Angels or Fairies

"Are we angels or fairies?" Mary Jo said as she lugged an armload of food up the front steps.   "Which do you feel like?" I said.  She just smiled.  Mary Jo is good at making other people smile.  She is a great speaker too.  Anyone that can hold the attention of a gaggle of children each week during children's church, has to be good.  She manages to get the children, and the the adults engaged, and somehow, she always makes us smile. 

Rhonda was helping Mary Jo and they came in with smiles and plenty of food.  It was misting outside and and beginning to turn cold, but as the food arrived, the smell of homemade chicken pot pie, pear salad,  lemon chess pie, sweet potato casserole, and fresh rolls filled my kitchen with warmth and love.

All of us have been friends, in and out of church.  Rhonda's boys are about the same age as my girls and we traveled down the halls of grammar school together with them.  Mary Jo's son, is training to be in rescue, and a fine one he will be.  

First time I remember meeting Mary Jo many years ago, she was landing in a helicopter.  She was one of those special nurses that fly in medical helicopters transporting trauma patients from vehicle accidents or some other major incident to the nearest hospital.  

But tonight, they were both angels, doing what a church family does best.  And John and I were very thankful for it.  We had a long day.  We had an appointment with our attorney earlier in the day to update our will, living directives, health care power of attorney and a few other documents and to get originals just in case they are needed with my upcoming surgery.

None of these things are issues we want to think about, but if you love your family, you want to make sure you are doing everything you can to make difficult times easier for them.....and for me, just in case.  I feel much better now knowing everything is up to date and John knows what I want, and I know what John wants.

Our attorney is also a friend and he told jokes all the while we were signing our documents.  One joke was about a hospital room filled with patients on respirators.  Every Monday, the patient in the first bed on the left died.  After several weeks, the staff became suspicious and started watching to see what was happening.  The following Monday, the cleaning crew came in, unplugged the respirator by the first bed on the left  and plugged up the vacuum cleaner.

After we finished, his wife joined us and we had lunch together.  He and his wife both went to Carolina, so it always opens the door for the Carolina - NC State rivalry, but with both teams struggling, we could only wish for next year.  Lunch was fine and soon it was time to go.

As Mary Jo and Rhonda were leaving tonight, I thanked them for coming out on a cold, wet night to bring our dinner.  "That's what a church family is for," she said, "that's what we do."

That is what we do.  And I am ever so thankful for it.

PCQ