care
She was fourteen when her daddy died. The second to the oldest, she was plunged into an even harsher world than she had ever imagined. There were five sisters younger than she, the youngest still in diapers. The old tobacco farm her parents had bought just a few years before required attention to plant bed preparation and the constant care that her dad had orchestrated. She missed his warm and loving voice and his melodic violin, played each evening around the old fireplace. Torn from her presence but never from her memory, Grandpa Davis was the subject of warm recollections at my mother’s feet. Never was there heard from her lips a word of despair or anger over the loss of her beloved father. Her gift to us was voluminous expressions of gratitude and love for one who helped shape her life with care and compassion. Through her loss she learned to keep and give what was most important! “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
Lying peacefully in the arms of slumber, dreamland was all around. Suddenly a band of wet saliva encased my still sleeping nose perched peacefully near the edge of the bed. An auto reflexive swipe at my proboscis came with a sudden awareness that daybreak was soon upon us. Gracie the now gigantic puppy was alerting me in her pack language that a visit to the grassy knoll was now desired. Somewhat begrudgingly the bedroom slippers embraced my feet just prior to the first stretch of the day. The puppy, born in the time of daylight saving, has not yet made friends with the reversion to standard time. Her actions, though inconvenient to my repose, give me great assurance of her desire not to soil the den she so lovingly shares with us. Likewise, I have reasoned, pains and discomforts though not welcomed visitors, give notice that attention is needed within their realm. Some are satiated by routine exercise and stretching whereas others require different palliative approaches. Being attuned to the language of one’s body is an important step along the path to optimal health. May we all become better listeners!