August 27, 2013
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you don’t realize
To the man who thanked my pastor for his excellent comparison of the sovereignty of God to a chorus director and his choir, I’m saying thank you. This pastor gets tired. He works hard all week and then preaches three Sundays out of four. Speaking in public has always been a stretch for him, because he’s a man of few words and slow to formulate his thoughts. He feels inadequate and sometimes uninspired, but quitting isn’t an option because He loves Jesus and His church. Words mean a lot to him, just like they do to all of us. It takes so little time to say “I appreciated that.” But most of us just don’t take the time to do it.
To Michael, who gave his new school teacher a huge smile on the way out of church on his way to Sunday school class downstairs: You’re awesome. Your new teacher might look composed, but underneath he has a lot of doubts about this new community and a new school and new curriculum to teach. You’re only 15, but a smile of acceptance means more than you’ll ever know. We never get too old to need affirmation.
To the cute grandma in the checkout line at Walmart today: You’re just pretty special. You asked me who I get to do my hair and I stuttered a bit while my small Mennonite mind (that rarely thinks as far as hair salons) tried to wrap itself around what you were actually meaning. Then I said that I do it myself and it’s naturally wavy and you told me how lucky I am and how gorgeous my hair is. And I thanked you and said that it’s sure getting grey fast and we commiserated and laughed together. And I thought to myself as I gathered my bags that I want to be just like you when I’m 75. Because I was feeling pretty dowdy and different on that particular trip to town, but all of a sudden I felt beautiful.
To Tammy, who gave the fresh bread and offered to host the evangelist and his wife…
To Titus, who said, “You guys are doing a good job of raising your kids” on that day when I knew we weren’t…
To Laura, who cleans out the cluttered corners at church and hangs the curtain rods on the new windows…
To the people who cried with me when I lost my brother and were happy with me when my sister moved nearby…
To Andrew, who notices the 11 year old who’s feeling lonely and draws him out…
Thank you.
You don’t realize the power of our words.
You don’t realize how far small acts of service spread.
You forget how deep a smile reaches to touch a soul.
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Life is good here, in case you were wondering.
Most of you already know that my sister Linda, her husband Steve, and their family just moved all the way to Alberta from Missouri. Let the good times begin! My heart feels stretched every which way over this whole deal. I feel with them in the hard goodbyes and have butterflies in my stomach over all the changes ahead for them. Mostly I’m just HAPPY.
No new blogs are happening here. I’ve been up to my eyeballs in gardening and school cleanings and company and cooking.
My glads are blooming and every day I gaze at them with wonder and amazement. Their colors are phenomenal and they make my heart so very glad.
(excuse the sideways photos. Too rushed to fix.)
Bryant’s latest wisecrack: “You’re not fat, Dad. You’re just a little….overripe.” (used with Dan’s permission. He is such a good sport in his battle with the bulge.
) School is around the corner and we’re not ready yet.
My fridge needs to be cleaned very, very, very, very, berry badly.
Here we are, looking all perfect like we aren’t.
But I really do love this family.
And on this first night in many that I could have gone to bed early, I sit up late writing.
Sweet discipline, how you elude me.
Goodbye.
Comments (11)
What a beautiful post! I think I’m a little over ripe too!
What precious insights children give us. I want to learn from them and others, like you. 
Such a good post…A kindred spirit (your sis) nearby will lighten your load emotionally this winter when the dark days are long and spring seems far off! I am happy for you !!
Loved hearing from you again and so loved these thoughts. I am so often the one that just cruises on by and forgets to stop to say a small word to someone. I needed this reminder.
LOL at that overripe comment. Love it and might have to use it.
Luci, my dear, you make me want to be a better person every time I read anything that you write. You are amazing and wonderful and I dearly hope I get to meet you in this lifetime, and that we can sit and drink sweet hot tea and eat delicious things that are sugary and gaze with awe at bright flowers that are phenomenal. And I did not say any of that because of what you just wrote- I said it because I mean it gravely and smilingly and absolutely genuinely, all at once.
Oh, and by the way- I am overripe, as well. I think there are many of us overripe fruits in the basket.
Dan is not alone.
Good thoughts! You have a beautiful family. I am way over-ripe. I’m a great grandma to 5, soon to be 6. Nice to meet you. I don’t think we’ve met before.
It was good to hear from you again.I love gladiolus but one color is taking over in my flowerbed.A pretty pink but what happened to all the other colors?Mine are all done blooming,they bloom in June/July in our neck of the woods.Good post,reminds me to be sensitive to the Spirit.It’s so nice that your sister moved so close to you!
Lucy, cherish these days with your chillins all around you. I sometimes (not everyday) wish I could go back to those days. I’m sure you will enjoy having Linda so close this winter. We enjoyed them in Romania.
To the sweet lady who brought flowers and a note of prayer to the volunteers on the first day of soccer camp, thank you. You don’t realize how blessed those flowers made me feel every morning when I entered the church at far-too-early-o’clock to set up and pray for the day ahead.
And I hope I’ll get to meet Linda and family along the way here! I know how special it is to have a sister nearby, and I’m so happy for you!
Luci, I love, love, LOVE you and YOU make me glad! Your Glads are beauties and your family photo is perfect.
i almost forgot about xanga in the busyness of the past week, but i am glad i remembered to stop by. it’s good to hear from you again! for some reason i can’t see the photos, but i am going to imagine that they are some you have posted on FB
and i may have said this before, but i am so happy for you that your sister is nearby. i would be so excited if one of my sisters was close. i tried to get one of them to move closer (still an hour away) and instead, she moved even farther away… all the way to Belize where I won’t get to see her until school is out, most likely!
Luci, I finally read this. It is beautiful! I love your way with words and your deep thoughts, and your deep deep love.
Thank you!