Daughter Amanda had surgery recently. Her recovery requires stringent restrictions to allow full healing. No twisting. No bending. No vacuuming. No several other things. Worst of all, no lifting. Not a grocery bag, not the family cat, not a load of laundry. Not even one-year-old Ezra. Nothing heavier than a water glass for six weeks. And for months beyond that, minimal increases. Complete healing could take up to two years.
Try that with a family of six children twelve and under. Lifting even a pot of food for eight is forbidden. The three eldest beans help well with their three younger siblings. And the grandson at the top of the bean-chain, Benjamin, keeps reminding me that since he took the course, he is now a certified babysitter. He can fry pancakes, make eggs and heat soup.
The Preacher and I stepped in, as all nearby grandparents do when their children need them. We also prayed much, but concern niggled at me. My work schedule and my husband鈥檚 health limitations would prevent us from supplying all the help needed, especially preparing meals.
But I needn鈥檛 have worried. God sent (and continues to send) angels of mercy. Some have cheerfully joined the meal train, some through a helpful website (mealtrain.com) designed to easily set up and schedule the assistance of willing volunteers and friends.
At least three times weekly, friends, church family but also complete strangers began bringing in a family-sized meal. Angel food, all of it. Particularly the dessert dropped off by caring church friends one afternoon 鈥� a one-gallon tub of ice cream. Their favourite brand. My son-in-law (likely salivating) put the tub in the freezer.
The youngest children hadn鈥檛 seen the bucket, so Benjamin explained (probably salivating himself) the afternoon delivery. 鈥淣eopolitin! Chapman鈥檚! THREE flavours!鈥�
鈥淣o, Benjamin,鈥� Kendall corrected. 鈥淥nly two 鈥� chocolate and white. I put it away.鈥�
鈥淧apa,鈥� explained Benjamin (I love the name he uses for his father), 鈥淚 saw it. It鈥檚 neopolitin.鈥� Some of the girls agreed.
The debate strung on long, all in good nature, with plenty of laughter from the rest. Finally Kendall said. 鈥淭ell you what, Benjamin. How bout if I鈥檓 right, you don鈥檛 get dessert tonight. But if you鈥檙e right, I don鈥檛 get dessert.鈥� Benjamin agreed.
鈥淎fter supper, I opened up the freezer,鈥� Kendall told me later, 鈥渁nd I saw pink.鈥� He was still miffed at himself when he brought the bucket to the table. Laughter filled the kitchen. 鈥淒addy was wrong! Daddy was wrong!鈥�
They spared him no mercy. Papa had no dessert that night. The beans laughed all the way to our house to tell the story. But Amanda told me later that after they鈥檇 gone to bed, 鈥淜endall REALLY enjoyed his bedtime snack.鈥�
Tonight I thank God for good surgeons and hospital staff. For our daughter鈥檚 ongoing recovery and our son-in-law鈥檚 humour. For caring friends who give of themselves so healing can happen. For quality ice cream that fills up the belly. And especially for belly laughs that merry up the heart.
