I think the greatest blessing one is fortunate enough to have in their life it is a loving family. Whether biological, adoptive, or chosen, there is nothing better being encircled by a group of people who love you, accept you, support and provide for you, and you do the same for them–each there for the other throughout your entire lives if you are lucky. That is how I have always felt about my family–my parents, now departed, my five siblings, and my children remain the most important people in my life. Tonight I was reminded yet again why I am so blessed to be living near my three sisters.
I was having an emotionally difficult day–nothing in particular precipitated it, I was just feeling sad and at a loss to know what to do with myself. But, as I’d trained myself to do during many difficult days during which I was battling depression, I got myself up and moving around. Though I had moments when I was distressed to the point of tears, I kept moving: sweeping the floors in my bedroom and living room, folding laundry and doing other things to keep myself occupied. All the while I was praying, asking for help to simply feel better, and as often happens when I offer up such a prayer, the phone rings. And, it did. It was my sister Ruth calling to see if I wanted to go with her and her family to see a movie. It was not one that I particularly wanted to see, so after a few moments thought I told her I wasn’t up for going.
Something I said or in my tone let her know I wasn’t doing too well (perhaps it was when I’d told her I’d been “balling?”) but after some conversation she informed me that she was coming over this evening after she got back from the movies and that we were going to cook several dinners to put up for me for the next couple of weeks. It would involve me going to the grocery store (of which I am not a big fan) and purchasing the necessary ingredients, but after some cajoling and needling on her part (“Come on, Ter, it’ll be fun.”) I agreed to go. I hung up the phone smiling and shaking my head. Even though I had to go to the store, I was already feeling much better than I had a short while earlier. And when I got home from the store in the mid afternoon, the weather was so fair (it was in the 60s) that I took Honor for a walk down to the little park at the end of the street.
It was a few hours before I heard from Ruth again. At around 7 p.m. she called to inform me that she was on her way to my house.
“No!” I protested, “It’s too late. You need to go home and feed your own family. I already had my dinner.”“It’s too late. I’m already on my way.” “I don’t have time for us to cook now, I have to write my blog.” “You can write your blog while I cook.” “No, don’t come over here.” “I’ll see you in a few minutes,” She replied stubbornly and I knew I had lost the argument.
She showed up a few minutes later, with her family in tow (they had come straight from the movie theater) and after taking her husband on a quick tour of the house, she shooed them on their way home and commenced to rolling up her sleeves and washing her hands. In a quick 45 minutes or so she had cooked two substantial dishes which yielded at least six separate days worth of meals. She showed me several of her favorite cooking short cuts (who knew I was cutting my green peppers and onions inefficiently?) and offered all kinds of practical advice I hadn’t ever thought of before. But better than all the meals that are now neatly packaged in my freezer is the time we spent talking and laughing as she cooked (I was the sous chef) and later watching the football game. It was simply lovely, and I find myself deeply grateful for her stubborn insistence and kind assistance in making what is sometimes overwhelming (figuring out how to feed myself over the course of the week) so easy and drama-free.
I am blessed indeed to be so loved and cared for. I realize that part of what had been troubling me earlier was simply feeling isolated and lonely. On most days I can manage it well enough, but this morning it had been particularly hard. My sister heard that in my voice and responded. Each of my three sisters have in their own ways have helped me feel comfortable, welcomed, embraced since I arrived here four short months ago. I am grateful beyond measure to and for each of them and their presence in my life. My hope is that I can begin to give back in as good a measure as I have received. May it be so!
