Truckton--Out on the Wide, Empty Prairie

Last Saturday I accompanied Jonathan to a new job starting out near Truckton, about 45 minutes from here far out on the open prairie.

He was needing to measure some distances on the lots

 and pound in stakes with address numbers on them.

It was the day after his mother's funeral,

and it just seemed like we needed to go together to work.

I enjoyed the trip in the truck and helping hold the measuring stick while we measured hundreds of feet of measurements out there.  

Out where the prairie dogs disappeared inside their holes as soon as our truck showed up.

Out where the cow path trailed along the fence.

Where, on this side of the road, there was next to nothing except weeds and thistles,

and tumbleweed and cowpies.

And us out under the blue sky.

And God.

There is always God. 

The evening after the funeral when we came home after spending part of the evening with extended family sharing and reading cards to family, the world had suddenly seemed strangely empty without Mama.

Her spot was not little. 

It loomed.

And it was empty. 

Empty and cold.

Death of a close loved one leaves you feeling strangely vulnerable.

The sense was almost frightening, and I had to get hold of myself and remember that God was still here.

We were reminded of this again this week when fresh flowers were delivered to our doorstep from

A Ladybug Floral--a gorgeous arrangement from Mission Helps.

 "When my mother...forsake(s) me, then the Lord will take care of me."

It's amazing how flowers help to fill that spot-letting us know we are not alone, 

letting us know how many friends we have,

how many care. 

That even when a mother is taken away, friends and family are still here, and life goes on--

 

because God is already there!