A Hand out for the New Year

KATE’S QUESTION

This afternoon,Kate, Chad’s 4 year old, asked,”Momo, how come you walk bent over?”

Hmmmm

“Feel  bent over on the inside…halved.”

Didn’t think it showed.

Kids miss little.

HEATHER’S IDEA

In the afternoon of the eve of the New Year, we all took a walk on Good Harbor Beach.  

Chilly.

Each returned with a shell, stone, piece of driftwood, sponge. rusted bolt or something churned up by the sea Jud loved.

We headed home with our salted treasures,

 sat around and told why this bit of nature reminded us of Jud, Dad or Popo.

Fascinating reminders of an interesting man who loved the natural world and his family

Tender moments.

JUD’S CHALLENGE

Jesus loves me.

This I KNOW.

“Follow Jesus.”

Jud said it often,

mostly without words

Simple

not easy.

Help me, God.

GOD’S SURPRISE

Today, when I least expected or deserved it, God came singing

not last night when I hugged Jud’s pillow, praying, crying

this day

God showed up carrying a tune from when I was a kid in Chicago

a song I heard on radio station WMBI (Moody Bible Institute)

sung by the closest thing I knew to a pop singer, Helen McAlerney Barth, crooning:

 “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand,

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light:

Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.”

I remember sitting cross-legged in front of an old wooden radio,

shaped like a slightly smaller version of a juke box

listening often to music 

and sometimes stories told by Aunt Teresa,

feasting to my heart’s content.

small child

small, sweet moments.

YOUR NET WORTH

Today I’m reminded that my tears in the night, like yours,  matter to God.

God loves to lift us from the muck of despair, fear and hold onto us. 

Today God held my  hand

and me… 

Trust me, God doesn’t always show up in ways I recognize, but this time I sensed God…

through A PLANT, an Amaryllis, brought over by my neighbor, Beth,

“Thought it might help to watch life bloom.”

through A CALL from Raquelita in Holland,

“Happy New Year Mamajan. I’m coming with Marzipan and hugs!”

through Bai Yun’s gift of TEA and SWEETS from China

and her WORDS, reminding me of her first Christmas in the U.S. 

sharing “stories, cookies and eggnog with you at Gordon.”

through Pat’s own JOURNAL ENTRY after great loss,

“When I can’t hold on to the hope, the love, the faith, you offer yours to me.

When I throw up you give me a towel, when I throw something you duck but don’t run away.

When I can’t hope, you can.”

and through Lyn’s gift of A POEM by Minnie Louise Haskins, 

“I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,

‘Give me light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’

and he replied,’Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God

that shall be to you better than light and safer than known way.’ ”

“Precious Lord, take my  hand.”

Despite how I feel sometimes,

choosing to place my hand in God’s

“better than light and safer than a known way.”