We naturally want to see the results of our efforts. Whether we are raising children, supporting a loved one, volunteering in our parish, or helping someone through a difficult time, we hope our actions will make a difference.

Yet God’s work often continues long after we have moved on.

In his recent reflection, Fr. Louis, OFM, shared the story of an unexpected reunion with someone whose life had been touched years earlier through a ministry encounter. What seemed at the time like a brief moment had become part of a much larger story that continued to unfold long after their paths had separated.

St. Anne and St. Joachim offer a similar lesson. According to Christian tradition, they faithfully raised their daughter Mary and taught her to love and trust God. They could not have fully known how God would use their faithfulness in His plan of salvation. Yet through their daily acts of prayer, sacrifice, and devotion, they helped prepare the way for the coming of Christ.

The same is often true in our own lives. A kind word, a prayer offered for someone in need, an example of faithful living, or years spent caring for family members may bear fruit in ways we never see. God frequently works through ordinary acts of love, using them for purposes beyond our understanding.

Our task is not to control the outcome. Our task is to be faithful.

When we entrust our efforts to God, we can be at peace knowing that He continues His work even when we cannot see it. Like St. Anne and St. Joachim, we are called to plant seeds of faith, trusting that God will bring forth the harvest in His own time.