April 29 – “Do something”

Well, family has started arriving for the funeral festivities.  Yep.  You heard the right word.  Our intention is to really make this whole funeral gathering a festive occasion.  After all, Mom always loved a good party, and I imagine she’s enjoying a better one right now than we could ever throw.  We are going to give it our best shot on Wednesday after the burial.  Everyone will be invited to stop by the house for some food and sharing. 

Mike and Serena and Wyatt arrived from Lubbock on Sunday night.  They told us that Wyatt hadn’t said a word the whole way from Lubbock.  Uh-huh.  He hasn’t stopped talking since they arrived here.  Welcome to Galveston, Wyatt.  Josh and Christi and their boys should be here later on today.  Josh has to finish assigning duties to his staff so things will be covered while he is gone.  Ah, the trials of a big church pastor.  It’ll be good to get them down here, though.  Chris never got to see the boys when they were here last week, so I know she is excited. 

Friends and neighbors have been helping us out a lot with food.  We have received some fried chicken and chicken salad and that Italian stuff I can’t pronounce but that tasted really good, spaghetti, strudel, pork roast, Subway sandwiches.  It has been great for Chris not to have to worry about cooking anything.  And flowers have begun to arrive as well.  Cut flower arrangements and plants of several kinds.  One thoughtful gift was paper plates and cups.  Wouldn’t have expected that one, but it sure has come in handy.  Oh, and of course the cartons of cokes of all kinds.  Everything has been greatly appreciated.  I do have to say, though, that the award for Most Creative Expression so far has to go to the Geran family.  Yesterday they brought by an arrangement, not of flowers, but of blooms of giant Nestles Crunch bars.  And the vase was full of Hershey’s kisses.  Now how great is that?  OK, so that was special to me because of my oft-stated affinity for Nestles Crunch bars.  But here’s the one to beat.  Brennan presented us with a framed certificate indicating that 20 pine, spruce, oak, birch, tamarack, or cedar trees will be planted by the Arbor Day Foundation in the Superior National Forest in memory of Mom.  I had to look that one up.  It is in that really cold part of North Texas called Minnesota.  They need a lot of trees up there to keep oxygen levels up. 

Many things have been so helpful during our time of hospital and hospice and recovery.  I have been asked many times what are some helpful things people can share with a family going through similar circumstances.  The bottom line answer to the question is … anything that expresses your heart.  No, really.  People going through tough times understand that you probably have no idea what they are feeling, so any attempt to connect is so greatly appreciated.  Here are some ideas that I have seen in the past:  A simple card or a quick post on FaceBook saying you are thinking of them.  Food, of course.  Gift cards to WalMart.  Hospital parking tokens.  Gift cards to restaurants/fast food places.  Fruit, snacks.  Movies, books, puzzle books.  Clean the house (the mundane stuff, like sweep and mop).  Mow the grass.  Get the point?  Anything that shows you care and you are thinking of them.  Don’t worry about how big or small it is.  That’s beside the point.  Do something. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Father, thank you for the encouragers you have sent our way so far.  Bless them in mighty ways for their expressions of love and concern.  Amen.