an email from my brother Dan Bartucci

Now I know scripture reminds me to not let my left hand no what my right hand is doing.. Please know I am only sharing this story with you for a smile and certainly not for our deeds.

Yesterday was another clear cut example of when God wants something to happen he will make it happen supernaturally.  I know that I have been blessed abundantly by all that I have and I know too that God will place the right people in your path, and clearly the right circumstances.

Yesterday morning was a pretty mundane Sunday morning, we were getting ready for 10am mass when Melissa’s stomach really knocked her down for a bit so I decided to take my daughter to church and leave half the family behind to rest. Yesterday all we had planned was Church and a bit of  tidying up around the house.  We have our groceries delivered on Sunday’s so nothing really exciting, and certainly not a day where I thought God would work through us.  When I got back home from Church I noticed that the fridge had really grown quite warm,  its an old fridge so I didn’t think a whole lot about it and assumed the motor would restart soon and cool things down. 

By the time the groceries came, the fridge was sweating and even the freezer had begun to thaw.  We couldn’t send the groceries back so we took a chance and unloaded nearly £200 worth of food and drink into the fridge.  We normally order bulk because we don’t have a car and it makes life a bit easier here.  Anyhow some time later, it was clear the fridge wasn’t coming back, so I immediately got angry at the thought of wasting all this food.  I took out some trash bags and was about to begin when Melissa walked in the kitchen.  She goes you know, why don’t we just donate the food.  I am so jealous of the fact that sometimes my wife just shuts off and lets the holy spirit take over.  It comes so natural to her.  When she said it, our parish priest face popped into my mind.  We had to go out to dinner anyway so we could swing by the rectory and offer the food.  I went up to the rectory door and there was no answer, but something told me to try inside the church.  When I walked into the church I saw our priest there cleaning some of the votive candles in front of the Blessed Virgin.  I went up to him and explained the situation and amazing enough his first reaction was sure, I will store the food in my fridge until yours is repaired.  I said no father, my wife and I would like you to have this food for yourself.  He really didn’t know what to say, but his face smiled from ear to ear. 

I still hadn’t though much about it and dinner distracted me even more with our local restaurant being a mess.  Screaming kids, dropped plates, puking kids, you name it.  When we got home, we finished cleaning out the fridge, scrubbing the mess, etc. We had our new favourite tradition which is family prayer time when the kids go to bed every night.  I look forward to that every day, and especially yesterday it was a welcome relief. 

When I walked out of the kids rooms, I heard a whirring sound.  I walked into the kitchen and you can guess what sparked back to life.  The fridge was ice cold.

I walked back to tell my wife about what had happened, and without missing a beat all she said was I guess Fr Gerard needed some food today.

When I called the property manager today, (who have been pretty bad in the past)  she said, you know that fridge is awfully old, lets order you a new one.

I get humbled every day.  Its amazing.