*Disclaimer: This post has been revised on 1/24/22 to edit the parts that did not represent Polly correctly. Polly is a devout, thoughtful and prayerful Christian.

Whenever I use the phrase “tiny but mighty” I am channeling the cartoon character Mighty Mouse; a small superhero mouse who always made a big impact. I think “tiny but mighty” was one of my favorite phrases of 2021 because I used it to label anything that seemed small but could beat the odds and exceed expectations. Well, get ready - Thoughtful Pinch is going thru a “tiny but mighty” change. 

This isn’t a dramatic or quick change and like I said, it’s small. I will say that if it weren’t for my previous discoveries about thoughtfulness over the last six years from writing this blog, I don’t think this “arm” of thoughtfulness would stand a chance in retaining readers.  Fortunately, in my assessment, I think so many thoughtful pinchers like to find common ground. Many of us enjoy seeing the silver linings, celebrating the blessings and discovering new meanings with our mind shifts. My newest exploration into thoughtfulness is going to be about moments of grace or small blessings that actually become bigger after we do our deep dives. Yes, most of these posts will include a higher power and will hopefully demonstrate how it is possible to see these moments as thoughtful pinches from above. I think these stories, whether you believe in God, angels, karma, after-life, serendipity, whatever, can be viewed as gifts no matter what our thoughts are about religion.

Although I whole-heartedly believe that America would be better off if we went back to NOT openly talking about politics, religion and thanks to Covid, health choices, it is crazy that I am choosing to go down this road. Let’s face it, back in the day all of those topics were taboo for a reason. So why am I bringing up beliefs in my next round of posts when many people associate belief with religion? Well, my plan is not to have discussions about religion as an organized belief system - Catholicism, Judaism, Christian, Lutheran, Protestant, Mormon etc. No, the plan is more to spotlight moments that explore possibilities that someone above is sending us gifts. I think it’s possible for me to share my beliefs without cramming an agenda down anyone’s throat to believe the same way I do. This is because there are ways to avoid the topic of religion while sharing the thoughtfulness that goes into believing.

Here’s a little background on why I decided to write about this form of thoughtfulness in my weekly blog posts:

1. Lately I have been trying to figure out what I am meant to do with my voice, my blog, my platform. As part of my 365, I’ve been reading the daily masses and I know that God is trying to get some message to me. Even though I don’t quite know what that message is, hearing a story last Thursday made me think, hmmmm, I am meant to share this somehow.

2. I recently read an article written for Catholics called “An Exchange of Gifts: The Blessing of Ecumenical Friendship” by Susan Heuver. The premise is for us to cherish having friendships with friends who have different faith backgrounds. I was pleasantly surprised to love each example she gave about being open-minded and how it leads to many more gifts. This was so up my alley! I also felt that by reading the article, it gave me “permission” to step into all sorts of beliefs instead of limiting myself to just one.

3. My brother shared a story with me when we were together over the holidays. It was a sad story and without getting into the details, I asked him if he ever wondered why he was there at the moment that this tragedy happened? Why of all times and of all people, was he there to witness this? My brother looked right at me and knew what I was trying to say. The conversation led to his wife telling me that she didn’t believe things happen for a reason and instead of me being offended or feeling disregarded, it made me want to know why she felt this way. So by investigating all sides of the spectrum, I will grow and I will share what I learn.

4. Lastly, giving gifts are a great way to show thoughtfulness. The exchanging of gifts, talent, time, money etc, is the tried and true way to be thoughtful. Many people show thoughtfulness in many different ways which I have been celebrating weekly thru my blog posts. Nonetheless, I think sharing a feeling is a gift and it is time to be showcased more. Sharing a feeling is something many of us do daily thru social media. For example, we use Instagram to share a photo with our feelings attached in the caption. We share the photo because we think it will make us feel something - whatever the emotion -and that is a pinch. Music evokes feelings and memories and so another example of sharing a feeling is by sharing songs. My hope is to curate enough stories about things that make us feel so that I can continue my almost 7 year streak of weekly thoughtfulness.

So let’s begin with that story that I heard last Thursday.

Oddly on that day I had read my daily mass and was kind of annoyed because I knew God was trying to say something to me for weeks with all these readings but I wasn’t getting the picture. Anyway, that day I had an appointment with a closet company to come measure our garage and walk-in pantry in order to help me get them organized. Polly, the owner/president of the company, was measuring and we talked about high schools. She mentioned her two sons went to a Catholic high school that I had known about since I went to USD in the late 80’s. I didn’t think much of it until she said, “It is the weirdest thing how my boys went there because we’re not Catholic.” This peaked my interest even though at USD, my Catholic college, there were many Jewish and non-secular students. It was the way Polly said it that made me probe further. She explained that her neighbor who was a good friend had gotten into a very bad accident and was dying so Polly was helping out by bringing dinners over and helping with the kids. At the same time, her eighth grade son was having trouble in school and she needed to figure out what to do about high school. The day she came back from the funeral, because her friend eventually died, Polly had a very heavy heart from losing her friend and she worried about school for her son. She told me that she prayed that night before going to bed asking God to help her figure out what to do with her son. She woke up the next morning with a specific school clearly visualized in her mind and she called the school to see what she can do to get her son in. The receptionist told her to bring her son, two Number 2 pencils and ten dollars that coming Saturday at 8am because it would be the last opportunity for him to take the entrance test before they closed the application deadline. For some reason Polly decided to call her friend, the widow of the friend who died and asked if she could pick up her son Bruce at 730am on Saturday to take him to the school with Polly’s son so that they could take the entrance exam. Her friend allowed her to do so. Both boys got in and Bruce continued to go on to Loyola Marymount in LA and is still involved in the Catholic church in some capacity. This high school, for their sons, at that time in their lives, was the very best investment they could have made for them. Polly said the school shaped all of the boys’ futures (her younger son also attended) and she believes it all started because she said that one prayer. When Polly was finished with her story, I had to say, “I think Bruce’s dad was using you to carry out what he wanted for his son.” I also told her that it was meant to be for Polly’s boys to take that same path by going to that school because Bruce’s dad needed his son to have a good friend (Polly’s son) and a surrogate dad (Polly’s husband Mark). She agreed. Polly happened to be at the right place at the right time and moreover, she trusted the answer she was given to her prayer.

Shivers! I dig these types of blessings so much. I mean, what are the chances that Polly asks for help the day of the funeral and she gets a clear answer the next morning? Just barely having the opportunity - she could have called too late and they wouldn’t have been able to apply to the school that year. Most importantly for Bruce’s mom to allow Polly to drag him along with her son to a private school entrance exam was key to this whole blessing. I just love this story so much because it’s not a miracle, it’s not totally unbelievable, it’s not earth-shattering but it is a thoughtful pinch from Bruce’s dad and I wanted to share it with you.

Pinches,

Barb