Autumn.   

 It was a time when the standard answer to “How are you?” was “In a time of rest.  I feel like we are in between crisis times and need to rest in this season.”  It was only a few years ago, but it feels like a lifetime ago. 

In the story of our lives, we often have page-turning moments.  Those moments when we are leaving one chapter of our lives and entering another.  Those page-turning moments are bittersweet as we have excitement toward the next page, but we are looking longingly back toward what has been. 

It’s been exactly a year since we got The Call. In some ways, it seems like forever ago, in others, I can’t believe it has been a full 12 months.  In the space of that year, I’ve watched the family transform:  allowing memories to fill in spaces where a body sat, speaking freely of personality traits or quotes, choosing to celebrate a Christmas gift one last time without him. 

And…when I do see them?  When I share in laughs and stories, when we talk about troubles or share advice…I remember.  I remember that I miss them.

I don’t recognize the writing.  I don’t recognize the return address.  I rip open the envelope that came in the snail mail to find a hug on paper. There wasn’t a long note inside.  Just a small quote and it was signed “thinking of you this week.”   

I often struggle when I see people respond to this question.  Are they really praying?  Is it just a nice thing we say to one another to make us feel better?  Do we really believe in the power of prayer?