Notes from Jan

Springtime’s for Soaring

April 13, 2018

It’s been a month since the surgery.

Between March 12th and April 12th a lot’s happened and pretty much all of it without me.

Life never sits back and waits while we nurse a knee, pause to ponder, or sit a spell to catch our breath.

Lent’s over until next year, so’s Easter and Opening Day for the Red Sox.

Our book group read Joan Chittister’s The Gift of Years and concluded the obvious: We’re all getting older and aging doesn’t always feel like a gift but every moment of Life is.

People died, like Charles Austin.  Charlie and I  co-emceed Congress in Boston for several years.  He, with his deep voice and schooled broadcasting ways became known as The Eagle and I, the Sparrow. Charlie’d remind  me, “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” Charlie’s now singing with Ethel Waters, the one who introduced the song to me.

It’s a good song to sing when tempted to give up.

“Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows  come, why should my heart be lonely and long for heav’n and home, when Jesus is my portion?   My constant Friend is He. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.”

What I know and how I feel aren’t always in sync.

But God still shows up, reminding me (and you) not to worry.

“Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God.  And you count far more to him than birds.”  (Matthew 6 The Message)

Then there’s Maggie’s Easter card:

“Dear Momo,

Happy Easter!  I love you! You are the best Grandma ever! Just as Jesus rose from the dead, you will rise from the cane! ”

Springtime’s for soaring.

I hear Charlie, “Can I  hear an amen?!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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10 Comments

  • Reply wendy lane April 13, 2018 at 12:48 am

    What a wonderful note from Maggie! Keep singing! Even when it’s hard. <3

  • Reply Dale Lefever April 13, 2018 at 12:56 am

    You have an amen from MI where the birds refused to land this year, but I still want a picture with the cane. 🙂 My problem is I never could sing in good times, so I am hoping age brings inspiration.

    Blessings, Dale

  • Reply Dan Russ April 13, 2018 at 1:03 am

    One of the verses from David’s “new songs” that were mostly complaints about his suffering that has meant much to me in my own sufferings is Psalm 18:20: “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” He delights in you, Jan, and so do many of us.

  • Reply Rita Smith Dove April 13, 2018 at 1:44 am

    Amen!

  • Reply Gail MacDonald April 13, 2018 at 1:45 am

    I love your friends thoughts, Janny. You bring the heart to rest, once again. Yes, we have so many fond memories of Charlie. Seeing you and he totally enjoy working together at Congress was a delight. And I agree, Maggie writes just the right things, doesn’t she? Who was it – Amy Carmichael, or Oswald Chambers who said, “God gives us songs in the night so we can sing them for others in the daylight?” Thank you for going through your first month of healing with a resilient spirit and a determined heart! Your friend Dan ‘s verse is for us all. And yes, we delight in you Jan!

  • Reply Alyce t April 13, 2018 at 2:39 am

    Amen!

  • Reply Sue Andringa April 13, 2018 at 2:44 am

    And Amen from me too! ❤️

  • Reply Barbara Chapman April 13, 2018 at 1:58 pm

    One of these days you won’t spend the whole day thinking about the knee. Healing with the knee comes slowly. God is good all the time. Blessings

  • Reply Nancy Sheys April 14, 2018 at 2:55 pm

    Amen, so encouraging! Bless you!

  • Reply Deb White April 14, 2018 at 2:56 pm

    Jan, I just love your candor and sense of humor. I will use Joan Chittister’s quote, “We’re all getting older and aging doesn’t always feel like a gift but every moment of Life is” on the shop bulletin board! Thanks for the inspiration.
    Blessings!

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