Whatever Way in Life You Go

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.  

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 50^th 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 area.  The note went on…)

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 25^th, 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.”

And the tulips continue to say “Whatever way in life you go, just ask and I’ll be by your side.”