Dear Mermaid O,
What was I doing on the day you were born?
Well, that day was an emotional roller-coaster day for me. Three big events happened in 24 hours that would change those I love and me forever.
Earlier that week, I was finishing work with a week-long series of board meetings when I received a call from a board member. He apologized for leaving the board meeting early, but he received a call that his son had gone missing while swimming in a local lake with his friends. A search was underway. Of course, everyone was in shock. He was only 15. I can’t think of anything worse in life than losing your child.
A few days later, on the day you were born, July 5, I was standing in a long line of hundreds of mourners winding through the halls of an Indiana high school, waiting to pay my respects to my friend and his family. They were trying to understand why their wonderful young boy was taken so early in his life.
The vast majority of mourners were his friends from school. It was probably the first time in their lives that they had experienced death. I wonder when will be your first time? Mine that I remember was the funeral of an uncle. What I remember most was that I had never seen my Dad cry. It was a shock to see him cry, and I realized something was changing inside of me. I think I was growing up.
I was slowly inching my way to the gymnasium where the funeral gathering was taking place, and my phone rang. Usually, I wouldn’t answer my phone in a funeral line; not good manners. But it was your Dad, and I always take a call from my son.
He sounded rattled. “Mom, we’re at the hospital, and you’re a grandma.” He thought the baby and Mom were OK, but the doctor needed to watch your mom because she had had a difficult time bringing you into the world.
Wow, what a surprise. The baby came earlier than we expected, but I’m a Grandma! I want to screech happy sounds, but remember, I am in the line of mourners. I tell Dan I can’t talk long because I’m at a funeral. I will call back later.
One young life ends, and another begins.
I finally get home from the funeral and tell your Papa about the day’s roller coaster of emotions. I’m ready to unwind and do some knitting. But Papa reminded me he had been to the doctor that day. Papa tells me the doctor informs him he has bladder cancer. Are you kidding me? Roger has cancer. I can’t believe it. The big “C.” How bad is it? Is he going to live or die? How long?
What else is going to happen on July 5? We talked through Papa’s bladder cancer treatment and learned that he would try an experimental treatment for a year and see if cancer goes away. If not, he will probably have his bladder removed. All we have now is to wait.
And so, every year, when July 5 rolls around, I am reminded that you never know what may happen each day. All you know is that you need to be ready and strong to help someone around you who may need your love and friendship. I was also reminded that pure joy did come from July 5th, when our little mermaid was born.
Life Lesson: In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on. – Robert Frost
Make waves.
Grandma JAS
Making Waves…
Craig and Kim Williams started the Jacob’s Wells project in honor of their son, Jacob, who died in the swimming accident mentioned in this blog.
Jacob’s Wells is a non-profit organization under The Micah 6:8 Project. To honor his memory, Jacob’s Wells was established. His mother, Kim, is a longtime board member of The Micah 6:8 Project and has made many trips to Ghana. Jacob loved playing with and mentoring young kids, so it only seemed right that we build water wells in Ghana to bring life-sustaining water to villages full of children.
You may have never lost a child but you can do something to change the path of one through Jacob’s Wells. So far 15 clean water wells, 13 of them being Jacob’s Wells are providing clean water to the families in Ghana.