For many years, Etta would regularly present me with the most lovely dresses...frills, ruffles, bows, smocking...you name it! She loved having a little girl to dress up. I definitely benefited from her love of shopping!
Now, it's my turn to dress her up! I did this at Christmas with a new outfit and accessories. Of course, no outfit would be complete without a scarf and clip-on earrings. Easter would be no different. I brought Etta a cheerful lilac outfit...earrings and scarf too...I showed it to her the day before Easter and she was THRILLED by the site of the pieces held up for her to approve. The next day, Easter Sunday, I made a big deal of how beautiful she looked in her new outfit. To this she said, "James put this together for me. Do you like it?" After taking a deep breathe, a gulp, and fighting back the urge to tear up, I said, "I just love it! He always had such a fashion sense (or so he thought- ha!)...and he loved to see you dressed up!"
Etta really believed James had coordinated and brought her this outfit...and I was happy for her...that in that moment his death wasn't a reality to her...She forgets things here and there all of the time, but she certainly has not forgotten the one she spent 65+ years with...perhaps she's forgotten the difficult times in their marriage...or perhaps she has chosen to forgive even though she can't forget...to choose love...to look beyond fault and find favor...
Moments such as these with her teach me the most profound life lessons...they leave me pondering my choices...my attitude...my life...It is truly a gfit when someone can simply speak a truth and impact another in such a way as to change or confirm their path...and this time, it was all because of a new outfit....
Now, it's my turn to dress her up! I did this at Christmas with a new outfit and accessories. Of course, no outfit would be complete without a scarf and clip-on earrings. Easter would be no different. I brought Etta a cheerful lilac outfit...earrings and scarf too...I showed it to her the day before Easter and she was THRILLED by the site of the pieces held up for her to approve. The next day, Easter Sunday, I made a big deal of how beautiful she looked in her new outfit. To this she said, "James put this together for me. Do you like it?" After taking a deep breathe, a gulp, and fighting back the urge to tear up, I said, "I just love it! He always had such a fashion sense (or so he thought- ha!)...and he loved to see you dressed up!"
Etta really believed James had coordinated and brought her this outfit...and I was happy for her...that in that moment his death wasn't a reality to her...She forgets things here and there all of the time, but she certainly has not forgotten the one she spent 65+ years with...perhaps she's forgotten the difficult times in their marriage...or perhaps she has chosen to forgive even though she can't forget...to choose love...to look beyond fault and find favor...
Moments such as these with her teach me the most profound life lessons...they leave me pondering my choices...my attitude...my life...It is truly a gfit when someone can simply speak a truth and impact another in such a way as to change or confirm their path...and this time, it was all because of a new outfit....