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It was April 2nd, and I sat down on the stone steps leading up to Saints Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco and closed my eyes in the warm sunshine. Like many of us, my eyes were strained from Zoom meetings, classes, and emails. It was good to step out for a bit and get some fresh air and a change of pace. The church was closed, but I felt like I was still in the presence of God as I sat on the steps.

I opened my eyes and saw a woman making a beeline towards me from Washington Square. She had a kindly countenance and was a little disheveled. She sat down on the steps and we chatted. Her name was 鈥淓mma鈥� and she mentioned that she was hungry. I thought, 鈥淥h, I could buy her some pizza.鈥� I patted my pocket and realized that I had not brought my credit card.

鈥淓mma,鈥� I said, 鈥淚鈥檇 be happy to buy you some pizza but I don鈥檛 have any money on me. If you don鈥檛 mind waiting, I can walk back to my apartment, get some money, and come back and get you some pizza.鈥� She looked at me searchingly: 鈥淭hank you, Miss Anne. Do you promise to come back?鈥� I said, 鈥淚 promise, Miss Emma.鈥�

It felt good to be on a mission of sorts. Mother Teresa often said that we must recognize Jesus in the Eucharist and in the poor. Our Lord said that we will be judged on how we treat the poor and those in need (Matthew 25). I grew up with wonderful parents who truly believe and live by these words, and who sometimes refer to a quote from Hebrews: 鈥淒o not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.鈥� Life really becomes a marvelous adventure when you live by these words.

I hurried into my apartment, grabbed my credit card, and glanced at the gorgeous pink roses that stood on the nightstand in my room. I love roses and these had been extravagant at Whole Foods the day before. I thought for a second and then took one. The beauty of the rose really reminded me of the beauty that was in Emma鈥檚 heart (so apparent in our brief interaction). The walk back to Saints Peter and Paul felt entirely different than it had felt just 30 minutes before, when my head ached and I was thinking about all the challenges and opportunities of distance learning.

I walked up to the step: 鈥淗ello again, Emma!鈥� She glowed: 鈥淵ou came back! Thank you for keeping your word, Anne.鈥� (I almost burst into tears.) 鈥淗ere, this rose is for you. It is beautiful, just like your beautiful heart.鈥� She shyly thanked me and took the rose. Now, on to the important business: 鈥淲hat would you like on your pizza?鈥� The order settled, I headed off again. I glanced back over my shoulder and smiled as I saw her looking at her rose.
Pizza was ordered and freshly made, and I headed back with soda, napkins, and plates. 鈥淭hank you, Anne. Would you care to join me?鈥� I had to get back to work. She thanked me again. As I walked away, I heard her say, 鈥淥h, it鈥檚 warm! I don鈥檛 ever have warm pizza!鈥�

Tears filled my eyes. There was a poetic beauty to her, and I was richly blessed by our interaction. I鈥檝e looked for her every day since, but haven鈥檛 seen her again.

A gigantic box of fresh yellow roses arrived at my door a few days ago. I mean gigantic. I had to use three vases and the roses filled my apartment like rays of sunshine. I was stunned when they arrived and hurriedly looked through the box until I found a sweet little card. The roses were from a dear mentor and friend on the East Coast, who simply wanted to send some love my way.

In reflecting this evening, I suddenly realized that the one rose that I gave to sweet Emma has been returned to me with almost embarrassing generosity. My mom often says, 鈥淭he Lord can鈥檛 be outdone in generosity.鈥� The roses were a truly inspired gift.

Joy is a gift from God that sustains and animates us in every difficulty. We can鈥檛 create joy, because it is a gift, but we can create environments in our school communities and our personal lives that make it possible to receive and nourish the gift of joy when it does arrive. As you make a simple walk to the chapel in between meetings or have a conversation at a seemingly inopportune time, you may be 鈥渟urprised by joy.鈥�

Anne-Marie Grejdus M.S. 鈥�26 is a graduate student at Boston College and is in the Woods College鈥檚 M.S. in Leadership & Administration program. Anne-Marie is keenly interested in advancing human flourishing and connection through education, leadership, and ministry. She most recently supported the Roche Center for Catholic Education at Boston College as a leadership coach from 2022-2025. Anne-Marie enjoys being part of a learning group at the Woods College that explores questions related to motherhood and vocation.

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