Sweet Solution

Mary decided to bring the last of her work home from the office early Friday afternoon, one of more pleasant perks of co-ownership she thought happily. After making the tedious forty-five minute commute, Mary unlocked the door to her…rephrase that…their new home.

Hers and Nancy's that is, the lifelong friend and compatriot with whom Mary had jointly purchased a ranch style house with two rolling acres to boot. A quick change out of her work clothes and into a simple t-shirt and jeans found Mary settling into the chaise lounge on the back porch with laptop at the ready. Getting comfortable was easy, reviving her motivation to work wasn’t so simple.

Just a couple of hours and I’ll be free for the weekend, Mary reassured herself. But before she could get started, Mary saw something flit around near the feeder off by the side of the house. She turned her head and it was gone. Then a minute or so later, another flit, her peripheral being excellent, Mary looked more closely this time.

There it was….that tiny little hummingbird…one of a pair…Mary thought with wonder. Nancy put up that feeder right away to coax some of the hummingbirds into our backyard…and to their delight, it had worked. Mary sat transfixed as she studied the minuscule bundle of energy dart here and there…stopping only long enough to drink in some of the sweetened nectar Nancy had carefully prepared.

Before she knew it, Mary was an audience of one to a complicated dance taking place before her eyes. Lovely, she thought, this mere speck of a bird is just lovely. At last, after having had his fill, the hummingbird zipped off to a nest somewhere nearby. Just where, neither Mary nor Nancy had yet to discover. But they would, Mary decided.

Reckoning it was prudent to get back to the task at hand, Mary plugged away at her accounting work. Dry, tedious stuff…but a necessary chore to complete. Mary tapped away at her keyboard making entries and updating files with diligence until she spotted the same hummingbird zoom past. After another admiring glance, Mary marveled at how rejuvenated she felt these days. It’s been such a tonic living here with Nancy, she said to herself.

After my dad died, I felt so lost. And Nancy’s husband had been gone for five years. It was just what we both needed, getting a new start and taking the plunge of home ownership together. And best of all, I think we’ve finding out that we can achieve and accomplish so much more by joining forces and lending support as the needs arise.

“Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.

Say to those with anxious heart,

Take courage, fear not.”

Isaiah 35: 3, 4

Dear Lord,

I want to offer my most heartfelt thanks for the your provision for me. You alone understand how discouraged and downhearted I was after the death of my loved one. I could not conceive of life without this dear one in my life. And yet in your good and faithful way…you demonstrated your love toward me. I need not have worried about this or that…you were and are my strength and provider.

I thank you for the renewal of faith you have graciously instilled in my oft overwrought heart. Even in my most weary hours, I found my solace in your love. And if that were not enough…you blessed me with a likeminded friend. Someone who has suffered in the same way and who understands my pain intimately. I cannot express my gratitude for this bounteous gift of support.

Together, we are rediscovering all the goodness found in your world together. And we both offer our gift of thanks to you. Lord, you are my all in all…my beginning and my end. I pray that I would always lift my eyes up toward you…and truly see the blessings of your love so evident all around me.

Amen.

“…unless the rapport gets down to the espresso level, I find the friendship tends to melt away into nothingness. Give me the nitty-gritty stuff. I crave rich relationships that stay with me long after the foam is only a sweet memory.”

Cindy Crosby in We Have a Latte in Common

Michele Howe and her family live near the shores of Lake Erie. She is an author, book reviewer and manuscript critique editor, and she has also been featured on numerous radio shows. She has published over 900 articles/reviews and is the author of eight books for women including: Going It Alone: Meeting the Challenges of Being a Single Mom, Successful Single Moms: Thirteen Stories of Triumph, Prayers for Homeschool Moms, Prayers for New and Expecting Moms, Prayers of Comfort and Strength and Prayers to Nourish a Woman's Heart. Please write to Michele C/O Syndicated Writers of America at P.O. Box 3429, Suwanee, Georgia, 30024, or via email at michele.howe@buystory.com.

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