December 15, 2008 8:15 AM
These days at our house - overflowing gratitude
With a big family, life changes as our on-their-way-to-grownup kids come and go. Zach and Sophia came home from college Thursday night. Kip and Samantha and six grandchildren brought dinner Saturday night. And Ben came home last night.
Plus Tripp is finally able to join us at the table, so we've gone from 6 for dinner (me, Maddy, Jonny, Jesse, Daniel and Justin since September 22) to 10. Which means - because semester break lasts almost a month - we added a leaf to the table. And got out our Christmas plates. Woo-hoo!
With 2/3 of our children there, I looked across the candlelight (for as long as I can remember, we have made it a practice to light candles for meals - a simple way to make any meal more special) and thought of how this all began just 25 - no, almost 26 - years ago. January 2 is our anniversary.
Amazing how God could start with so little and do so much....
My days are pretty full, though I am still able to write - thanks to the lovingkindness of so many people, most of whom I'm meeting for the first time. Many generous souls have taken over the Curtis food department: preparing meals, bringing groceries (even the more esoteric ingredients involved in our Morning Smoothies - tofu, yogurt, banana, papaya, blueberries, strawberries, flaxseed oil, cranberry juice, cinnamon, honey - which are keeping my kids amazingly healthy, tbtG).
It is hard to describe the feeling of being enveloped in God's love generated by this kind of practical help. I feel blessed from the time I wake up until I fall asleep. All day I am reminded that people care about our family and that we are not alone. The fact is that we were never alone - God was always there. But I've come to understand the Body of Christ as more than a metaphor. It is our hands and feet - and minds and ideas - through which God is able to lavish his love on us. It is an amazing thing to be the recipient of this kind of attention and generosity.
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is Mary breaking the alabaster jar to anoint Jesus. For 21 years - since March 17, 1987 when I surrendered my life to Christ - I've tried to live my life as though it were an alabaster jar (and those who've read Lord, Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room know I've encouraged other moms to do the same). But would it sound presumptuous if I said that at this broken time in my life I feel like the one on whom the precious ointment is being poured?
I have not yet begun to write thank notes. As I write this I can understand it's not just a simple case of procrastination - it's that I haven't really let go and cried in appreciation of all that everyone has done for my family over the past month.
When I didn't have the time or money to shop for clothes - my boys had seriously outgrown the winter clothes I put away last year - people sent what they needed to stay warm. Their bellies are filled with good food each day.
But it is also the spiritual food with which we have been blessed, as people have sent us books and tapes, Jesse tree materials, advent lessons and candles, and the most amazing Feasts-in-a-Box - prompted by Elizabeth Foss - to help the Curtis family in our first celebrations of the feasts of Saint Nicholas, San Juan Diego, and Saint Lucia.
What could have been a bleak December has turned out to be filled with warmth and happiness and the unshakable knowledge that we are loved beyond measure. For a girl from a background like mine, this has been a healing I didn't even know I needed.
Tripp has reaped the benefits as well - not only in feeling loved, but in having a wife who is less frazzled (notice I didn't say unfrazzled, just less frazzled) than I would have been. This means we have a more serene atmosphere in which he can heal. I know it's hard for him each day to be so limited, but he is hobbling around on his crutches and trying to take on responsibilities like overseeing the boys' nightly showers and bedtime routine - kinda like a coach on the sidelines.
The physical therapist taught him to go up and down the stairs, but he only makes that trip once a day. She is impressed with his attitude because she says most people in his situation - with leg muscles already atrophied and facing another surgery in a couple months - tend to give up. Tripp is pushing himself. His biggest achievement is taking the mail to the mailbox each day - which started last week:
I like the way he dresses up for this occasion :) For a third-generation Californian, I've always been impressed that Tripp looks most handsome in the Virginia fall and winter.
Our marriage has definitely changed during this challenge - for the better. God had a lot of work to do on me, and unfortunately Tripp had to bear that burden for it to be accomplished. I hope you know what I mean - I'm used to thinking in those terms because I often see my kids with Down syndrome dealing with limitations as part of God's plan to release the goodness in those around them.
Maddy is singing a lot these days - in the community and also cantoring at church. This has been a special blessing for me, but hard for Tripp as he cannot get out and about. She will be singing Ave Maria at Midnight Mass. And we are blessed to hear her practice - like having a rare songbird in our very house. This is healing, too.
For everyone who has been part of this amazing time, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I will sing of His love forever:
Posted in Family, My life | Permalink
Comments
Thank you so much for sharing. That was beautiful. I felt tears well up several times as I read. It's beautiful to see the body of Christ working together instead of bickering. So often, we never hear the good only the bad. Tell Tripp we're rooting for him. That indominable spirit will serve him well through this tough recovery. And what an inspiration he is to those suffering with illness!
Posted by: Alison C. | December 15, 2008 11:57 AM
I'm glad you have help, Barbara. It's a blessing to see people reaching out to help someone.
Posted by: Julana | December 15, 2008 3:48 PM
I am very glad to hear that things are going well. I've been praying for your family, you're such an inspiration to so many people!
I was curious about your smoothies that you mentioned. Can you post the recipe?
Posted by: Melanie | December 15, 2008 4:05 PM
Amen !! Bless your hearts !! You and your family are an inspiration to me. And you're all in my prayers. I have been in awe of the love of God as he has answered the prayers of my heart. (and I was surprised !) God is so good !! Grace, grace, God's grace . . .
Posted by: dee | December 15, 2008 4:22 PM
Barbara, thanks for sharing that beautiful of thought on the Body of Christ. I'm so glad to hear that Samantha and Kip stopped by!
Posted by: Milehimama | December 15, 2008 4:39 PM
Barbara, the Voice of Reason.
Thank you for your comments on Christmas music and ignoring the Christ Child on and around His birthday. I'm tired of "Happy Holiday Season" and say, "Merry Christmas" to all. If someone uses a greeting other than the Christian one, I am happy to return it; every religion is sacred to its members. But I'm a Catholic, was brought up to celebrate Christmas as a momentous religious holiday, and continue in that tradition. Thank you, Anne McG
Posted by: Anne Veronica McGravie | December 15, 2008 10:11 PM
Gosh, I just love that Tripp Curtis! He is one special and sweet man. Those pictures of him are precious. And.....Maddie singing Ava Maria at Midnight Mass.....It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it! You are truly blessed!
Posted by: Kim O. | December 16, 2008 1:28 AM
Barbara, what a blessing it is to read this post. I am so encouraged to see how the Lord is using others to minister to your family during this season in your life. There have certainly been times in our life when we needed to be ministered to by the body of Christ and I'm so thankful that there were those who saw the need we had and took the time to reach out and help. What a testimony of God's faithfulness to us!
Each day, your blog is one I must keep up with! If I haven't said so before...you are a tremendous blessing! Thank you, Barbara, for all the encouragement you offer through your blog.
Posted by: Diane | December 16, 2008 2:03 AM
