Time is short. Attention is needed. Some nights are long, loud, and test the patience of us all. One night in particular, each week, we are hard-pressed for time, attention, and patience.
For the past school year Thursday nights had been particularly challenging for us. Ella had two therapy sessions this day each week...one in the early morning and one in the mid to late afternoon. Lindsay juggled the three kids between school and therapies in the morning only to get home and feed them their lunch. Often, because of the timing of Ella's afternoon therapy, Lindsay would have her either skip nap or wake up early (never a good idea to get a 3-year old up before she's ready).
By the time I would get home from school I could tell Lindsay was frazzled from the demands of the day. Sometimes one of us would have a personal appointment we'd have to attend to top it off.
Dinner. Bath. Stories. Bedtime. The end of the day doesn't provide much energy for these tasks, and frankly speaking, handling a child with SMA all day is exhausting, to say the least.
A dear, sweet person by the name of Sue came into our lives through my work. I taught one of her boys. She is a kind-hearted woman with a sense about her that speaks to how well she raises her own 5 children.
Sue put together a meal provider group for the "dreaded Thursdays" for us. She elicited the help of many people in her community; the community in which I teach. Each week, without fail, we were provided a nutritious, delicious meal. Each week we knew that one major item off our "to-do list" was taken care of. Each week we talked with our kids, while we ate, about the kindness and generosity of people in the world. They grew accustomed to me bringing home a "special meal from a Lincoln Family".
"It's what we can do" said Sue when I saw her last and thanked her for caring enough about us to put forth the effort to provide for our family, along with so many others.
'It's what we can do'; simple words spoken by a person who looks beyond herself. Spoken by a person who seeks the good in what she has to offer; and through her actions teaches not only her own children what it means to be compassionate, but elicits others to do so as well.
Those who signed up to help graced us with their culinary talents. They brought to us notes of encouragement along with the love of a meal meant just for us. Those who provided a meal provided more than just food for our bodies, they gave us food for our souls. Those, who found it in their hearts to help lift the burden that we carry with us daily, have made an everlasting impression on our family.
As Lindsay and I take each day as it comes, as we tackle SMA as it thrusts itself into our lives relentlessly, as we recognize that there is something bigger at work here, we find ourselves grateful that there are people like Sue, and the many families who joined with her, to provide our family with a meal.
We are grateful that God has placed them into our lives...thankful...to say the least.
