A friend's diagnosis; losing it
My good friend of twenty years, whom I haven't seen in a long time, came over yesterday. When he greeted me I could barely understand a word he said. Within a few minutes he was able to make it clear to me that he had been diagnosed with ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, often known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. I didn't know much about it except that clearly it was debilitating. He told me that the average life span after diagnosis was two to five years. My old friend.
I told him I'd make him a prayer quilt. Have I talked about them on here before? They're small lap quilts that are tied, rather than quilted, and we bless them in church and then leave them by the door, and as people walk out they say a prayer for the intended recipient and then make a knot in one of the ties as a symbol of their prayers. When everyone has done this we send the quilt to the person it's been blessed for as a tangible sign that they are being held in prayer. It can be a wonderful comfort -- I've talked to people who've received them and they've been so grateful. I hope my friend will feel that way about his.
I'm going to church today, but my heart won't be in it. I'll carry the cross in procession and sing with the choir, but that's all.
Between one thing and another, I'm totally losing it. Daniel's leaving for Mountain View tomorrow and will be gone for a week. Reach out to me, please, if you're reading this? I need some help.
I told him I'd make him a prayer quilt. Have I talked about them on here before? They're small lap quilts that are tied, rather than quilted, and we bless them in church and then leave them by the door, and as people walk out they say a prayer for the intended recipient and then make a knot in one of the ties as a symbol of their prayers. When everyone has done this we send the quilt to the person it's been blessed for as a tangible sign that they are being held in prayer. It can be a wonderful comfort -- I've talked to people who've received them and they've been so grateful. I hope my friend will feel that way about his.
I'm going to church today, but my heart won't be in it. I'll carry the cross in procession and sing with the choir, but that's all.
Between one thing and another, I'm totally losing it. Daniel's leaving for Mountain View tomorrow and will be gone for a week. Reach out to me, please, if you're reading this? I need some help.