The Gift

In the novel Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott, Jo finds herself caring for a dying younger sister and surrendering to some selfless unintelligible gift, the elusive gift given by the dying to those sturdy with life.

“Precious and helpful hours for Jo, for now her heart received the teaching that it needed: lessons in patience were so sweetly taught her that she could not fail to learn them; charity for all, the lovely spirit that can forgive and truly forget unkindness, the loyalty to duty that makes the hardest easy, and the sincere faith that fears nothing, but trusts undoubtingly.”

The sincere faith. That fears nothing. But trusts beyond doubt.

To be gracious enough to open our hearts that wide, to love that unconditionally in the face of suffering, dying, impossibilities... a gift, and a Mystery.

Jo faces the Mystery only to find her worldly priorities checked:

“...with eyes made clear by many tears, and a heart softened by the tenderest sorrow, she recognized the beauty of her sister’s life-- uneventful, unambitious, yet full of the genuine virtues which ‘smell sweet, and blossom in the dust,’...the true success which is possible to all.”

Then Jo leans in and tends the fire which will warm her sister through the impending night.