--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Catherine told me about this…" description: "\"When Catherine told me about this (tragedy nearby), I could only say, shocked, \"Dear God, that family needs grace.\" She replied firmly, \"That family ne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/elizabeth-gilbert-131_casseroles_when-catherine-told-me-about-this-traged_2100183.jpg" --- # When Catherine told me about this (tragedy nearby), I… ![“When Catherine told me about this (tragedy nearby), I could only say, shocked, "Dear God, that family needs grace." She replied firmly, "That family needs casseroles," and then proceeded to organize the entire neighborhood into bringing that family dinner, in shifts, every single night, for an…” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/elizabeth-gilbert-131_casseroles_when-catherine-told-me-about-this-traged_2100183.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/elizabeth-gilbert-131_casseroles_when-catherine-told-me-about-this-traged_2100183.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/elizabeth-gilbert-131_casseroles_when-catherine-told-me-about-this-traged_2100183.jpg) > “When Catherine told me about this (tragedy nearby), I could only say, shocked, "Dear God, that family needs grace." She replied firmly, "That family needs casseroles," and then proceeded to organize the entire neighborhood into bringing that family dinner, in shifts, every single night, for an entire year. I do not know if my sister fully recognizes that this \_is\_ grace.” [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grace can be expressed through practical, sustained help, not just words of sympathy. **In simple terms:** Grace is shown by caring actions over time. Key Takeaway Offer concrete help, not just sympathy. Themes compassion community service Mood empathetic inspired Type narrative inspirational When to use this quote - family crisis - neighborhood response - long‑term aid - volunteer coordination Key Concepts Grace practical aid sustained support Questions to Reflect On - How can we sustain long‑term aid without fatigue? - What other forms of grace can we offer? A Different Perspective Practical help may be limited by resources or burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Casseroles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casseroles/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-dinner/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Nature of Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-beauty/) [Neighborhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighborhood/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sisters/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [“A family in my sister's neighborhood was recently stricken with a double tragedy, when both the young mother and her three-year-old son were diagnosed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/a-family-in-my-sister-s-neighborhood-was-recently-stricken-with-a/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Here’s another example of the difference in our worldviews. A family in my sister’s neighborhood was recently stricken with a double tragedy, when both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/here-s-another-example-of-the-difference-in-our-worldviews-a-family/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [There are so many family dinners you can do. I eventually had to go to them and say, 'Look, I don't do spatula work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/there-are-so-many-family-dinners-you-can-do-i-eventually-had-to-go-to/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [Now that was informative" were her first words. "Catherine, you never told me that no matter how many times you sliced something off a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/now-that-was-informative-were-her-first-words-catherine-you-never/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [A great leader needs to love and respect people, and he needs to be comfortable with himself and with the world. He also needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-hindery/a-great-leader-needs-to-love-and-respect-people-and-he-needs-to-be/) [Leo Hindery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-hindery/) > [“And wasn't that a great moment in baseball history," Holly Grace replied with withering sarcasm. "Helen Keller pitching and Little Stevie Wonder catching.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/and-wasn-t-that-a-great-moment-in-baseball-history-holly-grace/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“Of course not Your Grace," she replied speaking as calmly as she could to his incensed left nipple. "But there are things that need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/of-course-not-your-grace-she-replied-speaking-as-calmly-as-she-could/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“I was intrigued. I asked her what was so scary about unmerited free grace? She replied something like this: “If I was saved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/i-was-intrigued-i-asked-her-what-was-so-scary-about-unmerited-free/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I don't use the word gourmet. The word doesn't mean anything anymore. 'Gourmet' makes it sound like someone is putting sherry wine in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/i-don-t-use-the-word-gourmet-the-word-doesn-t-mean-anything-anymore/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [Seasonality in winter doesn't have to mean sleep-inducing, stew-like, starchy casseroles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/seasonality-in-winter-doesn-t-have-to-mean-sleep-inducing-stew-like/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) > [When you're thinking, "Why do I have to eat Aunt Sue's casserole with potato chips crumbled on top again?" change that thought to "A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schmich/when-you-re-thinking-why-do-i-have-to-eat-aunt-sue-s-casserole-with/) [Mary Schmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schmich/) > [Casseroles are one-pot-wonders!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-hall/casseroles-are-one-pot-wonders/) [Carla Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-hall/) > [Taste my tuna casserole - tell me if I put in too much hot fudge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/taste-my-tuna-casserole-tell-me-if-i-put-in-too-much-hot-fudge/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Here is something that Peach, one of the Casserole Queens, says about men and women and love. You know that scene in Romeo and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/here-is-something-that-peach-one-of-the-casserole-queens-says-about/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [I make lots of casseroles that have protein, veggies, carbs and good fats all together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-spelling/i-make-lots-of-casseroles-that-have-protein-veggies-carbs-and-good/) [Tori Spelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-spelling/) ## More by Elizabeth Gilbert > [That's your friend. My husband is my best friend. He's not the mirror that holds up my flaws. He's just the guy who's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/that-s-your-friend-my-husband-is-my-best-friend-he-s-not-the-mirror/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Not to mention that I have finally arrived at that age where a woman starts to question whether the wisest way to get over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/not-to-mention-that-i-have-finally-arrived-at-that-age-where-a-woman/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“The Buddha taught that all human suffering is rooted in desire. Don't we all know this to be true? Any of us who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-buddha-taught-that-all-human-suffering-is-rooted-in-desire-don-t/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [ “And while \[we\] do have possibilities that are vast and magnificent and almost infinite in scope, it's important to remember that our choice-rich lives… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that-are-vast-and-magnificent-and/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Learn your way around loneliness. Make a map of it. Sit with it, for once in your life. Welcome to the human experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/learn-your-way-around-loneliness-make-a-map-of-it-sit-with-it-for/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [If we never leave our house except to drive to work, do we need to be even remotely aware of this powerful, humbling, extraordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/if-we-never-leave-our-house-except-to-drive-to-work-do-we-need-to-be/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I will tell you why we have these extraordinary minds and souls, Miss Whittaker," he continued, as though he had not heard her. "We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-will-tell-you-why-we-have-these-extraordinary-minds-and-souls-miss/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way. You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to anyone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/clearing-out-all-your-misery-gets-you-out-of-the-way-you-cease-being/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [The ingredients of both darkness and light are equally present in all of us,...The madness of this planet is largely a result of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-ingredients-of-both-darkness-and-light-are-equally-present-in-all/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I was full of a hot, powerful sadness and would have loved to burst into the comfort of tears, but tried hard not to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-was-full-of-a-hot-powerful-sadness-and-would-have-loved-to-burst/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“I live in nature where everything is connected, circular. The seasons are circular. The planet is circular, and so is the planet around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-live-in-nature-where-everything-is-connected-circular-the-seasons/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“His spelling was several degrees beyond arbitrary, and his punctuation brought reason to sigh with unhappiness. But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/his-spelling-was-several-degrees-beyond-arbitrary-and-his-punctuation/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Before you realize this truth, say the Yogis, you will always be in despair, a notion nicely expressed in this exasperated line from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/before-you-realize-this-truth-say-the-yogis-you-will-always-be-in/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I actually have a great deal of respect for antidepressants; I think they can be enormously mighty tools toward recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-actually-have-a-great-deal-of-respect-for-antidepressants-i-think/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) [Explore all 1,156 Elizabeth Gilbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## More Casseroles quotes > [I make lots of casseroles that have protein, veggies, carbs and good fats all together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-spelling/i-make-lots-of-casseroles-that-have-protein-veggies-carbs-and-good/) [Tori Spelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-spelling/) > [Here is something that Peach, one of the Casserole Queens, says about men and women and love. You know that scene in Romeo and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/here-is-something-that-peach-one-of-the-casserole-queens-says-about/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [Taste my tuna casserole - tell me if I put in too much hot fudge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/taste-my-tuna-casserole-tell-me-if-i-put-in-too-much-hot-fudge/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Casseroles are one-pot-wonders!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-hall/casseroles-are-one-pot-wonders/) [Carla Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-hall/) > [When you're thinking, "Why do I have to eat Aunt Sue's casserole with potato chips crumbled on top again?" change that thought to "A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schmich/when-you-re-thinking-why-do-i-have-to-eat-aunt-sue-s-casserole-with/) [Mary Schmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schmich/) > [Seasonality in winter doesn't have to mean sleep-inducing, stew-like, starchy casseroles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/seasonality-in-winter-doesn-t-have-to-mean-sleep-inducing-stew-like/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) > [I don't use the word gourmet. The word doesn't mean anything anymore. 'Gourmet' makes it sound like someone is putting sherry wine in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/i-don-t-use-the-word-gourmet-the-word-doesn-t-mean-anything-anymore/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [Sleep? What's that? A new type of casserole?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/sleep-what-s-that-a-new-type-of-casserole/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [Turn the cameltoe into casserole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2-chainz/turn-the-cameltoe-into-casserole/) [2 Chainz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2-chainz/) > [Known to act a donkey on the camel-toe, then take the camel-toe and turn it into casserole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2-chainz/known-to-act-a-donkey-on-the-camel-toe-then-take-the-camel-toe-and/) [2 Chainz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2-chainz/) > [My most memorable meal is every Thanksgiving. I love the food: the turkey and stuffing; the sweet potatoes and rice, which come from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/my-most-memorable-meal-is-every-thanksgiving-i-love-the-food-the/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [If you have ever slept in a covered casserole dish on the highest peak of a mountain range, then you know that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-have-ever-slept-in-a-covered-casserole-dish-on-the-highest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once you start thinking of different dishes in terms of how they're heated, you quickly realize that the key to successfully pulling off a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenji-lopez-alt/once-you-start-thinking-of-different-dishes-in-terms-of-how-they-re/) [J. Kenji Lopez-Alt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenji-lopez-alt/) > [Were you hugging Clary?" He looked at Sebastian in amazement. Sebastian shrugged. "She's my sister. I'm pleased to see her." "You don't hug people,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/were-you-hugging-clary-he-looked-at-sebastian-in-amazement-sebastian/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I love to make casseroles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damaris-phillips/i-love-to-make-casseroles/) [Damaris Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damaris-phillips/) [Browse all 23 Casseroles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casseroles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When Catherine told me about this (tragedy nearby), I could only say, shocked, \"Dear God, that family needs grace.\" She replied firmly, \"That family needs casseroles,\" and then proceeded to organize the entire neighborhood into bringing that family dinner, in shifts, every single night, for an entire year. 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