Bits of Glass

  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.   Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:31-32   My eyes were dry from days of crying.   My world had been shaken, turned upside down.   Everything I knew as normal was gone.   An out of control car on an icy road had crossed the median into our path.   My son was dead.   My husband was in a hospital bed.   The doctors’ words were, “He’s not stable,” and “Only time will tell.” I had lost my son.   It was a real possibility that I would lose my husband.   I wondered how my grieving mind and body could nurture the unborn baby I carried.   How could I endure any more loss? I struggled to focus on the conversation at the table.   My mother’s neighbor was speaking.  She was a  solemn lady who seldom smiled. She was telling the story of the loss of her son years ago.   I listened as intently as my grief-clo

Eager little boys hung on every word the man said.   Their eyes were sparkling with anticipation and excitement.   They could hardly wait for the coach to finish explaining so they could run and hit and throw.   Parents stood to the side, proudly watching their budding baseball stars. I was focused on my own little star.   He was first in line and not so patiently waiting as the coach explained the concept of running bases.   “This is home.   Run as fast as you can to first.   Make sure you touch the base.   Run as fast as you can to second, then to third, and then back home.   Make sure you touch every base.”   The coach pointed to the orange cones serving as bases on the makeshift baseball diamond in the middle of the park.   This was the first practice for the first time T-ballers.   Tennis balls and orange cones substituted for baseballs and bases.   The coach looked at Matthew, who was now bouncing up and down, not able to contain his excitement.   “Are you ready?   Go!”