In 2008 when my mom moved from her home of
almost 60 years into a senior apartment, among the many things that came into
my possession – to now keep at my house – were scrapbooks of the notes and
cards she received when my dad died in 1975. At 14, I wasn’t really too
concerned about what she was doing with those cards back then. I knew
where she sat at night while I was doing homework (and other stuff) and worked
on them. I was very much aware of the sacred space where she had kept the
scrapbooks. When she moved, I became the caretaker of the
books. Of course, she told me that I didn’t have to keep them, but I
can’t bear to part with them.
My mother kept every note, and placed each one lovingly in these books. I looked at each one when I brought them to my house. Inside are notes from school teachers who taught my dad, a resolution from the company where he worked recognizing his service, and notes from men he fought with in WWII. Tucked right inside the cover of one of the scrapbooks was a copy of the thank you note that my mother sent the church. It was read to the congregation on March 23, 1975, by Rev. Frank Laine who was serving Fieldale UMC at the time. I remember sitting in the choir the day the note was read and being totally floored that my mother wrote this beautiful piece. I’d never known her to write anything other than Christmas cards.
My mother kept every note, and placed each one lovingly in these books. I looked at each one when I brought them to my house. Inside are notes from school teachers who taught my dad, a resolution from the company where he worked recognizing his service, and notes from men he fought with in WWII. Tucked right inside the cover of one of the scrapbooks was a copy of the thank you note that my mother sent the church. It was read to the congregation on March 23, 1975, by Rev. Frank Laine who was serving Fieldale UMC at the time. I remember sitting in the choir the day the note was read and being totally floored that my mother wrote this beautiful piece. I’d never known her to write anything other than Christmas cards.
I’ve re-read it many times. Here is what it says (and why there are often tulips as my Twitter and Facebook cover pictures):
”As I walked into my living room Sunday morning, I
received a wonderful message from the lovely tulips that had bloomed out in the
night. Each bloom had spread out into a different direction and I know Jesus
spoke to me through them saying, “Whatever way in life you go, just ask and
I’ll be by your side.” Verse 15 from the 50th Chapter of Psalms reads, “And call
upon me in the time of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify
me.” I know He has been with me, walking by my side in our sorrow.
Living for Jesus and loving Him is a wonderful and sweet life. I know
that my loved one is with Him today. In my quiet moments, I can hear Gene
saying, “He touched me and made me whole.” (My
dad sang that song in churches all across the Martinsville
I want to thank everyone in our church for everything
they have done for us and we love every one of you.
Tomorrow’s sun will rise, either in splendor or
behind a mass of clouds, but it will rise. Until it does, we have no
stake in tomorrow for yet it is unborn. Yesterday is gone, that leaves
only one day, today. Today I will try to do something for my Jesus
because He has been so good to me and my family.
Remember us in your prayers.”
Every time I see a tulip, I think about
this note and the statement in it, “Whatever
way in life you go, just ask and I’ll be by your side.”
Even though I didn’t have to rise early this
morning, the natural alarm clock in our house (a four-legged one named Darla)
was up and wanting to go out at 6:15 AM. And since I’m technically not
employed between now and August 25th, on the first day of
my working life when I don't have a job to worry about, I was up with the
sun, watching a woodpecker feast on a tree, and remembering my mother’s note
and of the words from Matthew 6:28-34. This
version is from The Message.
“Has anyone by
fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All
this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much
difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and
look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color
and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country
look shabby alongside them.
If God gives such attention to the
appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think
he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to
do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the
way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works.
Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry
about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right
now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God
will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
