Wednesday, October 10, 2012

"One Last Thing..."

I love weddings!
A lot of you know this. If you didn't know it before, you do now.
I live in a small town.
I love small towns, too.
But I'm near a city, and I was raised there, and in a city there used to be close-knit neighborhoods.
Places where folks watched out for one another.
They were like a "small town", tucked into a city.
Very nice.

I skated on this pond during the winters of my youth. So not long ago, right???  :)

My church family is like these small towns.
So many nice people, looking out for one another. Kind. Warm. Loving.
And a bunch of us raised our kids together, so when wedding times roll around?
We pitch in to help each other.
Cooking. Baking. Organizing. Cleaning. Serving. Cleaning again!
I love this stuff!!!

I helped with one of the prettiest weddings ever this summer. It was a "Vintage Wedding".
Amazing decorations, hung and placed in an old carriage house.
First:  I WANT TO LIVE IN THIS CARRIAGE HOUSE.
Yes. It is that historically correct and gorgeous. I would write in the top window cupola/turret and see everything from Lake Ontario to the north to the village church steeples due south.




I would love that THIS MUCH.

I was helping oversee this beautiful reception with two girl peeps, Mandy and Sherrie.
Love them to death!
I got introduced to an aging couple, the groom's grandparents. Sweet. Smart. Eager to talk to me because I owned Blackie the Rooster...


And that's a whole other story, LOL!
And they thought it was cool that I was an author, too.

Such nice people. Just lovely.

The woman wore a pink chemo hat.
A cancer patient.
She was slight. A little stooped. Kind of frail. But tough in voice and stature for a little person.

She asked about my books and told me she'd always wanted to be a writer.
I hear that often, and usually I urge the person to jump on board.
Just do it!
But she explained that she missed her time and knew that now.
She regretted missing her time, but loved her memories of helping raise grandchildren.

Her words made me happy and a little sad. Choices are hard in this world. We talked for a long time, Grandma, Grandpa and me. Grandpa shared stories of his youth and wondered if I could use them in a book.
And his story was strong enough that I just might.
Mandy and Sherrie had everything under control, so I chatted, easy, enjoying this time.

Do you see the hanging canning jars? Each one had a tiny, battery-operated twinkle light inside.
Antique stoves and furniture.
The old fridge, stocked with carrot cake and watermelon. Which do you think I ate, LOL???
A few weeks ago I got a call from a friend, the mother of the bride.
Grandma was sick. In hospice. Dying.
Family issues had made people angry. Upset. 
But two granddaughters ignored the "no visitors" rule and drove in to see Grandma.
She was happy to see them.
She was lonely. As they talked, the girls wondered if they could do anything to help?
She hesitated.
Then she told them yes. Yes they could.

Because you see, she was reading a book when she got so sick. And she can't read anymore,
but she'd like to finish the book because it was that special.
She met the author, you see.
At a wedding.
And the author took time to talk to her about life, about writing.
And she really, really wants to see how the story comes out before she dies.

The girls drove home...
Got the book.
Brought it back to the hospital room.
And they read to Grandma until they finished the book.

Writers get nominated for awards all the time.
They go to gala banquets...
Get plaques in the mail...
Their names get posted on websites.
They make bestseller lists.

But none of that compares with this dying old woman's wish to finish the book...
because the author took time to talk to her at a wedding.

God bless you, Grandma/Nana.
And if heaven's got a library, you cozy up a seat next to my mama.
You can read together.









12 comments:

  1. Doing more than sniffing here. Blessings come in so many ways but this has got to be one of the best writer's blessing stories I have read.

    God bless the grandma, the granddaughters and you.

    Peace, Julie

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  2. My eyes are already watering this morning--allergies, a cold, normal waking-up stuff...who knows. So you're trying to make everyone cry today?

    What a beautiful story! Someday you need to use this whole thing in a book. Just beautiful...

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  3. I get wet-eyed too, every time I tell this story. I truly believe God works with us... and through us... and we never, ever know when.

    What if I thought tending the dessert table was more important than talking to that sweet old woman?????

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  4. Thanks for sharing your precious encounter, Ruthy. God is using you and your books to minister to others. God bless.

    Janet

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  5. Oh my goodness, you made me cry! What a sweet story. What a blessing.

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  6. Janet, doesn't it just amaze us????? Those encounters, spirit-blessed?

    Shoot, it made me cry and I'm a crusty gal. Missy, you would have been proud of me... I put my Martha on hold and let my "Mary" take precedence.

    This is a rare intelligent moment in my life!!! :)

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  7. Ruthy, you made me cry! And it's only 6:15 a.m. in my neck of the woods. I loved this story and the beautiful way you connected with Nana. It is always beautiful to hear how God uses one heart to minister to and encourage another. Thanks for sharing this story, and reminding me to look beyond the moment into the eyes and hearts of others.

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  8. Ah Ruth what a wonderful story and how proud you must be that grandma wanted the rest of the story, I am so glad you met this woman and she you before she passed away. We never know when a chance meeting will bear fruit that we dont even know about. I love stories like this from the Heart...thanks for sharing.
    Paula O

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  9. RUTHY ... this absolutely tore me up ... sitting here bawling like a baby because this has to be one of the most special moments you've ever had as a writer. God bless you and God bless Grandma.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  10. What a truly amazing story!! I am sure when you get to Heaven there will be an especially beautiful jewel in your crown for taking time to make this precious lady's day! This story was so sweet I'll forgive you for making me cry this early in the day! :)

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  11. Oh, Ruthy! What an amazing story. We never know how God plans to use us, so we just move around our days doing what he prompts us to do. Once in a long while he gives us glimpses of why, and this is undoubtedly one of those times. Thanks for sharing because it encourages me to keep going, even when I'm not always sure why I should bother. If one day my words can be meaningful to just one person.....

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  12. Oh my gosh, guys, that's just it. I knew you'd understand because (while I love to talk) when I'm working a "gig" to help someone, my evil MARTHA side comes out and it's bustle, bustle, bustle...

    And I kept thinking I should be DOING something...

    And I was doing exactly what I needed to do. Listen. Smile. Comfort. Encourage. And in return, I was comforted and encouraged beyond any possible expectation. Yeah. Just an amazing moment in life.

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