farm couple in the late 1920's, she was the last living of the four
sisters that made up my Mom's family. She had moved to the Sycamore Grand
Victorian last June following a heart attack, leaving behind a quaint
round red house I loved on the rolling hillsides and wandering creek of a
dairy farm in Byron. Her health continued to fail this fall and when she
needed more care she became a resident at Bethany Healthcare. When I
visited I would see the calendar she marked off, day by day.
Should I give her the cow calendar? The farm calendar? The covered
bridge calendar? Which pictures would give her the most joy and pleasure
as she marked each day? You see, I love sales, and I love calendars, and
these beautiful Lang calendars sold at 1/3 of the original price early
January online. I debated and debated as I waited until I was healed
enough to go see Aunt Eileen after my recent knee replacement. Finally
last Tuesday the weather was good and I felt strong enough to walk to her
room, calendar in hand.
Only Aunt Eileen wasn't in her room. She was fighting for her breath down
the street in the hospital. Soon my cousin called to say she was not
going to make it; could I come? Of course I would come; I could get there
in a wheelchair.
Now I have dreaded the day I would lose my Aunt Eileen. I had grown to
love her more and more the last few years and she was my last connection
to my Mom. Visiting her on the farm satisfied a yearning and longing for
the days of my past. But life had grown hard for my aunt.
Her lungs and heart were worn and sore and her back was giving way. She
had been faithfully marking the days of her life, hoping for relief and a
way to escape the confines of her body.
We had talked many times about dying and the courage it takes to go on
when life gets so hard.
Aunt Eileen didn't need a calendar anymore. She had reached January 24th
and that was to be her last day. Or maybe I should say, her first day –
her first day of a new life, a new body that would never again give her
pain or limitation. Her first day of seeing the Lord face to face and
marveling in God's glory. Her first day of being reunited with husband
Henry, her sisters and parents and friends.
These four sisters are now fond memories, leaving a heritage of nine
children to step up as the matriarchs and patriarchs of this family. It's
a little scary for many of us, a reminder of the clock ticking and the
calendar pages turning in our own lives. None of us knows how much time
we have. But perhaps we will step up to the plate a bit more and exercise
our new role, becoming a beloved aunt or uncle or cousin for the younger
ones, quick to love and encourage and forgive.
Perhaps we will take a little more time for one another and keep the bonds
strong. Perhaps we will grasp the gifts of each day with love and
appreciation for those who have gone before.
Today marks the last day of January 2012. As we turn the page to
February, let us humbly move ahead into the future, full of hope and love,
for Jesus has already crossed over.
God's Rich Blessings,
Carla Vanatta, Associate in Ministry
Salem Lutheran Church, Sycamore, IL
Salem Reminders:
This weekend Salem Youth will collect your spare dollars, change, or
checks in Soup Pots for Souper Bowl of Caring, an offering of love on
Super Bowl weekend to support our Compassion International Teen, Noe.
Salem Boy Scout Troop will host 10:30 worship service and participate in a
Blessing of their learning and service. All are welcome.
Sign-up is ongoing to write a Lenten devotional; choose your date and
scripture at the welcome center table.
You can also sign-up to give blood on Sat. Feb. 11th as we remember the
4th anniversary of the campus shootings at NIU and choose to support
others with life.
Salem Food Pantry can always use gifts of food, paper goods, personal
products or financial gifts to purchase these items as they seek to assist
almost 200 families who are visiting this mission outreach for help each
month.
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