Sunday, January 6, 2008

Dear God,

I was surprised when the doorbell rang at 7:30 p.m. In my pajamas resting, watching a movie with my dinner on a tray before me, I heard my husband cry out, "Andrea, Andrea, come here. Oh my goodness. Andrea!" I threw on my robe and walked into the entryway. Six youth from our former church stood there along with their pastor. It wasn't Christmas or Easter. It wasn't April when they bring me a handful of daffodils remembering I survived cancer.

At first I didn't recognize any of the kids. Then Erin started beaming. My sweet Erin. I baptized her when she was a baby just days after being adopted by her parents. I hiked the Appalachian Trail with her parents. I counseled both of them at different times. Erin hugged me every Sunday morning and was very sad when I was appointed to another church.

And Nicholas. He was a quiet, reserved little boy. He too smiled. And we hugged.

When I asked the reason for their visit, I was told it was a night of random acts of kindness. They produced two cups of hot chocolate for us. They just came to visit because... It was so wonderful being loved for no reason. It was just a beautiful gift being remembered. The pastor made it clear they did not visit because we were shut in, not yet anyway.

Twenty minutes later as they walked out into the misty rain, Erin shouted back to me, "I love you." And I shouted to all of them. "Love you too."

They left love behind.
All of them.
The two we knew
and the four new ones.
They left love behind.
Yours.

Love, Andrea