Back around 1989, my beautiful wife, Geralyn, took a one day/wk job in Utica, NY; so she had to find a sitter. There was an ad from a Protestant pastor's wife to which Ger responded. Would this Esther respect our Catholic Faith or may she refuse because of our Faith. Well, at that time our Rachel was 3 yrs old. Esther was very cordial; her home obviously had no statues or overt religious symbols on the wall. Would this work out? Well, as Geralyn introduced Ben, Rachel, and baby Patrick, of her own volition, Rachel looked up at Esther and asked, "Do you love Jesus?" Well, that melted Esther heart, and for 5 years this relationship blossomed. This mutual respect has continued over these years, though our contacts have been infrequent. When my Benjamin was about to be ordained in 2014, Esther sat him down and shared the difficult calling he was undertaking and urged him to cultivate a humble, servant heart for the Flock. Just recently, Geralyn came across a youtube clip of Esther teaching on Mary, the Mother of Jesus! Yes she isn't Catholic, and she makes a cautionary note on churches which exalt Mary, but actually, I have never heard a Protestant teach so thoroughly on the Mary of the Gospels. You'll notice I commented after listening. Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
