Cherishing moments - mothers and daughters

My Mother, originally uploaded by or more, see www.CommonTies.com


I love this picture of a mother with her daughter. Despite her obvious grief, she still is able to reach out with love to her daughter and take the time and energy to read to her - even a boring book about books and minerals. Her mind was probably elsewhere, but her arms were wrapped around her.

It reminds me of the hours I spent reading to my children when they were small. We shared such special times and memories together in this way. My daughter has been away for almost a month and I have missed her so much and can't wait to see her again.

This morning while waiting in a checkout queue at the supermarket, I struck up a conversation with the woman behind me. She was much older than me and was complaining about the fact there were only three check outs open and that we had to queue. She told me she was going to "wet her pants". I felt like laughing, as it reminded me of times that I had had to leave the shops clutching a desperate child in need of a loo.

After conversing a little more, she told me I had enough to feed an army in my trolley. I told her that my daughter was returning home after a month away this Thursday and that I couldn't wait to see her.

She said " that is so lovely - enjoy them while you have them - it doesn't last long and then they are gone." She then said "My daughter has left me - but she is up in heaven watching over me."

I responded "I am so sorry to hear - how sad for you to lose your daughter."

"She was only 47 (my age) you don't expect your children to die before you - she was so terribly ill, poor girl! But she is with her Father, and is waiting for me to join her. But, I am in no hurry!"

I could only respond by saying how sad this was and that she must miss her daughter so much. She continued "I have a son and he is so good to me ... but its not the same as a daughter, she was so special... it was two years ago, but you never get over something like this."

I felt privileged to share this memory with this woman about her daughter and also incredibly sad and felt the grief that she was feeling - and was living daily. A timely and salutary reminder of the blessing my children are and to daily thank God for them, their health, vitality and life.

Barneys - memories

This painting of our church was done by a very dear friend of mine. It captures something of the beauty of the building and the community who met there. Coincidently, I just happened to be giving a farewell speech at the time that my friend did the sketching, so it is me standing at the front.

It was a sad day when our church building burnt down just over two years ago. I had had a mild stroke three weeks earlier and this hard shaken me and my family. We got a phone call at about 6 am to tell us that Barneys was on fire. We walked around in a state of shock all day, in fact all week.

For a while, I thought that the structures that held my life in place - including my health which I had taken for granted and my church which I had certainly taken for granted had come unstuck. What else would move or change? This event again turned me to God - who remains unmovable and unchangeable - like a solid rock.

I love my friend's artwork. I am so glad that I have a copy of this picture in photo form. I have it hanging on a cupboard in my kitchen. I have so many memories of events that have taken place in this church building. It is only a building, but it carried much history - not only for me but for many.

At present we are meeting at Moore College - a great place for our church in many ways, but it doesn't mean that I don't miss our old building. I am thankful for what was and for all God's work that took place there for nearly 150 years.