Choosing to love - In the Midwest

Love and the family

When their first son was born, Matthew and Claire Jones felt attracted by the spirituality of unity and the mutual love experienced among friends of the Focolare in their city. With the birth of their next two children, and with their own free, quiet time slowly disappearing, “our way to God was truly through our children,” Matthew explains, “and the many people we encounter during the day.”

“Our son John loves to have me read to him, especially before he goes to bed,” Matthew continues. “With my job, I get up early, and his bedtime is close to mine. Many nights I am ready to pick his shortest book. The other night he came to me with his two longest books. At first I cringed, then I thought: ‘I’ll make myself one with him and even if I get to bed later, it is all right.’ I started to read, settling into the stories, and before I knew it both books were finished. He had fallen asleep and I felt as though I had only read one short book.”

One day Claire was home with the children and had many things to do. The laundry was piling up. She had to make lunch and clean the house. “I really wanted the baby to take a nap early,” she recalls, “but he was in a playful mood. Our daughter was cranky and wanted all my attention. I put aside everything I had hoped to get done and decided to put myself in the children’s shoes and just be with them and play. I did just that, and before I knew it, Peter took a nap and Mary’s crankiness disappeared,” she continues. “That day Matthew came home early from work with two coupons for a free lunch. He took John and Mary with him to get the lunch. I was able to finish everything I wanted to get done, and I felt at peace because I chose to love them in their needs that morning.”

Emilie Christy

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