Whenever Kathy goes out of town, I find myself in a conundrum.
On the one hand, I don’t want her to worry about us. She doesn’t leave us without good reason; I don’t want her to feel that she can’t leave us alone for a couple of days. Also, I am vaguely proud of my survival skills. I married at 26, and before that, I lived off the land (as it were) for many a year. Although you might not guess it from watching me now, I can do laundry, cook (after a fashion) and I frequently dress myself in clothes that don’t violate international fashion treaties.
On the other hand, I want Kathy to feel that we miss her. If we are able to thrive in her absence, it follows (at least in her mind) that we don’t need her. She seems to overlook the way that she makes our house into a home, adds fun and beauty to our lives, and loves us in ways that I cannot even fake.
But then I remember: if we exaggerate our competence, then no one feels sorry for us, and no one makes us meals. As it is, Kathy’s friends look after us when she is gone — shaking their heads at me and muttering to one another, “Those poor children … ”
We're always pretty hungry on AWANA nights.
Tonight, for example, we feasted on creamed corn, mashed potato casserole, a tasty meatloaf and a fruit salad, handed to us by kind friends after AWANA.
No, there’s no profit in being anything other than pathetic.
In any case, I do not begrudge Kathy her travels. Today is the one-year anniversary of her Papa’s passing, from this world to the next. As the apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:8:
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
For a year, now, Bill Moore has been with the Lord — one wonders how he has been using that time. How many of his questions have been answered, how many bookshelves has he built, how big is his garden? I do know that we miss him greatly, and look forward to the day when we also can be present with the Lord.
Until then, we’ll eat the potatoes of compassion, and wait for Kathy to come home.
Tim
Good job of straddling the fence, Tim!
I love you.
Uncle Jerry and I miss Granddad Bill, too.
Love, Aunt Kate
SARAH you look so cute:)
Now that was a delicious meal I LOVED IT!
oh and sarah that was a cute pic of you and FOOD!:)