"Mom, I'm on my way now," I called hurriedly, trying not to show how frantic I felt that Saturday morning as I peeked in the kitchen doorway.

     "All right, Anne," Mom said, standing at the counter scraping carrots for a vegetable soup.  "I hope you can find something, dear.  It's not good to wait until the last minute," she reminded.

      "I know, Mom," I agreed.  "I hope I can find something, too!"

     I had to shop in a very short time.  First, I needed a special gift for Nancy, my best friend, from Catechism class.  I was going to her birthday party at two o'clock that afternoon! 

     Then I needed a special card for my grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary dinner celebration tomorrow.  And I had a big problem.  I didn't have much savings.  Would I have enough money?

     When I arrived at our neighborhood shopping mall a few blocks away, I remembered that department stores are more expensive, so I decided to look in a "penny-saver" store first.  I walked up and down the long rows of aisles, but nothing was right for Nancy. I couldn't find anything like a "special" birthday gift there. 

    "Now what am I going to do?"  I wondered as I walked outside and leaned against the storefront window.  I tried to think.

     I remembered a Catholic bookstore a few blocks from the shopping mall.  "But probably everything is expensive, and I'll have taken a long walk for nothing."  I was close to tears.  When I calmed down a bit, I could still feel an inner urge, almost like a kind of quiet voice, telling me to shop at the Catholic bookstore for Nancy.  So I took a deep breath and began walking.

     When I entered the store, I went up to the smiling saleslady at the counter.  Then I noticed the dainty, gold cross necklaces showing Our Crucified Lord in the glass counter case.

      "I guess they're pretty expensive," I said, hesitantly.

      "They're 14 karat gold," she said, "but we're overstocked, and we've just marked them down to $l0.99."

     "Really?" I exclaimed, happily.  "Could you please wrap that one as a birthday gift for me?"  I pointed to a delicate gold-cross.

      "Why, of course, young lady, I'll be glad to," the saleslady said smiling.   

     While waiting for my package, I browsed along the shelves of books in the young people's section.  I found an interesting book with stories about the saints.  It had many beautiful, colored pictures.  I wanted to buy it. 

     "Later," I told myself, "I'll buy the book after I have saved more from my allowance."

     Then, across the aisle I saw the greeting cards.  Wonderful! I didn't know the Catholic bookstore sold greeting cards. 

     Looking closer, I found a perfect friendship card for Nancy's birthday.  On the outside was a picture of two girls sitting on an old-fashioned porch swing.  They were laughing and talking with their heads together, just as Nancy and I do sometimes!

     Further down, I noticed the anniversary cards for family.  Skipping across the rows, I found a fiftieth anniversary grandparents' card with lace and gold edging and a picture of the Blessed Mother on the front.   It was beautiful! Inside, it asked God's blessing on my grandparents' lives together for many more years to come.

     "Thank You, God," I murmured, happily. "Three special favors in a half hour!"

     As I left the store with Nancy's birthday gift prettily wrapped in a big pink bow, along with my special greeting cards in a bag, I had to hold myself back from skipping and hopping joyfully all the way home! 

     There were still three hours before Nancy's party--enough time to arrive home, relax, and then get dressed.  What a super day, after all! 

     While Mom and I enjoyed a bowl of her tasty vegetable soup, I told her about my shopping experience and about the gentle voice that encouraged me to go to the Catholic bookstore to shop.

   "Anne, do you have any idea Who might have helped you today?" Mom asked with a little smile.

   "That's easy, Mom," I said quickly.  "It had to be the Holy Spirit.  I'm sure of it.  Things worked out too perfectly." 

     Then I shook my head in wonderment.  "Isn't it neat, Mom, how Our Heavenly Father can be real in your life!"

     "Yes, Anne, He's always there when we need Him."  Mom said rising and patting me on the shoulder.  "I'll clear the table and clean up the dishes, while you get ready for a nice afternoon at Nancy's party."

     "Thanks, I'll go shower now."  I paused in the doorway.  "And, Mom, I'll do the dinner dishes tonight, I promise."