Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Spring (as in the season) (11/28/05)
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TITLE: Springtime Tapestry | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kym Gordon Moore
12/05/05 -
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Suddenly, my sister snatched the ends that I was holding away from me, yelled in a screeching wail, “Noooooooo” then stormed outside through the kitchen door. I ran behind her up a small hill in the back yard. Finally, she collapsed on the moist ground and kept crying out, “Whyyyyyyy? Why did she have to die? This is so unfair! She was too young to die! Why?” she asked again staring into my face with bloodshot eyes and glistening tears streaming down her cheeks.
I sat down on the ground beside her and cradled her in my arms like a baby. “She was sick Adeline. She was sick for over seven years now. There was nothing that we could do. The doctors did all that they were able to do. Her body just couldn’t handle the pain anymore. It was her time.”
“Her time? How can you say that? You act as though she meant nothing to you!” she screamed.
“Now Adeline, you know deep down in your heart that’s not true. I know you’re hurting, but so am I. We all loved Mom. Once gangrene settled in her legs causing the doctors to perform double amputations, it was only a matter of time after that.”
“But we prayed so hard. Praying was supposed to work. I thought that God was listening, but He wasn’t!”
“How dare you say that? You know good and well that’s not true! She had several mini strokes and two big ones. Her diabetes was spiraling out of control. The bed sores were unbearable for me, so can you possibly imagine what she went through?” Adeline continued crying and said nothing. “Look, her immune system wasn’t strong enough to fight off another infection. If she had another stroke, we all knew she would be a vegetable. God heard our prayers and took her out of her pain. She doesn’t have to worry about that anymore. We both know she’s in a better place. You know that right?”
“Yeah, but I miss her Neecy. I miss her so much.”
“So do I. Deep down in our hearts we could no longer stand to watch her suffer like that. It was taking a toll on us. But she’s free now Adeline! Free from all of that pain.”
We sat on the hill in silence gazing at the backyard where she planted her periwinkle hydrangeas, strawberry azaleas and rose of Sharon. Wiping her eyes, Adeline looked down and observed the colors in the afghan she was clutching. Tea roses in shades of ice blue, canary yellow, pastel pink, mint green, orange sherbet and lavender created a delicious springtime tapestry. Adeline started to chuckle. “What was that silly saying mom use to say about the wind, rain and flowers?”
“Oh it went something like, March winds bring April showers, and April showers bring May flowers.”
“Yeah that was it,” she smiled and shook her head. “Oh Neecy, I sure do miss her.”
“I know honey, honestly I do.”
“Here. Take your two ends and let’s fold this last afghan.”
I grabbed my two ends and suggested, “You know something Adeline?”
“What’s that?”
“Instead of folding this one, it’s just too pretty to put away. Why don’t we display it on the sofa in the living room so that it can be seen? This will be our silent memorial to her.” Adeline smiled and hugged me tightly. Mom’s afghans were interwoven with remnants of her trials, victories and lots of love. Oh what a colorful life she lived!
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