Thursday, May 9, 2013

Five Minute Friday: Comfort

Five Minute FridayFive Minute Fridays: this is where a brave and beautiful (and fantastically fun) bunch gather every week to find out what comes out when we all spend five minutes writing on the same topic and then sharing ‘em over here.

This Week: Comfort

Go

Tonight, we laughed and teased online – waiting for the prompt. Chomping at the bit like only FMF writers can. We had clues and I saw them coming. When it landed, my mind took a sudden left turn and I’m going off in a completely different direction than where was heading. Tears are running as I write.

Bam. Doesn’t it just happen like that.

I can hear him clearly in my head as I start to write. A pure, clean tenor soaring above the opening bars of Handel’s timeless music:

Comfort ye. Comfort ye my people.

Every Christmas my father sang this. Sometimes in church with the choir. And if not, always at home. Sometimes with me playing along on the piano – trying to keep up and stay smooth – to do justice to this beautiful music. This is one of my favorite memories I have of my father. Any I have of us together with our instruments is precious to me. Whether singing, playing the guitar together with he and my brother, singing in choir together while my mother directed, singing the blessing around the table in harmony – we were a musical family – and that music brought a connection and comfort and element to our relationship that wouldn’t have been there otherwise.

I miss that so much.

Fourteen years ago, my father had his first stroke. There have been several more since then. Each one has taken away a little more of the strong, independent, accomplished man that I grew up with. The man who was my confidante and my comfort.

The truth is, I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to see him again here in this life. I can only hope. Hope that I’ll have a chance to get home one more time before he’s called Home.  There is comfort knowing that this life is not the end; that I’ll see him again; and that when I do, we’ll both be freed of the physical ties that bind us and in our new bodies. I’m going to need that knowledge to hold onto when it’s time to say goodbye here. Even though I know it will only be for a while. It will be.

Stop

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Jerry Hadley sings Comfort Ye My People from Handel's Messiah






11 comments :

  1. Oh this is beautiful... what an awesome tribute to your dad. I have a vision of you seated at a beautiful piano with your dad standing just beside you and the two of you filling heaven with your music. What a great post.

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  2. How precious and strong that memory of his voice is! I love the thought of standing with our loved ones without any physical hindrances. This was a beautiful "turn".

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  3. Rebekah, I was surprised by how the prompt took me in a certain direction, too. This is just beautiful, sister. Precious and so full of tenderness and love. Your heart just sings, and I am so grateful to read your sweet words tonight. What a beautiful dad and relationship you have.

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  4. Beautiful. I love that you have something that ties you to your father.

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  5. How did I not know you were so musical? I'm glad to hear of these types of memories with your dad and I've always hurt for you at the distance that separates you from him. ((hugs))

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  6. I lost my father two years ago and it's amazing the things that will snap me back to those memories of him. I know it won't be forever until I see him again but I get how sickness takes a bit more each time until the memories and the man who remains don't seem quite the same. Hoping you get to see him again before eternity.

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  7. Every one such a beautiful encouragement. I struggled tonight after the #fmfparty and thought - I'm going to be the only one not writing sweet things about my mom (saving that for the weekend)- and was almost overcome by negative whiplash all by myself. You strong sisters. You writing wonders. You save me. You encourage me. You make me brave. I'm so happy to have found you all. Two Frogs - you know my heart.

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  8. Beautiful just simply beautiful words, pictures but mostly the memories.

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  9. So sweet! What a comfort to know that this life is not the end!

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  10. Rebekah, such beauty in what you have shared here. My son is a musician... I have a soft spot for such talent. But, again...your heart is so tender and beautiful in this post. Thank you for writing and sharing. Blessings my friend.

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Thank you for the kindess of your comment. I pray your patience with the word verification. I've had such troubles with spammers lately. Thank you for grace. I look forward to reading all the comments and responding. I appreciate you!