Today is Friday, April 25th, 2003; Karen's Korner #40

A few years ago I subscribed to a daily "Chicken Soup for the Soul" writing. Most of you know about the Chicken Soup for the Soul books which include general editions, and specfic topics (like pet lovers, teenagers, golfers, and, and...). So each day's is quite different one from the other. This is the one that I received yesterday, which I enjoyed.

 

If you like these kinds of writings or you have enjoyed the Chicken Soup books and if you would enjoy receiving something like these writings daily, here is the address for you to subscribe: http://www.soupserver.com/friend.html

 

 

The Miracle of My Sister Laughing
By Deborah Hedstrom-Page

Some of the lowest days of my life came shortly after
my husband's death. While still grieving, I came face to
face with the reality of raising our four children alone.

The funeral was over, friends and family gone. It was the
kids and I, each of us grieving as our ages and
personalities allowed. One son angry, the other quiet; one
daughter demanding, the other mothering. And somehow I was
supposed to deal with it all. I was supposed to give the
sole direction, the lone understanding and single wise
responses.

While at the bottom of this inadequacy well, my sister
arrived. She'd planned it that way, saving her visit until
everyone else had left. Within hours, the closeness we had
shared in the past came flooding back. She let me talk and
cry but also helped me begin doing things. We got my kids
returned to school, and then started tackling projects. We
started with my closet since its half emptiness constantly
reminded me of my now-gone husband. We decided to install
a closet organizer, so I could add my sweaters and other
clothes to fill it up.

Things didn't go well. While she held one end, I'd
try to install and hammer the other. Nothing fit. As we
improvised, things got worse. Then in the midst of our
frustration, I noticed the picture on the organizer's box.

A two-dimensional woman smiled back from it while she
single-handedly installed what my sister and I were failing
to do. While still holding up my end, I said, "Hey Jeanne,
look at that picture. I wish!"

She took one look at the woman and said, "Yeah, right.
She's even wearing a dress." That's when it happened.

Somehow the whole situation turned into a joke.
Every fumble we made, every board that slipped, every
screw that refused to twist brought us back to the perfect
lady on the box and made us laugh. We laughed until the
tears came. We laughed until we had to drop the organizer
and run for the bathroom.

It was the first time I'd laughed in weeks.
That laughter happened fifteen years ago, yet I
remember it as if it happened yesterday. It changed
nothing, yet it changed everything. My kids were still
grieving. I was still hurting, overwhelmed and inadequate.

But when I hugged my sister good-bye, I knew God had used
her to give me a miracle. For in the hard months following
her departure, on my worst days, I inevitably opened my
closet and spotted my slightly tilting organizer. No
matter how I felt, I just couldn't help smiling.

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