Francy's New Morning

  Steve and Samaritan's Purse volunteers surprising my daughter with her finished room. October 29 th is the anniversary I never forget. Not my wedding day, but the day of the biggest storm to pummel our city of Long Beach in 2012. Stepping on crunching leaves and smelling the crisp fall air sweeps up memories of all the days that followed Superstorm Sandy. We lost a lot in one day. Flooding destroyed our home. We had to rip up floors and gut the walls to prevent mold growth, and we tossed out everything wet, from furniture to photos and paintings and clothes. Our boiler was submerged, so we didn’t have heat or hot water. Gene and I had five kids and my mother-in-law to worry about. Hopelessness felt endless as if our home would never be the same.   One year later as we still walked on plywood floors, Tall Steve showed up with Samaritan’s Purse volunteers and his huge smile. He was one of the team leaders whose mission was not only to help people rebuild their homes, but to...

Someone says: It’s beginning to drizzle. Is drizzle past the point of beginning after one minute or five? After how many raindrops is rain past the point of beginning? Pearls of water trickle down a window; It’s raining.                        Like everyone, we blinked, and our plans were changed. We went from telling our son he could take the train home for spring break to texting him we were on our way to pick him up. New York colleges had closed for the rest of the semester.   When Gene and I drove upstate to New Paltz University, we had no idea Elijah was sick until we called him to tell him we were there.   “He-ll-o.” Elijah’s voice sounded stuffy and sleepy as if he just woke up.   “Are you sick? You sound sick.” We expected him to say no, he just fell asleep for a while. Blame it on dorm life. ...

UNWRAPPING LOVE By Frances Judge If love were wrapped in golden paper, tied with silken strings, It couldn’t reach around the world Or open up its wings. Love isn’t placed on pedestals, positioned for display; It needs the flexibility Of a potter’s clay. Love doesn’t need embellishment to prove its fortitude; Its strength is in its meekness And forgiving attitude. Love risks its life and swims the depths to save a drowning friend, But Christ risked all for enemies, And who can comprehend? So love was wrapped in swaddling clothes and destined once to die; Christ would pay the sacrifice, God’s love, exemplified. He didn’t wear His royal robes though he was born a king; He wore the love His Father gave Of which the angels sing. Love doesn’t wait for storms to stop to cross the swirling seas; Jesus walked across the water, Turned tempest into breeze. Love washes feet, love heals the blind, lov...