Sunday, April 22, 2001
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Sunday, April 22, 2001 |
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Some thoughts on a 'Good' Friday By MARY JANE HOLT
It is Good Friday and I have had good intentions all day. Since sunrise I have been up and eager to try to pull a "Mary" and sit at the feet of Jesus for at least a few minutes, preferably an hour or so. Haven't done that in a while. Then I was going to start writing. Early. There was this column to do, then the finishing touches on a couple of features, a health column, a book review, and several projects to e-mail. And I had all day to do these tasks. Yeah, sure I did. It's a holiday. Just about everybody I know seems to be off today and they are all calling here. Not only that, my husband and son are off today and both want to talk! But not at the same time, of course. One talks first and I very patiently listen and nod and respond as an attentive and loving wife. Then he disappears out to the barn. In a moment or so I hear the truck leave. Within five minutes my son appears. He sits down on the bottom step of the stairs where he has a clear view into where I'm seated in my office. I now give him my attention. He is saying things he wants me to hear. Important things that I need to hear. Things that have to be heard at the right time or they may never be heard. In a little while, he leaves. The door closes on his last "luv ya," and with the sound of those words I know listening to him was far more important than work I can do "anytime." That's what folks seem to think about those of us who work from home, you know, that we can do our work just any ole time. Not so, as I am reminded once more within ten minutes of my son's departure. "Ding, dong" goes the door alarm as my husband enters the house again. Eager this time to show me his new rain gauge. And the biggest bag of wild bird seed he'd ever bought. It was a deal! And he had to ask me how long the turkey had stayed in the back yard after his (my husband's) last departure. I listen. I report the time of the turkey's exit. I stroke the rain gauge. I express gratitude for the bird seed. I hear how he is about to aerate the yard now for the nth time and plant more grass seed in his continuing effort to create some semblance of a lawn. All the fields around us have prettier grass than the area we call a yard. Doesn't bother me a bit. Drives him up a wall! He is determined to establish his lawn! Out the door he goes again. This time he's heading over to a neighbor's to borrow some piece of equipment. It's nice to live where neighbors share things so everybody doesn't have to buy everything it takes to thoroughly enjoy quiet country living. I am alone again. My office phone rings. It is my partner. My home phone rings. It is Delta. Somebody needs to talk to Daniel. I go to the door. A phone to each ear. To one caller I explain how I am still looking for a particular piece of software. To the other I explain how the tractor is disappearing down the driveway and I will have to wait until Daniel returns from the neighbor's unless it is an emergency, in which case I will be glad to hop on the four-wheeler and go catch him. I'm told it's not an emergency. I hang up with Delta. I am told where the software can be found. I hang up with my partner. I race to the keyboard. I freeze. At least the computer screen has not frozen up from having sat on ready for five hours. But I have. My thoughts are gone. It's Good Friday. I wanted to write about Jesus today. Haven't done that in a while. Try to express once more how much I love Him. How much He means to me. All the pretty words are gone. In their place only one phrase bubbles up from my heart: "...inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these you have done it unto me..." I wonder if that means offering a timely ear to the heart thoughts of friends and family. Hope so. It's going to be a long day, this Good Friday, but a very good day!
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