September 30, 2019
Just like everyone, I have a story to tell. Life is full of triumphs and disappointments and I've had both. Friends sometimes say, you should write a book or start a blog but I wouldn't know where the story begins or certainly where it ends.
I CAN write about this little sign that hangs over my bathtub. It's a nice big soaker tub and I'm a serious bather, it's my most frequent form of self care... bubbles and a good long soak can perk me right up.
In the fall of 2015 my life had fallen apart. I was filled with anxiety about my future, about my kids and about money. I was trying to keep things as normal as possible for the kids so on a Saturday morning in November, I took Cora to the Harrison craft show. We had just a few dollars to spend and I was surprised there was an entrance fee which cut further into our tiny budget. She got a few candies and baubles but there was really no money left. I saw this little handmade sign and knew I could not afford it but as it was the only one on the table not priced so I asked the bored teenager what the cost was and he said, "I don't know, $5". Five dollars I could do and felt like I'd won the lottery because surely this teen had no idea. So I took it home and hung it over my bathtub and mediated on it's message day after day. It was so soothing to just let it go... the hurt, the anger, the fear... all of it. The message was simple yet so meaningful to me.
But, there was another, unexpected, message the sign began to represent. It was a gift, a gift that the kid had no idea but threw out a number I could afford. The thing was, it was just one gift of the MANY, MANY gifts that came to me during that season of my life. You see, in my darkest hour, it seemed the entire world turned toward me with love and grace. All of humanity was shining on me when I had no light inside.
My family, my friends and complete strangers conspired to show me day after day that I was going to be ok. There are so many stories of grace I would break Facebook writing them out. The anonymous envelopes of cash and gift cards in the mailbox, the tabs paid at restaurants, the notes of encouragement, the help finding a job, the love shown my children and so much more. One Saturday morning in December of that year, I was alone at home and a woman I'd never seen before (or since) knocked on my door and asked was I Lynn Wood I said yes and she starting bringing bag after bag of groceries to the door and handed me an envelope of cash. I tried to explain that I was okay, it wasn't necessary and she said, "I was just told to drop this here, I don't know anything." and she left.
The little (and big) bits of encouragement came week after week for months. These gifts helped sustain my family in a very practical way but more than that, they sustained my spirit. I was going to be okay.
The sign, because I was able to buy it, felt like one of those gifts and to this day, every day, I get in the tub stare at this sign and think of all the grace that has been extended to me. I'm so grateful to have made it through the dark hours with knowledge of how wonderful people are and how if you think on it long enough, you can just let it go... even if for just a little while!
Someone out there made this sign and I hope they weren't disappointed when they find out how much their son sold it for because it has meant so much to me. Whoever you are, I thank you and your son. You are part of a long list of people who buoyed my spirit and got me through that long, dark year.