Streams of Mercy
In recent weeks I’ve been blessed to visit with all my children and grandchildren. Traveling to Charlottesville, I visited my son and his family, and enjoyed play-time with my six year old granddaughter. All of her dollies came down with the flu, so she was busy caring for them, and was glad I was there to help. One dolly had a temperature of 986 (98.6) degrees! As they got better, she gave them juice to drink, and later took them for a stroller ride to the neighborhood playground, where they had a fun ride on the merry-go-round. We made a fort of sticks and sheets and they continued their recovery there. We walked to the pond and “our” favorite tree – a wonderful weeping willow, was just beginning to send out shoots of new growth – not enough for us to hide in just yet! The bedtime story when I’m there always has to be a story about “when daddy was a little boy,” and there are lots of stories to tell! Together we watched the movie “Coco.” The story follows a 12-year-old boy named Miguel who is accidentally transported to the land of the dead, where he seeks the help of his deceased musician great-great-grandfather to return him to his family among the living. Watching this film with generations of one’s family is very special! (Coco is the grandmother – that’s me, Grammy.)
Traveling south, I visited my two daughters and their families! I saw one grandson playing tennis and celebrating his 14th birthday, a granddaughter practicing with her diving team, and two grandsons playing soccer. The youngest even scored a goal in my honor! I saw very busy parents working to make all these things happen, seeing the children keep up with their studies, tending to keeping a house and making a home – all while working full-time at their jobs. I saw my oldest grandson with his wife and two month-old son, just starting out, with all of life ahead of them!
One daughter turned 41, and I’m weary even remembering how busy things were for me at that time in my life! I enjoyed sharing their lives for a few days, worshiping at their church, visiting with their in-laws and sharing the traditional family lunch around tables set for 23 people that day! We made a picture of four generations of our family – Grammy, her daughter, her daughter’s son, and his son (mother, daughter, grandson, great-grandson). That was a special moment! We enjoyed the movie “Beach House” about mothers and daughters and life coming full circle – that was a poignant moment.
At soon to be 70 year of age, this quote I read years ago speaks the words of my heart today: “I can't promise that I'll be here for the rest of your life, but I can promise that I'll love you for the rest of mine.” That I do!
Coming back to Jackson Springs, I counted my blessings along the way: a family of three children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild to visit with, and a church family of friends and neighbors to come home to. As I continue to be thankful for these blessings, I give thanks, too, for those streams of mercy, never ceasing – ever calling for songs of loudest praise!
Elizabeth