I.
“Martha?”
“I’m Margaret. My daughter is Martha.”
“Martha went to Nanna when she was little?”
“Oh, yes. How is Nanna?”
“She’s at Garden View. She’s with it some days and not on others, but she remembers all her babies.”
I put my hand on my heart. “I wish I could visit her, but…”
“You’re a religious person, aren’t you?” asks G. “I think this virus is like the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert. He’s telling us something.”
I tear up. “That makes me want to cry.” I move my cart farther down the aisle and fight off the tears my body wants to shed.
II.
At the garden store, I talk with the clerk who has children at our school. He says, “I just wish they hadn’t closed the schools.”
I respond, “I understand that kids don’t get it but are prime carriers. They had to close them.”
“But my son is special ed, and he can’t read. I can’t give him the help he needs.”
I preach my teacher-talk, “Just read to him. Read with him. Read.”
“That’s just it. I can’t read. I have dyslexia.”
Hand back on my heart.
Reflections on the Teche 
Oh my heart! If this guy has a computer – send him to all the wonderful authors who are on line reading their stories. They can enjoy them together!
Great idea.
These touch the heart so powerfully. I once heard that we are shown the needs of others so that we know who and what to pray for. Thank you for showing me who and what I can pray for.
My heart, too. Just like yours. I am sure these are conversations all over … gosh. What can you say? You said what you needed to say. Words are not enough and yet, for this, it’s all we have.
Peace,
Kevin
So many stories. I find myself close to tears often at the oddest things–a story, a thank you e-mail from a parent, a video of flowers blooming…so many stories…
Oh! The mother who can’t read to him. My heart! You capture these moments vividly. I feel the emotion as I read. I, too, “fight off the tears my body wants to shed.” Funny how much the children ground me. I miss them & it’s March Break here. Normally this week would be a much-needed respite; this year it feels like a nail-biting game of Patience.
Oh, Margaret, both stories are heartbreaking and sadly, I think they will become so common. Also, I have nominated this post for the prize today.
What prize?
They are giving prizes throughout the month instead of all at the end. I nominated you for the “post that brought you to tears.” It is on the page today. One for making you laugh too.
Leigh Ann is right. This one should be a bring you to tears nomination. There are so many struggles we’re going to keep hearing about and navigating through. Hand on heart for sure.
Beautifully retold. Our hands are on our hearts as we read.
Oh wow. That final story is so powerful and hard.