Choosing Hope. A Note From Jan. Jud's Journal Entry Fifty-three.
It was late. The parents, enjoying a night away at my urging, left the 5 GRANDS with me. Lily was really in charge. The youngest grandchildren finagled a way to stay up way past their bedtimes. We made root beer floats with “Jud’s Suds” and watched ELF…….. again. Not that anything had been very scheduled since the whole family landed on Christmas morning.
Lily’d spent the better part of an hour tending and tucking Maggie, Basil and Kate into their beds in the “Awesome Attic.” “Momo, they want you to come up and kiss them good night.”
Before heading up with me, Luke said, “I’ll be Popo. You sing.” Luke Ilahra Willis, winsome 11 year old, proclaimer in late July the mantra for our family, “I choose HOPE.” And hope we did and do.
We learned in July that something’d gone really wrong in Jud’s body. Huddled together at Logan as the Willis clan prepared to fly to France, we hugged, cried and heard courageous words from Luke, age 10 at the time. “I choose HOPE.” HOPE. Not a one time choice. Daily oftener when despair nibbles at the corners of life HOPE, like a tailor, a heaven-sent seamstress, binds the frayed keeping life from unraveling.
So Luke, this night, like his namesake, Dr. Luke, writer of the gospel story of Christmas, dispensed HOPE into an attic filled with restless sheep and a spent shepherdess. “I’ll be Popo. You sing.”
Up the steep stairs I climbed and plopped my weary self beside the GRANDS. As I sang, Luke performed Popo’s antics behind me. and long trapped giggles exploded from Maggie, Kate and Basil. Whipping around, I’d find a frozen Luke… just like Popo.
“Sing more, Momo!” So I sang on and Luke mimicked like Jud, while a choir of small angels filled the “Awesome Attic” with sounds of great JOY! “the children all nestled and snug in their beds while visions of…” Popo danced in their heads. And soon they were fast asleep. The soothing nature of the familiar.
This morning Luke came downstairs wearing one of Popo’s T-shirts It read: APO Island…Scuba Adventures…the Philippines. Like Jud and his uncle Chad, Luke loves almost anything that connects with fishing/boating/oceans/water. But I sense more of Jud in Luke than a nautical connection: kindness, patience, helpfulness and courage to do what’s right, even when nobody’s looking but the only ONE who counts. Luke, spreader of HOPE until the rest of us catch it.
‘I’ll be Popo.” and you were and are in so many ways, dear Luke.
Thank you.
16 Comments
Thinking of you on this first day of a new beginning, dear Jan. From *Turning Points* by David Jeremiah:
"We're not always doing great things," Rob [Morgan] writes in *Mastering Life [Before It's Too Late: Biblical Strategies for a Lifetime of Purpose*], "but even in the smallest duty, if Christ assigns it and we accomplish it, is greater in God's eyes than building the pyramids or acquiring a vast domain. As we undertake each day's work for Jesus, we can lay our heads on our pillows night after night knowing we've been about our Father's business. The next morning we arise to a new God-planned day; and we find joy in the journey. The child of God never awakens to a day unplanned by heaven or unattended by the Lord. When the alarm goes off each morning, we roll out of bed knowing we have a divine purpose, plan, and presence."
_____
LOVE THAT...gives me courage for each day, even with life's uncertainties and difficult times! <3 you...
Thought of you, Jan, when a friend posted this on FB...
The Collingsworths sing "Fear Not Tomorrow"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuBZLJ31Xc4&feature=share
In this age of uncertainty, questions come to my mind.
What is waiting ahead for me and the rest of mankind.
Fear not tomorrow. God is already there.
He's charting the course you take.
He sees each hidden snare.
He's waiting to guide you through each burden and care.
Fear not tomorrow. God is already there!
Are you troubled o'er things to come? Is your future unsure?
And are you dreading the coming dawn? A long day to endure?
Fear not tomorrow. God is already there.
He's charting the course you take.
He sees each hidden snare.
He's waiting to guide you through each burden and care.
Fear not tomorrow. God is already there.
Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand.
Oh, but I know Who holds tomorrow.
And l know, oh, I know.
Yes, I know Who holds my hand.
Fear not tomorrow. God is already there.
Already there!
I want to meet Luke! That guy is showing us how great Popo's and Momo's influence little lives for good and forever. Write on, Jan. I love your postings. See you in a couple weeks.
Amen and Amen! :) on the eve of a New Year - Hope is what we can bring into it, for sure! --- blessings, Brad
I choose HOPE too!! Thank you Luke! Thank you Jan for sharing! Continually loving and praying and hoping for you, that God, and His comfort, peace, joy and hope would be so tangibly real to you.
TANGIBLE: real or actual, rather than imaginary or visionary: definite; not vague or elusive
Much love!
Again, on my morning walk, I prayed for your family and thought of how many people pray for "closure" once a loss is experienced. My sense, hopefully from the Spirit, is that we need to be open - to all the memories that have shaped our lives and to all the people who have loved us. So, I don't know if closure is something you want, but I do pray your memories of Jud are rich and that they will keep you open to more of what God plans for your life. Love, Dale
Hope is such a great word...may it define your new year and join with peace, love and joy to give you strength for each new day. Blessings and joy from Steve and Ruthie
I love that Luke . . . He has those Carlberg talents emerging.
So sweet! Love reading your posts. Love Carey and Lori
Dear Jan,
Thank you for sharing your insights, and your encouraging expériences, based on the One who is truly our Hope. And thank you, Luke, for stepping in at the right time in just the right way. You are all very much in our hearts and prayers!
Love, David and Joyce
A God moment - thank you, Luke and Jan. Here's a new year resolution for us all: Daily choose hope.
We very much appreciate your CaringBridge love stories.
A precious story! Precious Luke...spreader of HOPE! Precious Jan! Precious GRANDS! Thank you,God, for giving them--and us--HOPE. May the new year be filled with HOPE...and PEACE...and LOVE. Blessings and love, Lillian and Bill
The kindness, patience, wisdom, and courage genes run strong in your family - beautiful to read about.
Beautiful ...
What a beautiful story to end the year 2014. Yes let's choose HOPE. Thank you Luke spreader of HOPE. And thank you Jan for your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control! Much love to you at the end of this year and for the New Year.
Such a tender-hearted little guy. Spreader of Hope and Healing….