With Fresh Eyes

I am taking this straight from the Upper Room devotional…

I opened Grandma’s blinds to get more light into the room. She never remembered to open them. Since moving into the dementia-care unit, she had become more and more forgetful. I was sad to see her slipping away.
One day we sat at her table, putting together a child’s jigsaw puzzle. I had brought her flowers, and each time she looked up, she saw the flowers as if for the first time and asked me who brought them. When I saw her look up from the puzzle yet again, I got ready to quash my annoyance at the question I knew was coming. “Well, look what someone brought!” Grandma said with pleased surprise. Then she added, “What a beautiful day this is!”
I felt my breath catch in my throat. Grandma was remembering something I had forgotten: the beauty of what God has made. What I saw earlier as sad I now as amazing: a woman seeing things with fresh eyes, eyes that did not take for granted “the ordinary.” It was as if I suddenly sensed God’s abundance where I had expected only loss. Grandma gave me a glimpse of the God who dwells in those corners of life that we might call “empty,” the God who moves in darkness as well as in the light, blessing us all.
Prayer: Show us (me), O God, how to live in your light, even in the dark places. Amen.

My sister is leaving as I am writing this on her way to our birthplace in Maryland. I am deeply saddened by her departure, but in the deepest part of my heart I know she is free. And she told me she was how she felt relief and no more pressure. I guess that old adage – “you never know what you had until it is gone” is so true. I have never really had great relationships since the beginning of my life. As a parent I have learned to cultivate those with my children and be close to them and love on them every chance possible. So now that I am just getting used to this sisterly thing – it is gone. I know me probably being quite dramatic, but when you realize all the things that you miss out on when you don’t have relationships and then you get a taste of them; it is hard to let go.

I had a shoulder to cry on, a big sister to learn from, deep belly laughs and every once in awhile eyes that were in awe of me. I know those things aren’t gone, but they sure are a lot farther than the 13th Street bridge.
She looks so good and the inner strength that she knew was there has surfaced and she is so much stronger for herself and her kids.

~Dianne, I hope you can finally say that you are where you belong. I know the stars are in your favor – God lined them up just that way. I love you more than I could probably ever express (you know it is in the genes). Be safe and I will see you soon. Hugs! So I promise now to stop crying (well give me about 10 minutes) and be strong and hold down the fort here. For I know the plans that God has for you, to prosper you…Continue to look up, your head has been down too long!
LIVE…LAUGH…LOVE