Walk

It was communion day at our church service. Lisa knows when it is communion and brings her wheelchair for the purpose of going up to communion. It is a long walk. For those of you who don't do this in your churches, we go up to the front of the altar and we get blessed and partake in wafers and tiny wine cups that represent Christ's body and blood. I have been in churches where the wafers and juice are brought to you and you are sitting down when you take communion. It is unique how each church does this...but anyway...

Lisa walked up to communion...like I said, it was a long way. Karen did not walk in front of her, or beside her. She walked behind her. Lisa walked the whole entire way and she was proud. As I watched her walking up, I got teary eyed. I thought to myself of just how far she has come. She never gave up. Dad was sitting behind me and remarked how tired she must be.

On her way back from communion, she walked ever so slow, and Chase and Michele giggled. Chase leans over to me and said, "Mom, Aunt Lisa is holding up the line, look at all those people behind her!" I smiled and thought to myself...no, she isn't holding up the line, she is leading the parade!

I had a conversation with Lisa, just a couple of days ago. She told me that she wished she didn't have just one hand. I reminded her that some people don't have any and that she is lucky to be alive. She told me she did not want to die. I asked her if she remembers that she almost did and if she remembers us squeezing her hand when she was so sick she couldn't talk. She says she does. I don't know.

All I can tell you is that I was so proud of her and her walk to take communion. All those people who walked behind her, had no idea why they were walking so slow, they had no idea that the lady who was in front of them was taking her triumphant walk and that they were privileged to be there with her. They have no idea.

Her family does. I still get teary thinking about how far she has come, and I thank God for that :)