Yesterday I was measuring the refrigerator for a replacement. After eighteen years, the old one has finally given up on making things cold. All of a sudden, a magnet jumped off the side wall. When I fished it out from the narrow space between the counter and the appliance, I realized it was the magnet my best friend gave me many years ago. It seemed like a sign to me that she's still with me. I smiled for the first time since Friday when she passed away.
The magnet reminded me of the time at her house when I was raiding her refrigerator and slammed the door too hard. Her little ceramic angel magnet fell off and broke in two. The head rolled underneath and was lost in the dark kingdom of dust bunnies. She'd had to leave town unexpectedly, following the loss of her grandmother and my return flight was not changeable, so I waited alone to go home. I wrote her a short, sorrowful note of apology with an offer to buy her a new magnet to replace the one I ruined. She forgave me with no hesitation and the matter was closed.
My next trip to her house, I was amazed to find the angel magnet hanging proudly on the front of the refrigerator door. She'd found the lost piece and glued it back together. I carefully closed the door on the cold realm of leftovers and sodas and smiled.
My friend will never call me again. We will never walk on the beach looking for shells. Or watch the glorious beauty of sunset we like did so many times on our vacations together. Somehow, I cling to the hope that we are still together, even if separated by life and death, and that one day we will again walk along the shore in awe of God's handiwork.
Peg,
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely post. Sharing the link on my site in today's edition. So sorry you've had such challenges to get through in 2017. You remain in my prayers. God's grace, love and strength sustains us when nothing else can. To lift you in prayer is the very best of what I can do to help. :)
Such a sweet and kind comment, Angelia. Thank you so much. I appreciate your thoughts and kind prayers. No matter how strong our faith and how well we think we are prepared, something like this takes us a while to accept. Thanks again for your kindness.
DeleteOh Peg,
ReplyDeleteI'm so grateful to Angelia for sharing this. No matter how many times I sign up, I don't get notices to your blog posts.
2017 has been a tough year for you. Through it all, your inner light and beauty shines on.
Love the story of the magnet - those memories and 'signs' remind us that our loved ones are always on the job watching over us.
Love you and sending you hugs as I listen to one of my favorite songs by Willie, Maria
My dear sweet Maria, You are so kind to keep up with my blogging and writings elsewhere. I'm keeping my idle hands busy on the keyboard to keep my mind occupied. Thanks for seeking out this post and thanks to Angelia for sharing. Perhaps I need to send out notices via email. Maybe I'll start doing that if the notification system isn't working right. Thanks for letting me know. Hugs and Love
DeleteDear Peg,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear of your loss. These things are very hard to overcome. Im glad you have loving memories of your dear friend. Those will sustain you always. I will keep you in my heart.
Big hugs,
VickiW
Thank you kindly, Vicki. It still barely seems possible that she's gone. I know you understand having seen your share of loss. Bless you for your sweet thoughts and for coming by.
DeletePeg....I am grateful to our sweet Maria for sharing this with me. Please know, Peg, that I feel your sadness and offer my hand to hold with love & understanding. It's never easy to lose a loved one, a precious friend, or to cope with the void that can not be refilled.
ReplyDeleteWhat gives us comfort and buffers the grief, are the memories we can cling to, the moments of joy & sadness, victories & mishaps which kept us growing, loving & learning together. Despite our loss, we have so much to cling to, to hold close and remind us how blessed we've been for having known and loved such precious souls. Please know how special you are. Hugs, Paula
Thank you, Paula, for the words of comfort and the visit. Yes, thankfully, we made many memories over the four decades of our friendship. Every year we would spend a week together on the beach and I hold those times quite dear to my heart. You are special to me and I so deeply appreciate your friendship and thoughtfulness.
DeleteHello Peg - You have indeed had a tough year. Your strength, faith and fortitude keep you moving forward. It must be a comfort that your friends move closer to you during this regrettable period.
ReplyDeleteDear Mike, You know and I remember you saying that as we get to a certain age we attend more funerals than we ever thought possible. It is still difficult to process that this has happened, this loss. There's a large hole missing in my heart without Paula. I'm so grateful to have friends like you to help fill the gap. Thanks so much for being there in my life.
DeleteThose little signs that our beloveds are with us are so precious, as they give us the strength we need to come to terms with their absence.
ReplyDeleteLots of hugs to you, Peg :)
Thank you dear Martie for your kind words of comfort. As the Christmas season approaches I miss my friend even more. I truly appreciate your visit. Hugs and love.
DeleteIt is so hard to lose beloved friends and family members. At our ages it is happening with more rapidity. Faith in what lies ahead and the belief that we will once again be reunited on a different plane of existence truly helps.
ReplyDeleteSincere condolences to you on the loss of your dear friend. It sounds as though you shared some wonderful times together.
True, Peggy, that our faith is what keeps us moving forward. She was a believer and I have faith that I will see her again one day. I do hope you will look up her story in the third release of The Carriage Driver. Her story is called, "It's All Happening." Mike did a superb job with the characters that she and I knew and loved through the years. Hugs to you.
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