Twenty years later, I find her words ringing in my ears. I miss that voice enough to squeeze my eyes shut hard, stop the tears springing up and listen. How I cherish this hands on hips proclamation returned to me. Would that she could too.
We were rolling down some Montana highway when she’d marched to the back of the motor home and stood over us. My cousin and I were each perched on skinny twin couches next to a window.
“You may not read one more page of those books until you look out the window for at least 30 minutes!”
Even though I knew Grandma was given to passionate proclamations from time to time, this one surprised me. After all, she was an avid reader. That same summer, I’d caught her up “way too late” because she couldn’t stop the turning of the page.
Still, there was another narrative she found more powerful than any type engraved in paper. The one that has no words, yet speaks with a powerful voice, declaring the glory of God. That was the one she was compelled to help us discover.
And she did. A thousand times before and after, so subtly that I’m not sure a one of us were cognizant of it at the time: slipping into a chair on the front deck at sunrise, coffee cup in hand; going barefoot through the ice cold stream; stopping on the trail to photograph a tiny pink flower; laughing at the fish jumping in the hatchery brook for five cent handfuls of food. Peaks out the window, all.
Grandma, today I want you to know I’m listening. I’m pulling my nose out of the book of daily living for a look out the window, for a listen to the glory song. I need to hear it. I need to remember that the very thing that lifts me to a place of holy wonder is also the thing that grounds me - the worship of my Creator.
Looking out the window, the incomplete count continues:
491. Snail mail
506. 95 Manjui Baptized, wish I could have seen it with my own eyes!
536. Family visiting from Colombia and the USA
570. Sanapana Scripture portions ready for printing
587. Pain that pushes us hard into Jesus
606. Cries of inadequacy
607. His sufficiency
669. Rain!
710. Explosions of yellow, tiny but beautiful
726. Grandma Bert
756. Dreams – wild, crazy, with God all things are possible dreams
776. Salmon Sky
781. Wild love, undeserved
788. My wonderful, merciful Savior
14 comments:
Thanks for your blog, Shilo. It always encourages me. I was feeling stressed and hassled. You help me put things in perspective. Love, Gayle
Just dropping by to read your thankfulness. So sweet of Grandma to urge you to "look at the window". That one made a lasting impression on you! I had my Bible reading this morning outside, it is cooler temps here:) I asked the Lord take make Himself more real to me today. He reminded me to look around "look outside the window". I was reading in Gensis, the account of the HIS wonderful creation from nothing.
Thanks for sharing, I love to drop by and think of you often, you were the one who reminded me that HE is my Home!
IN HIM,
Karen
Drop by and visit me when you can.
Shouldn't be surprised that God would get my attention to do just what you encouraged us to do...get our noses out of the book of every day living and gaze out the window. Thank you.
Shouldn't be surprised that God would get my attention to do just what you encouraged us to do...get our noses out of the book of every day living and gaze out the window. Thank you.
As I said this morning, this post is beautiful! My grandma's (Oma's) have a special place in my heart! I recieved a blog award today and would like to forward it to you. It doesn't matter if you don't forward it, It really does take a lot of time:) Check out my blog to see it. Hugs, Brenda
Thank you, Shilo. We are definitely missing out when we forget to notice and enjoy those things which are "declaring the glory of God!"
Incredible post! i really enjoyed reading it!!!
Thanks for your blog, Shilo. It always encourages me.
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