The shelf,
One of my old MENDING
Books,
At least 20 years old.
When I opened it, I was
Surprised to see Jack's
Name inside.
It was his copy, one he
Owned before we were
Married.
But I see he had an
Inkling of our future,
For it is filled with
Yellow sticky notes,
Comments he wrote to
Me in reaction to my
Poems.
Beneath "Memory File"
He penned,
"Some things are too
Painful to remember,
Aren't they?"
The sticky note stuck on
"Lessons" states,
"I too want to share what
I've learned while
Lying on His anvil-
Oh to be like Him-to
Have the mind of Christ."
On the very last page
Jack messaged:
"You are a precious person.
My prayer for you is that
You will remain in the
Very center of God's
Will. That's where
I want to be too.
I don't know what
That involves.
Let's talk."
Jack's humor shows
Through too.
I can almost hear his chuckle
As he responded to
"The Tightrope."
"Did I ever tell you
About being in the circus?
I used to be a high wire
Performer.
Want some lessons?" :)
And his thoughts on
"Moving Ahead" were
Pure Jack.
"I'm not Price Charming.
I'm not even charming, but
I'll bet I could catch
You w/my 21 speed."
Yes, Jack did catch up to me.
He captured me.
He swept me off my feet
And we rode off together,
Our hearts beating as one.
The notes caught me off
Guard, stunned me.
Jack's words from the past
Were spanning the years,
Communicating love to me
In the present,
And I was overcome.
I clutched the little
White book with the
Ripped red heart on its
Cover to mine.
I let the dam break.
Gasping for breath,
My spirit groaned.
The grief swirled around me
Pulling me down into its spiral
Until I finally gained control.
Sitting downcast, crumpled
In my chair,
Sitting there, I pondered,
Wondered,
What would he write in
My grief book now?
What could he possibly say?
Suddenly I knew.
Once again, my dear Jack
Came through.
"Don't look down, Dorothy.
Look up! It's your turn.
Now I'm waiting for you
To catch up with me."