Seen and Loved

We wrapped up the interview, originally scheduled for just ten minutes, but we’d gone thirty. Sister Veritas quickly took off the headset mic, and as I thanked her for taking the time, she gently touched my arm and said, “You’re really good at this.” 

“Oh, thanks, Sister,” I quickly replied. 

She leaned in, held my eyes for a moment, and said it again, “Katie, please hear this. You are gifted in this area, and thank you for doing it.”

After a half hour of fruitful and fulfilling conversation about her vocation story and discernment and religious life in the Sisters of Life, Sister Veritas was thanking me for asking the right questions and listening to her answers. And she was determined that I hear her affirmation.

I felt seen. And loved. This Sister, noticing and gently complimenting me, but making sure I didn’t just brush it off and move on too quickly, she wanted me to feel cared for at that moment.

And really, every moment since when I’m in the presence of a Sister of Life, whether at an event or when I’ve visited my own sister in formation as a postulant with the community, I’ve felt their unique gift to make the person right in front of them feel like the most important person in the room. They cherish the men and women they are with and genuinely love them by being fully present to them in that moment. These women have never been hurried or rushed. They see someone for all that they are, affirm what they see is good and beautiful, and invite us all to do the same whenever we can.