The couple walking by were total strangers to me, so it was a bit awkward, and that’s how I began as I approached them. “This is a bit awkward,” I said, holding out my cell phone. “I was wondering if you would take my picture sitting up there on the rocks. See, normally my wife […]
Letters
Letter: Face to Face
Pink and blue, their petals like soft blankets wrapped snuggly about them, the flowers peered back in recognition. We’d chatted before. I think that’s why they do so well, why they show off, why they’re happy to see me. “Some people rise in the morning hoping a new day will bring peace after a perplexing […]
Letter: Two Must-Haves I Dare Not Leave Home Without
I admit that my life anymore is an open book, the pages tear stained. It’s a sad story, at least this current chapter. I must remember before leaving the house to be sure to have a handkerchief in my pocket. Someone will ask me how I am doing and that will be all it’ll take. […]
Letter: So Far Away
She’s been gone four months ago today. And today, again, I’ll water the flowers. Because it has been so dry for so long. As I change the spray nozzle on the hose from the ‘Shower’ selection to ‘Mist’ so as not to damage the delicate blossoms, I will then kneel in the wet grass bordering […]
Letter to Tacoma Rescue Mission
Submitted by Claudia Finseth, Parkland, Washington. Dear Duke [Paulson, Tacoma Rescue Mission], How will you write your story? My name is Claudia Finseth and I live in Parkland. This last week I have been trying to endure the preparations for the air show, which is today. I have had a close formation of fighter jets […]
Letter: Pebbles in the Sand
We celebrated our 48th Wedding Anniversary in cancer treatment. Hand in hand. Battling together. We would lose. We reached our Golden Anniversary though, surrounded by friends and family there at the lake. It was a beautiful day, not unlike the one later, walking with my granddaughter on that same shoreline. As I sat on the […]
Letter: A Promise Made Is a Promise Kept
“Be mindful always of His promise.” Do you know how hard that is? It’s hard. It’s hard to remember the promise we’ll meet again when the seat next to me in the car is empty now. It’ll be hard to remember when our 51st Anniversary comes round just days from now, that the road trip […]
Letter: The Beauty of Simple Things
Anymore, since she’s been gone, it’s the simple things, the God-reminder things, which bring tears even while smiling. It is the very last bit of whipped cream sprayed on coffee that takes the shape of a heart even as my own heart melts. It is the most delicate of all flowers – “Inspire your home […]
Letter: Morning by Morning
“Morning by morning” – even mourning by mourning – “new mercies I see.” A rose from the neighbor’s yard that has found its way through the opening in the picket fence in your yard to greet you as you sit alone in the early morning on the pillowed porch rocker where the two of you […]