Have you ever had a moment when you were at your wit’s end?
 

You know, when you faced a difficult situation or problem and you just didn’t know what to do?
 

Years ago, a teacher was teaching her students the new math. Perhaps you may remember. So many things were new and seemingly impossible, except to get you to your wit’s end. Easily.
 

Nonetheless, her students were working hard, but she could tell they just couldn’t understand the new concepts, and they were growing more frustrated and edgy with each passing class.
 

One day she departed from her lesson plan and instructed each student to list each person’s name in the class on a sheet of paper and then write something nice about each one. For the whole period. Total silence.
 

The teacher took the papers and compiled a list for each student of what others in the class liked about them. The atmosphere changed: “I never knew I meant anything to anyone.”
 

The students were happy about themselves and one another again. They continued with their math and no one ever said anything about those papers again.
 

Many years later, at a class reunion, one former student opened his wallet and took out two worn pieces of paper, taped and folded many times. Others spoke about having their letter in a wedding album or on the dresser. Who would have thought that what a teacher did out of desperation would have such a lasting effect?
 

You never know how something you or I do might affect someone else.
 

What is odd is that we might not even think that what we did was all that important, but to another person it made a world of difference.
 

Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is like that. Great things happen from small beginnings ... a look ... a touch ... a word. But, be careful. The opposite can happen ... a little lie ... a little gossip.
 

God has, in Jesus, planted  the seed of the kingdom into this world and it is going to grow, mature, and bring a great harvest of souls. It is inevitable. It will happen.
 

What can you do, you may wonder at times, when you see the flood of secular and cultural violence and degradation, all the efforts to get God out of life? It gets more difficult to defend life, morality, values.
 

Paul says we are to be confident: nothing will stop the kingdom. God is in charge. Make it your aim to please Him.
 

There is a continuous and gradual growth in faith: every day contains “seeds,” opportunities for faith to grow.
 

What yields a harvest, what makes you holy, is the consistent nurturing of a relationship with Jesus, through prayer and caring for yourself and others.
 

In one sense, the Eucharist is God planting the seed of Jesus into your heart and life. It has taken root there, hasn’t it? In your heart?
 

Are there some tiny seeds that you are planting? Some word of love? Some act of encouragement? Some words of forgiveness?
 

On Father’s Day, be sure to tell your Father that you love him. Not because you have to, but because you want to and need to. Your “I love you,” may be the singular grace he needs and you need.
 

Keep in mind that true love is always sacrificial.