The Card

I've been thinking about my mom and dad today. They've both passed away in recent years. If you haven't lost anyone so much a part of you, there is something you may not know. There is a small window of time after they leave you that you feel their presence. Maybe hours, maybe days. There is an electricity in the air. The wind blows cold when it should be warm. There are small unexpected gifts, like the butterfly that lands on your shoulder, the tomato hornworm for their sweet buggy grandson. The answered prayer at the last minute. There is the rainbow trout that ONLY Matthew could catch. The buzzard (because my dad had a wicked sense of humor). Then there is the Card.

When my mom passed away, she left my step-dad, lost and alone. He stayed with us for a week, getting his bearings, wondering how to survive the loss of his soul-mate. My step-dad and mom had never stayed overnight with us in the past. We had offered and begged, but they always followed the same pattern. Come bearing gifts. Stay a few hours, then head home. So we were pleasantly surprised when this this man my children called Grandpa decided to stay. He spent time with the boys and our extended family. He helped around the house and shared memories of my mom. One afternoon he decided to run home and pick up a few keepsakes that my mom wanted for me to have. As we were looking through the boxes of pictures and memories, I came across a card. It was addressed to Joe and I in my moms neat handwriting. I opened it and felt that electricity.... I asked Ronnie if he had bought the card and he said no. I could tell that he was as surprised as I was. There was a doorway behind a picket fence. There was a verse of scripture that read

Cheerfully share 

your home with those 

who need a meal or a place 

to stay for the night

1 Peter 4:9

Opening the card, it read

Thank You from the bottom 

of my well-cared-for heart 

for wrapping me in the love of Christ as you

welcomed me into your home.

Love, Mom and Ronnie