It was an extremely rare, cold, Fall day in Florida. Shivering from head to toe, I was standing outside the Cancer Center, waiting for my brother’s car to be brought down from the garage. A Grandma-Grandpa couple, leaning on each other, braved the cold and stood beside me. Immediately, they captivated my heart.
The Grandma brought flashbacks of my own Grandma. Her calico farm dress and hand knit sweater could have come out of my Grandma’s armoire. I’m not a betting woman, but I’d wager her nylons were rolled over a garter. There was a pure, of this earth, grace about her. Her husband was bundled in an over-size farm jacket. However, there was not a doubt in my mind that his country britches were suspender adorned. Standing side by side, they were a refreshing breath of life, rooted in sowing and reaping crops of seed-sprouted, soul food nourishment – as opposed to present day manufactured take-out for sole convenience.
Noticing their chilled to the bone bodies, the volunteer doorman walked to their side and suggested they might want to wander about thirty feet and stand under the outdoor heater, while waiting for their vehicle. The Grandma’s eyes popped wide open, and in amazement she declared that while she had once seen this rare invention on TV, she had never seen one in person. She was thrilled and up to the short jaunt to examine the phenomenon in person. Her husband, too frail to walk even one step beyond necessity, released his grip on her arm and told her to go see it for herself. The steel bollard, on which the handicap door switch rested, filled in as his lean on crutch.
My eyes and heart followed Grandma as she ventured into exploring the marvel of this big city, luxury innovation. She was like a youngster visiting a candy store. Awe, amazement and appreciation burst forth from the core of her being. What I take for granted became God granting her the blessing of experiencing the miracle of finding warmth in a very cold world. A tear trickled down my cheek as I realized the true miracle was this Grandma and not the outdoor heater.
Grandma didn’t dally under the heater. That would have been selfish, and she was rooted in selfless. Eager to share her exploration and committed to resume supporting her husband, Grandma quick stepped back to her better half. As she recommenced her support position for her loved one, she exuberantly exclaimed “that contraption makes you downright warm.”. Grimacing in pain, near collapsing in weakness but grateful in heart and soul, the cancer-stricken Grandpa avowed, “everything and everyone at Moffitt makes you warm.”.
No longer do I find myself making weekly trips to Moffitt Cancer Center; but forever, a part of my life’s journey will be warmed by the many children of God who crossed my path during my visits there with my brother. They, each and every one, melted the cold of our world, too often, frozen in ice.
Uplifted in a Broken Down World 