I Want to Hold Your Hand and Writing Assignment #36 - Holidays

An interesting side effect of living alone is the realization of how much you can actually miss the human touch.  I mean I communicate all day long via social media and phone conversations but none of that equals the satisfaction of a heartfelt touch.

I looked at my hand the other day, wiggled my fingers, sighed and whispered to the air “Oh Dale, I wish I could just feel your hand on mine!  I miss that!”

And I heard his voice say in a quiet but earnest tone, “Oh how much I miss that too!”

How very odd that I hadn’t thought of that before.  Perhaps I just think that he is in a better place and things are all pretty wonderful. And…I’m sure they are, he’s not in pain any longer, and he’s with a society filled with his family and ancestors that he learned to respect and love throughout his life because of their great stories of faith and courage. But of course, and it seems so obvious, now that I think about it, he can’t touch me any more than I can touch him!  I backed off from feeling sorry for myself and began embracing the loss that he is experiencing and wishing I could comfort him.

It made me wonder what else he is missing.  What else can we do on earth that a spirit who once lived and worked and loved and played here can’t do now?

There were so many things he loved here.  Things that I know he didn’t take with him because I had to deal with them after he died!  Through many tears and hard work I either gave them to loved ones, donated them to those who were in need or kept them for my own need to feel close to him.  But the fact remains, he didn’t take even one of those treasured things with him! 

I remember walking through the Metropolitan Museum in New York City seeing the exhibits and collections of treasures that had been placed in burial chambers of ancient kings to accompany them to the afterlife.  Since I was walking by these items thousands of years later and thousands of miles from where they had been placed in the burial chambers but removed for protection from looters or the ravages of time, it was fairly clear to me that the kings had not actually taken those opulent and treasured belongings with them into the afterlife either.

So what did they take?  What do we take from this life?

I don’t believe that “things” are that important to Dale now. But wanting to bounce a little grandson on his knee or swing him up onto his shoulders for a ride or to feel the sweet kiss of his precious granddaughter or get a hug from his all-grown-up son who is a man now, or giving aid to someone less fortunate, or as I felt that morning, just holding my hand; these are precious earthly things that can only be experienced here with our mortal ability to reach out and touch.

Those chances to touch and to experience life, to learn, to make choices and grow, to give of ourselves and become who we knew we could be before we came here.  These are all earthly delights to be treasured and enjoyed here.

My mind seemed to open up to other concepts.

I felt like regardless of how much time we have here that we shouldn’t spend it simply “enduring to the end” although that is important. The idea is not simply getting to the other side, it’s getting as much out of life (and I’m not talking about adventure per se but learning and giving and developing and understanding) as much as we can, right up to our final days.

So how do I do that? I pondered.  And then it occurred to me that I do and have for as long as I can remember, make a To-Do list each night for the following day.  I realized that the majority of the entries, although important and extremely necessary are things that are required to "survive" and just a few things were written in that would fit into the category of "to thrive".  So I decided I would make a division on my daily To-Do list.  One titled "Survive" and one titled "Thrive".  

In my mind’s eye I saw myself packing my bags for a trip to heaven. Not with earthly treasures but with experiences, knowledge, good works and wisdom joyfully obtained right up to the very end. Filling each invisible valise with the many real treasures of life, including the sweet memory that was the absolute joy of simply....holding hands. 

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WRITING ASSIGNMENT #36 - HOLIDAYS

Describe how Holidays were spent in your childhood home.

The sights, the sounds, the smells, the tastes the activities, the worship.  Who all were there? What did the holiday mean to you?

Describe how Holidays are spent in your home now.  What do you do in your home today that reflects (or rejects) this childhood experience? (Don't forget to express why)

Tell of your most memorable Christmas and New Years and Thanksgiving.  And don't forget National Holidays and birthdays!

Have fun with this one!