Here are a few things I feel compelled to share with you:
A five-year-old little girls cornered me a few Sundays ago as I was about to enter the sanctuary for the morning worship. “Here,” she said, “this is for you.” I took it and thanked her and headed into the chancel. Once there I looked at what she had given me. It was a drawing of a rabbit in a field of green. The rabbit was purple.
My ninety-four-year-old aunt threw a fit week before last when my cousin placed her in an assisted living facility for a short term. She made my cousin feel like she was a little lower than a roach for putting her there. My cousin, however, had to go out-of-state to be with her child who was about to become a father for the first time. Other cousins went to see my aunt. She was having a ball. She rejoiced over her new friends and over the tender care she was receiving. And then she told each of them how she’d thrown that fit when she was brought there, and throwing that fit was fun. Dementia, it seems, comes and goes at will.
There was a sale at the mall a little while back. I cleaned up. I got a bunch of new shirts and two pairs of shoes for less than a hundred dollars. I paid cash so my credit card didn’t take a hit, neither did I have to get permission for the purchase.
I stepped into the sanctuary recently, took my seat and looked out over the gathered brothers and sisters. One third of the people were under eighteen.
The phone rang this morning. It was my friend, my best friend. We used to see each other on a couple of times a week, but then the bishop in his infinite wisdom moved my best friend to the other side of the state. My friend didn’t want anything. He just wanted to check on me, to encourage me, and to let me know I’m not forgotten.
I have six grandchildren now. The all have one thing in common. Each of them is by far smarter than their parents. I’m loving it.
Speaking of grandchildren, half of them are in school and know not what a bad grade is.
A couple of months ago I found a website where I can watch TV shows and movies free.
My son, the international dance star, -- you made have seen him on Oprah, or Regis, or Late Night with Conan O’Brian or the Academy Awards, oops, I’m name dropping -- has received a commission from the Lincoln Center in New York to conceive a dance number to be performed for children.
My son, the teacher, was teacher of the year.
My daughter makes inexpensive clothing available to poverty stricken folks in Africa. A few months back I made a micro loan to a woman in Uganda to set up a clothing booth in the village market. She bought her stock from my daughter.
A friend developed a form of cancer for which there is no treatment. But an experimental procedure so far is working.
Why am I telling you this? I just thought with all the news about the economy, the wars, the polarization of our political process, and the general lack of civility in our world, you might enjoy hearing some good news.
Graphic from Church Art Pro
We sure could use a little good news today. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Wayne | March 11, 2009 at 09:34 AM
What a list! Thanks, Parson. Your kids are indeed awesome. And your grandkids too,no doubt! And since we all know that YOU are the reason for that, now that I am a lady of leisure, may I come to Georgia and hope some of it rubs off?
Posted by: SingingOwl | March 12, 2009 at 06:11 PM