Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: MAIL (02/18/16)
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TITLE: Heart Smiles | Previous Challenge Entry
By Karen Dick
02/25/16 -
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Estelle sat in the peaceful hallway with the other residents resting in their wheelchairs. She knew the orderlies lined them up and down against the walls to encourage conversation and comraderie, but everyone usually fell asleep. She and the others were there anticipating the most important events of the day; receiving visitors, or mail delivery.
Estelle assumed it was time for the postman to appear. Normally he arrived soon after breakfast was settled and digested. The smell of sausage and stale coffee still permeated the air, and she waited with hope, like the others.
The squealing noise again caught her attention.
“Maybe this is it Gertrude,” she quipped to the woman on her left.
Startled, Gertrude shouted, “What?”
Estelle leaned closer and hollered, “I think the mailman is here.”
Gertrude raised her head and both women looked to the left to see who was entering the rest home.
The mailman entered with his brown leather satchel slung over his shoulder, and Estelle’s heart quickened with hope. Perhaps there was a letter from her daughter Claire in that bag. She had not heard from her in several weeks and apparently Claire couldn’t call on the phone any longer because of the expense.
“Good morning Cindy!” he cheerfully exclaimed to the receptionist. “Here’s a bundle of news for your fine people.”
“Thank you Charlie. You sure bring many heart smiles to our folks.”
“We aim to please,” he said with a grin as he left.
Cindy began the precarious task of delivering the mail. Estelle held her breath as Cindy approached.
“I’m sorry Estelle; I don’t see anything for you today. Maybe tomorrow.”
With tears welling up and a lump forming in her throat, she nodded and lowered her head. She was fighting for control when Gertrude nudged her.
“Can you help me read this? I don’t have my heavy duty glasses.”
Composing herself and taking the letter, Estelle read aloud a loving account from a young grandchild, expressing how much grandma was missed. She nodded to her friend as she returned it, and then slowly wheeled her chair into her room.
At the window, she watched mockingbirds singing in a tree. Oh, the freedom to fly and sing to your heart’s content. She quietly hummed the lullaby she used to sing to Claire as a little girl. “Hush little baby, don’t say a word, Mama’s gonna buy you a mockingbird.” Her heart ached as a tear slipped down her translucent cheek.
“Hello Estelle, may I come in?” A female voice whispered in her doorway.
Estelle turned toward the door and nodded her white head as she dabbed her cheek with a hankie.
“Hello Vickie. I sure do miss your mother Gloria. How are you doing?”
“I miss her too Estelle. I was just picking up the rest of her things.”
“It won’t be the same without her.”
“How is your daughter Claire doing?” Vickie asked as she took a seat across from Estelle.
“I hope she’s ok,” Estelle said quietly, “I haven’t heard from her for a while.”
Estelle turned to look out the window once again, not wanting Vickie to see her conflicting emotions.
Vickie pulled a small black book from her handbag, opened it and quietly read, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, Jeremiah 31:3.”
“What was that?” Estelle’s attention turned to Vickie.
“When I am sad and missing Mom, I like to read from God’s Word. He gives me the comfort I need when I need it. Would you like to hear some more?”
Estelle nodded and listened intently as Vickie continued to read Scripture verses to her.
“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, he will rejoice over you with singing, Zephaniah 3:17.”
Hearing how much she was loved filled her heart with joy and hope.
“Estelle, it seems to me that the Scriptures are like love letters from Jesus.”
With a smile, Estelle agreed and added, “Even better than mail.”
(Scriptures are taken from NIV)
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