The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit. ~John 3:8
The photo above depicts a Maine buoy bell that my parents added to their spacious, screened-in porch ages ago. Mom loved hearing its deep, resonating tone when the wind blew. It reminded her of her childhood, growing up near the ocean, and hearing the harbor buoys in the distance, tolling in the choppy waves. When a thunderstorm was brewing, Mom would head for the porch and wait expectantly for the powerful downdraft that would set this bell ringing loud and clear.
The week of Mom's passing, Danny and I receive an unexpected gift from son, Giovanni, and his wife, Hope. It is this unique wind chime that takes only a breath of air to stir its haunting, echoing melody.
Oh, how this thoughtful gift touches the both of us! These two couldn't have known about Mom's lifelong love for the wind and chimes, yet this is the gift Hope and Giovanni choose to send to Danny and me in her memory.
And for all of us who have ever lost a loved one, we know that in their parting, they have taken a piece of our hearts with them, one we will recover only when, one day, we are reunited in heaven.
In the meantime, I can sit on our deck, and hear the chimes, reminding me of all the good memories I cherish of my mother, and the long and blessed years we had together as a family.
Amen!
What a beautiful thoughtful gift, Martha. Whenever it chimes it will remind you, once more, of your Mom; and to thank God for giving you the best Mom in the world. As it chimes, she looks down on you with pride and immense love.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, my friend.
Yes, this certainly was such a thoughtful and heartfelt gift, Victor, and one I will treasure just as I treasure memories of my mother.
DeleteLove and blessings!
What a lovely reminder, Martha.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, it is, Glynn.
DeleteLove and blessings!
What a great reminder Martha. About 2 weeks ago I reached into my file cabinet and saw a notebook I had set there years ago. It was my mom's thoughts. I took almost an hour to read them. IT was a great way to remember her love for Jesus and her desire to follow Him. You will always have your mom's love close by with this gift.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a wonderful find you so recently came across, Bill, in your mother's writing. Such a gift to cherish and a reminder of her great love for Jesus and for her children! Yes, I will treasure these chimes and what they represent.
DeleteLove and blessings!
How very thoughful of Giovanni and Hope! What providence led them to choose this, I wonder.
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of a buoy bell, but want to look on-line to see if there's not an audio clip.
Wishing you and Danny a blessed weekend!
I'm sure you can find an audio clip, Myra. Making these bells is actually a fairly thriving endeavor by what I could find out. And yes, this was truly a thoughtful and inspired gift. No doubt, God had His hand in all of this.
DeleteLove and blessings!
That is the most thoughtful gift ever. I know I've shared pictures of the windchime we have in memory of our son. Just the other day I stepped out on the back porch for a moment to watch the birds, and a little breeze started up and that windchime started chiming just as I passed by. I smiled to myself and a little tear slipped down my cheek as I thanked the Lord for that little love message from heaven from our son. That's how I felt it to be...and I know you will do the same when you hear your windchime ring. May the Lord continue to bless you with pleasant and sweet memories. (((hugs)))
ReplyDeleteOh, Pamela, what a sweet and touching experience you have shared here, one that brings back lovely memories of your son, Matthew. I'm sure this chime will work the same for me, as it already has. It certainly IS a love message from heaven, and I'm sure that both of us will continue to have both memories and tears.
DeleteLove and blessings!
And has your mom's buoy bell found a new home with you and Mr. Danny also? I think the combination of that and the chime would create some wonderful feelings, emotions, and memories for you both. I think the most difficult part of losing a loved one to heaven is having to dispose of their earthly things. The most cherished part is know we'll see them again as we work through the memories associated with each article. God's blessings my friends.
ReplyDeleteJ. D., I hadn't yet discussed this with Danny, and there is also my brother to consider. He now lives near the coast in Brunswick, GA, and this bell may be better suited to his home. I have a lot of faults, but one is not needing to hang onto earthly things. If my brother wants this, I'd give it to him in a heartbeat.
DeleteAnd yes, I'm not looking forward to having dispose of clothing, nick-nacks, and other items, but in time, all will get done.
Love and blessings!
Boa noite. Sei que Deus sempre deixará esse amor maravilhoso em seu coração. Bom final de semana e com muita saúde.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Luiz, for your kind, encouraging words.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Dearest Martha Jane,
ReplyDeleteYes, each time we had to say goodbye to a loved one, is like a small piece of our heart was dying... We have said many goodbyes to our Parents and it hurts; yes but we trusted in whatever will happen meanwhile, we certainly will be reunited in heaven! That is a powerful solace for carrying us over the years and for sustaining the fond and sweet memories.
Lovely gift and very thoughtful!
Hugs,
Mariette
Yes, Mariette, losing our parents and others we love so much does hurt, but knowing we will see them again one day brings so much hope and comfort.
DeleteLove and blessings!
💞
Delete:)
DeleteWhat a beautiful son and daughter-in-law you must have. Every time you hear the music, from your beautiful chime on the beeze you will think of your mom and the precious couple who knew your heart and love for your mother. Love and God Bless
ReplyDeleteI can't agree with you more, Nells, that Giovanni and Hope are two very thoughtful, caring people. I am so blessed to have them in my life, and in Danny's.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Beautiful 😍
ReplyDeleteThank you, Regine!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Hugs
ReplyDeleteThanks! I sure could use some, my friend.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Martha, this is beautifully written, a lovely gift, and a precious way to remember your mother.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Karen, for your kind words here.
DeleteLove and blessings!
God's ways are past finding out and are higher, wiser more loving than we dare to hope, Martha.. timing perfectly the gift.. Who else but a loving Father God.
ReplyDeletePraise Him.. love too Martha, your teachable heart in this new stage of your life. Losing one parent is hard but suddenly or so I found, losing the second ever so hard. Praying for you as griefs stages are so varied and unexpected. However through it all our Father is Abba indeed in every way.. at the right moment and time.
Thanks for sharing, and may God bless and keep you and all whom you love safe and well.
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz. X
{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}
Thank you so much for your prayers, Shaz. Yes, I must agree with you that losing the second parent has a sobering finality that hits one's heart like a rock. But I'm resting in the Lord, knowing that His plans are always best, and He will see us all through this time.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Oh, I love this gift! So thoughtful and proof that the Holy Spirit uses others to shower us with His love and comfort.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Beckie, He does! May we never lose sight of that truth and mercy.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Slow getting to this one, Martha, but love the way the gift touched you in ways the give may not have suspected it would. My wife is a great lover of wind chimes, too, and we've had one close by for most of our years together. It's uplifting to have a fresh realization that simple sounds can be powerful memory triggers and a springboard for reminding us of spiritual truths we might tend to overlook.
ReplyDeleteChimes do have a wonderful way of stirring our minds and hearts, Ron, and I'm so thankful for this gift from Giovanni and Hope. I'm glad to know, too, that your wife is a fan of windchimes. How delightful!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Beautiful gift and a beautiful gesture. I love wind chimes.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Diane, and thanks for stopping by!
DeleteLove and blessings!
What a beautiful and very tohughtful gift. I love the story of your mom. THanks for sharing her here with us.
ReplyDeleteYes, a thoughtful gift, indeed. Glad you enjoyed the story, too.
DeleteLove and blessings!