Carolina moon

The moon is high in the sky to the east of my house tonight. I think of her - and even though I know she is gone it is hard to believe sometimes. I have lived in this area for 36 years and she has always been my neighbor.

I always remember the fires in her "outside fireplace", burning trash for pleasure. The gingersnap cookies in the jar, radio playing classical music and of course on her own piano a picture of her at 90 riding horse for the first time. She loved to read before she lost her vision, and after... - well, she loved to crochet. She did it by feel, stitched everyone in her family an afghan - and then some!! One time when I was over at her house cleaning I remember her telling me how she loved being blind and crocheting. She said she could see the most beautiful things. A trumpeter swan swimming on the lake with the sunshine at its back... and when she looked out toward the grocery store she could see the big ole hay stacks from years gone by and it made her feel at home. And I realize I am a part of her... I am her listener.

Many times during my children's sermons I got to talk about her and something she had done or said - using it as a learning lesson for the kids. I'll always remember her 97th birthday party - there were cars lined up for blocks. For days people came and went from her home. At that time I wished I could be a member of her family. I wanted to be within the walls listening to stories of life, laughing about the pet crow. And I realized at that time I am a part of her family... I am her sister.

She played the piano as long as she could - songs that she had memorized, she said it was good for her brain to play the notes by memory and the ivories by feel... good for her brain? I guess I will need to remember that on my 97th birhday! And I realize I am a part of her family... I am her student.

In December of 2008 the Sunday School program was "Christmas with grandma". It will always be special to me - those times at her house working with her on the lines and then the actual program sitting beside her (I was Aunt Mae). Listening as she told the children of Christmas's gone by. And her favorite story from the book of Luke. I am thank-ful the children got to spend this time with this church lady!! She was a member of the Arlington United Methodist Church for 100 years!! The children, their families, myself, we are all a part of the body of Christ.

Of all the memories I have through the years - the best were the times that I got to pray with her. She was always so appreciative and you knew that it made her feel better to be speaking with the Lord. She always smiled, and always said thank-you. Even that day - after she had left her home, and now hadn't left her bed. She was quiet and still and yet when I asked her if we could pray for her... she took my hand and smiled. And so... we did... we prayed and we thanked God for a wonderful life and for the witness that she was to so many. And when I left that building and I looked up to the west - I saw the moon.