From Michelle. 5 August, 2010 11 p.m.
Dear friends and family,
I snuck in tonight to a sleeping Steve and will likely sneak out before he is awake. Still, it is good to feel his presence. Even in the midst of his own suffering, Steve is an enormous comfort to me, always checking in, always encouraging, and ever sweetness itself! I am nourished by him even now.
Yesterday was a sweet day. After a busy morning moving, setting up our new home and generally running with details, my mother, father, stepmother and all three boys congregated at the hospital with Steve and I for a special treat. A group of worship leaders at UPC were coming to serenade Steve (and us!) with a private concert in our hospital room! Ten wonderful souls squeezed into our room to sing songs with us, filling the room with praise. It was all I could do not to weep unreservedly, not because I was sad, but because I was witnessing the beauty of faith lived out: joining in affirming love and hope in a hospital room, life in death, joy in sorrow. While some of those present were known to me, others were not, and that too has been a uniquely moving and distinctive blessing during this time, to know the love of strangers. We have received many messages, meals and helping hands from people we have never or barely met, drawn by shared sorrows, or by shared friends, and mostly by shared prayers. I have been deeply moved by this precious love of strangers. Many a good Samaritan has lifted us and carried us down this road. There are also the strangers-yet-friends down the hall, Mark and Kathy, fellow believers barely known to us, but who joined us in song yesterday, singing with failing lungs and crippled hands, but singing nonetheless. No doubt those voices carried down the hall to cheer many a soul! It was a moving sight!
Afterward, Steve and I walked the children to the car. As we walked, Zephyr reached out his hand to take Steve’s. What sweetness to see the boy and his father, walking and rolling, hand in hand, love still sprouting in that little heart, undeterred by the chair!
It is late, and there is much to do in the morning, but for now I am, quite simply, wanting to briefly share one of the many miracles that I am privileged to experience daily: love among strangers and joy amidst ashes.
With love,
Michelle