Look closely for the baby carrots, but mostly see the smilesof mother, daughter, and grandmother
It was a joy to have a number of family members and some Japanese friends gather in January in Anderson. Somehow I reaped at least a little energy from our grandchildren, Little Ben and Hosanna, that has nourished me since. It was wonderful—except when Hosanna discovered her, “Give me!” voice. High-pitched, insistent, and in only one volume(LOUD), Hosanna’s voice sent me to our bedroom every afternoon for some respite. Also I had to get my ear plugs. It was the only way I could survive.
However one day, I forgot to remove the ear plugs before exiting the bedroom and joining everyone in the main room. Benjamin was the first to notice.
“Coco, why do you have carrots in your ears?” he asked before laughing uproariously at his joke. (He was comparing my ear plugs to the baby carrots with which we kept the refrigerator stocked as a snack food.)
After that, whenever he saw the plugs, he always laughed and asked, “Did you forget your carrots?”
Which is a question the Lord asked me the other day. Well, not exactly. But God did address me clearly—and surely with a smile on his face—“Did you forget me in the midst of everything going on? I’m as close to you as your ear plugs, and you don’t even seem to realize it.”
Yes, I believe that for too many days I’ve forgotten the carrots. They’re as close as “in my ears,” but still I’ve forgotten:
*All the people serving us as the Lord’s hand and feet through providing meals a couple of times a week;
*All those praying faithfully for us and believing in God’s miracles as together we walk this cancer journey;
*That God never changes, no matter what medical tests discover; and,
*That He is always worthy of my praise.
Open my eyes once again, Lord, that I may see you and experience you afresh in this day. Thank you for reminding me about the carrots.
