Healing Words

I should let Younger Daughter handle my to-do list more often.  Last night she added to it:

For the life of me, I can't remember why I put LL Bean on the list.
But surely any list is better when it has hot chocolate on it.

And then we did those things together – made hot chocolate, drank it, relaxed, and played a game, while listening to Fauré’s Requiem.  This was so therapeutic that this morning I forgave her for not getting up in time for the bus.  She has made it to the bus every other morning so far this school year, and that right there is a miracle, although some days she was cutting it close.

Today another miracle occurred – I remembered to buy the long underwear that our church is collecting for the men at the shelter. I get to check that off my list!

I found out tonight that the money the church raised at the craft show went to the local food bank, which is seeing an increase in clients lately. (Funding for food stamps was cut in November, and will likely be cut more if the farm bill is ever passed.)  

Here is another poem that Younger Daughter wrote at her poetry table at that craft show.  I like to think that the uncertainty she expressed here has in some way been turned into one sure meal for at least one hungry person.

A Prayer

Oh, Lord, my God, is this all right?

I have never prayed before.

But I have seen the others bend,

Their heads bowing down.

Their lips move

And they form words.

Do the words matter, Oh Lord?

Is it the words

Or thoughts,

The holy thoughts

I see on their lips

As they speak to you, Oh Lord, my God?

Is it the thoughts?

If that is so

I might have prayed before.