***Posted for Patty Wysong's Fiction Fridays. For more great fiction, click here: http://pattywysong.blogspot.com
The words will not come. The lump at the back of my throat will not let them out.
I know what I need to say. God gave me the perfect words earlier this morning, but now they are stuck in quicksand.
My memories in this church are running rampant, however. They envelop me in my sadness. Right where the Pastor is standing, I was saved, baptized, discipled and married to my Brian.
“Do you, Brian, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife—to have and to hold—in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”
“I do,” he said tenderly gazing into my watery eyes.
It had been a glorious day sixteen years ago. As I stood there in front of my friends, family and church members, I looked out at Mom, who was as emotional as she could be with her childlike state of mind. She sat hunched over, trying to sit straight to show how proud she was of her daughter, the bride.
But now is not such an occasion. That was only a memory now.
Just like this next one…
“Miss Lora,” little four-year-old Jenny had asked as she pulled on my belt, “can I go potty?”
“Again?” I asked her. “Jenny, did you not practice your music?”
Her wide, sea-blue eyes had looked straight into mine, “Yes, Miss Lora, I did.” Her arms flailed out in frustration. “It’s jus’ that we keep singin’ bout washin’ our sins away, an’ all dat water makes me gotta go.”
It had been quite the effort to hold back the laughter while she crossed her legs and did a little ‘potty jig.’ “Of course you can go, sweet Jenny. And I’ll will start a new song when you get back, ok?”
Oh, how I had loved teaching that little choir. At sixteen, the pastor’s wife had given me the chance to lead them. I felt pretty special to direct from the preacher’s podium.
That seems like eons ago. Now I’m forced by circumstances to sit on this hard wooden pew with little Jenny all grown up just rows behind me. Even in this crowd, I feel like I’m behind a thick gray concrete wall, and Pastor Steve’s words bounce and echo from it.
“For we know that all things work together for good (for good) (good), for those who are called (called) according to His purpose.”
“Aaaaaa-men!” Mr. Thomas bellowed out in his deep voice from the back pew.
Yes, and it is for His purposes that in a moment I will walk up to that same spot from which I wed all those years ago. After all, I had walked up those steps, picked up the microphone and belted out many a song and scripture dozens of times before.
Sweet, white-haired Mr. Thomas would touch my shoulder with his trembling hand. “I sure do love it when you sing, Precious. It brings heaven to my heart.”
How I long to bring heaven to these grieving people right now, but my own heart is wringing with sorrow.
“Lora,” Pastor Steve’s voice ruptured into my hollow ear, “you said you would like to say a few words in memory of your mother (mother) (mother)?”
I can’t believe her casket lies in the same place that I had stood so many times before, looking out at her proud, beaming face.
I must speak. I’m walking to the pulpit and speaking the words that I must say, or I’ll regret it forevermore.
The words I must say are ready at the tip of my tongue.
“My greatest memory of Mom is her sitting at the kitchen table reading her Bible with a mug of Folgers in her reach. She would recite long passages from memory to anyone who would listen. She taught me to love the Word. She had every reason to give up after her car wreck. Instead she chose to be dependent upon the Lord in her neediness. She may have been disabled on this earth, but now she dances before the Lord with brand new legs. I look forward to the day I can dance with her…”
After a long silence, the Pastor brought me back to the present by asking, “Did you wish to speak? It’s okay if you can’t…”
My legs have melted into the pew. I open my mouth to speak, but the words I prepared will not come. I put my head down and wave my hand in decline toward the pulpit.
If only I could speak.
12 friends shared a comment:
My tears are running, Laura. I was sooooo caught up in this one...(((hugs))) This is powerful.
love you!
Wow, Laura. I read this way too early in the morning for tears. It really is a powerful and amazing piece. I was totally caught up in the emotions. Great job!
You definitely brought tears to my eyes, sweet Laura. This is amazingly powerful and powerfully amazing. Excellent.
I could just hear the echo, feel the emotions...you left me breathless. Amazing.
Wow Laura! This piece is powerful, captivating, and poignant. Great writing!
Wow! I've never read this one before. This is powerful, incredible emotion and atmosphere and everything. Amazing writing, sis! ^_^
You are definitely a gifted writer! I agree with the resounding word, powerful, that everyone has used to describe this!
That was awesome! Thanks for your comment on the Internet Cafe today! :) ~Carol
This is so touching. Thank you for sharing.
I'm crying, too. Laura, I spoke at my own son's funeral just nearly three years ago.
I knew the moment we walked away from his lifeless temple that God had a message for those who attended his funeral and I was the one to deliver it. After all, no one else knew him the way I did.
All I can say is the grace of God carried through every step. I was overwhelmed by the love of all who attended. I had no idea how many people had come - when they seated us for the service, we walked the aisle and passed them all by - but all I could see was my son's casket and body laid out in front of the altar flowers I had arranged just a few days before. There in that church where we had grown as a family, been baptized and saved and served in ministry - I bid my son goodbye... not forever, just for a little while.
I can so relate to every word - the young man who sang Mercy Me's "Homesick" for us said he could not let himself look at me or he would have never made it through the song.
It was a bitter-sweet day, and I talked of how my boy was in Heaven - rolling the streets of gold with his skateboard with Jesus. He, too, was in an accident.
Beautifully written, poignantly displayed - the muddled mind and heart of one in the first stages of grief.
Your comments on my "Momma's Girl" post encouraged me greatly, thank you.
Blessings.
Blessings.
Powerful, Laura. Yes, it's a bittersweet moment when we say "good-bye for now" to our loved ones. Glad for them-their journey through pain and sadness is finally over-but Oh-so-sad for us. Love you, Laura dear, and I'm sure your mother is smiling in Heaven about the wonderful writings of her girl today! (Don't you just wish we could see them laughing?!)
What an amazing post!
Juile
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