Have you ever struggled and found yourself speaking what you
longed for out loud? If you have then you are like Naomi. And like Naomi at the
time she made this statement which to me sounds like a promise, I wonder if she
gave any thought as to how she could achieve her goal. I know that when I made
similar promises to myself I found that I sometimes lacked the resolve or
ability to accomplish what I committed to. Perhaps that has been your lot to. If
so, I hope today’s post allows you to see hidden options within whatever you
are facing.
Until we meet again, I pray that God
Blesses YOU!
The Text
News of Tía’s passing brought all who
knew her to visit the house. The door to the casa was seldom still. Many came the
day she died. Others paid their respects during the six days that followed.
Life for Naomi and those in the little barrio of Spanish Harlem that extended
into the surrounding suburbs changed. Everyone felt the disruption.
Although people had seldom visited the casa before, it seemed that they now
traveled hours to pay their respects to her family, of which Naomi was the sole
representative. Those who knew her before marveled at the change they saw in
the young woman’s bearing and demeanor. Many who came identified themselves to
her as a member of Las Niñas. Each woman would say no more than this as they
reached into their purse or pocket and handed her a small wad of money or a few
coins. Naomi was shocked that anyone would think of money during such a time.
One woman noticed her look of disdain and pulled her aside. “Listen, this is
not for you,” Justine said. “It is to continue the work for the niñas. Comprendes?”
“Sí.”
It appeared to Justine that Naomi did
not know what she meant when she said “yes” so she insisted, “Come, I will show
you!” She took Naomi to the office, closed the door, pulled out the blue
companion volume to The Book of the
Tías, and placed it in Naomi’s hands. “Open it.” Naomi opened the book
and saw columns of names and numbers. She looked up with tears in her eyes,
aware that she was finally grieving her loss. She was unable to speak. Sensing
this Tía’s state of mind, Justine explained, “We all paid. Each month after we left, we all gave a
little so others could have a good life. But you are her chosen one. I
fear you will pay with all of your life rather than a few coins here and a
dollar or two there as we have. May God bless you, my sister, for continuing
Tía’s work.” Naomi forced a wan smile.
“I live only a few blocks from here.”
Justine picked up Tía’s phonebook and pointed to an entry. “Here, this is my
phone number. Call me whenever you need my assistance. I will help you as I did
our tía. And always remember that our tía said, we would
become a blessing.” She turned, reached the threshold, and realized that Naomi
had not budged. Since Maria was staying at the casa for a few
weeks, Justine opened her mouth to call her. Before she uttered a syllable, she
thought of all this Tía’s life of service entailed, decided to befriend
her, and asked, “How can I help you?”
Naomi blinked but did not respond. She
took Naomi outside and settled her by the fountain. Naomi looked at her surroundings
and hoped they would prove as restorative as they had in the past. However, she
was unable to relax and fiddled with a loose thread from her sweater while her
agitation mounted. Justine noticed her behavior. “Be at ease. It is two
o’clock. People are working, busy with their children, or cooking dinner. No
one will come to visit until this evening. Rest. I will bring you something to
eat and drink. Then you must sleep. I will stay the night, as I told mi esposo, Bobby, I would.”
Naomi nodded, grateful to yield to the
woman’s care. Freeing her mind as best she could, she leaned back into the arms
of the wicker chair. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Confronted by
sorrows that haunted her, she silently admitted, Madre Vida died before my training was
completed. The very
morning she died my adoption papers and my citizenship papers arrived in the
mail. But there was no one to thank or to share the moment with. Finally relaxed enough to think
of other things, she listened to the birds chirping, closed her eyes, and
thought, The sunlight
filtering through the trees does feel nice. She breathed
in the sweet smell of newly mown grass, remembered Spain America and needing to feel safe, she told
herself, These things
could not happen to me here, not in America
For
me, the biggest blessing is found in Romans 5:8 for it says; But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we
were still sinners, Christ died for
us.
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