Saint Joseph to the Rescue

I was sweeping up bits of insulation from my porch at dusk yesterday when my neighbor Ken drove by. He stopped to chat for a moment, and next thing you know we were cleaning out a tree guard next to my driveway as we talked. He was edging the brickwork with a mason's tool he got out of his truck, and I was sweeping up the soil with the broom I had been holding. From there we moved to my "lawn," or whatever you call the sorry patch of dirt in front of my house. Ken scratched an "X" right in the middle of it where he thinks I need a "focal point." He's imagining a small ornamental tree, or a bronze sculpture of an open book with the history of the Emory House written on it. I agree that the sculpture would look nice, but not the electric fence I'd have to put around it to keep it from being carted off.

I was picking up bits of litter as we talked, and I spotted what looked like the little plastic tag that holds a bag of Wonder Bread closed. I tried to pick it up, but it was really stuck in the dirt. In fact, it felt like I was trying to pull up a railroad spike driven into the ground. I wasn't able to dislodge it; Ken finally had to yank it out.

The "bread tag" turned out to be this statue of St. Joseph holding the Baby Jesus. Tucked into the crook of his left arm is the spray of lilies he always carries. Ken thought the statue was molded plastic, but I'm pretty sure it might be solid ivory, maybe even from the Renaissance!

I'm not saying I believe in miracles. But I've been worrying that little patch of dirt every day for two weeks, and there was no square white object there as of yesterday morning.

Joseph was a carpenter, so he is the patron saint of laborers. He was the earthly spouse of the Virgin Mary and adoptive father of Jesus, so he is the patron saint of families. He was instructed in a vision to wed Mary, and did so without hesitation, so he is the patron saint of doubters.

What better patron could a single mother with a broken-down house and a lot of worries ask for? A feeling of complete and utter peace washed over me as I realized that St. Joseph had manifested himself to me to let me know that he had everything in my life under control.

Ken and I made a little pedestal for St. Joseph right on the "X" and placed him there. Although he is only 4 inches tall, I thought he looked magnificent. Unfortunately, he is too precious to leave unguarded in the front yard. I took him inside and cleaned him carefully; soon I'll make a little shrine for him...maybe even a grotto. Saint Joseph was picked by Our Lord to take care of the Baby Jesus and his Mother, and now he's going to take care of me. Nothing is too good for him!