anyone would feel helpless
chase two government men from their home with a and o v e r w h e l m e d . But what could be seen in her
broom who had come to suggest placing the children case was her decision, her choice, to not face these
in foster care. challenges alone — she turned to God always, and to
She had great Mary, His Mother.
strength of char- As we all struggle to move forward in these un-
acter, which I have certain times we can regain the perspective of what
come to realize is truly important. I have come to realize that my fam-
came from an un- ily, and our precious time spent together, is not to be
moving faith and an taken for granted. Visits with the grandkids, picnics in
unconditional love our yard, a school play or a dance recital are now “vir-
and trust in God. tual” moments, or they are just no longer happening at
During her lifetime all. Many of us are now wondering when we will return
she was faithful to to work, or if we will even have a job to go back to
her beliefs, regularly when this begins to clear. We wonder how the post-
attended Mass, belonged to a number of societies and coronavirus economy can be jump started.
sodalities, and helped in every manner of charitable These are all questions for which we do not have
work. But most of all she was a prayer warrior. I es- answers at the moment, but as far as a better econo-
pecially remember the crystal rosary that my dad and my goes, we can begin in our own homes. u

46 MICHAEL May/June/July 2020 www.michaeljournal.org