Reflective Questions
1. Have you ever fallen asleep and
awakened to a new reality?
2. Have you ever pledged
yourself to a cause higher than yourself, to a spouse in marriage, a child, or
a person in need and found your wants, plans and desires diminished by that
commitment?
3. Have you done so willingly or
did the situation you faced require you to choose something you had not ever
considered before.
The Text
Since the day she slept in the garden after Madre Vida’s death, she had kept
her secrets. Now as she sat in the garden, watching Justine and Bobby with
their children, and Maria with her husband and two stepsons, she was at peace. Only in America
Naomi smiled at him. “Roberto, I have always loved you.”
“But, Tía, remember it was right here on your patio!” Roberto stomped his foot
for emphasis. “My mother has a picture of it taken on my third birthday when I
was still a little boy.”
“I remember that birthday. I was sitting on this very chair and you came up to
me, lifted your arms, and hurled yourself into mine. I caught you and said,
‘My, what a fine bebé you are, my Roberto.’ But that was
a long time ago.” She tousled his curly hair. “Now you are a big boy, six years
old.”
“Sí, I am un hombre.”
“I can see that you are!”
“Look, Tía!” Julie twirled around the patio on her toes like a ballerina. “Look at what I can do.”
“Every Sunday the same old stuff.” Alex picked up his mother’s car keys and
headed for the door.
“Alex, these comments of yours are not necessary,” Justine called after him. “Apologize
at once!”
Alex held his head high while his eyes glared with all the machismo pride he could muster. “Sorry,
Tía, it’s not your fault you have so many bambinos around.”
“I give up!” Justine looked at Carl and Miguel to see if they heard Alex’s
comments. “What is a mother to do? He is too old to spank, taller than me by a
head, and running wild as can be.”
“Now calm yourself,” Naomi chided. “He is a man. It is hard for him to be
around the little ones all day long. Relax, Carlos and Maria’s boys are too far
away to hear what he said. Besides, Alex is a good person. Do not worry, he
will be—”
“I know,” Justine and Maria interrupted, “a blessing.”
“A blessing—who wants to be a blessing?” Alex stormed out of the casa.
Maria and Justine looked at Naomi.
“Let’s pray,” Maria suggested. The two of them bowed their heads and prayed.
Naomi stood and cleared the table. What
a blessing to have this family, she
thought, as she did every Sunday, truly
a gift from God. If the others had realized she was not praying with them,
they would not have thought it odd. For they knew it was her inner strength and
capabilities that placed her in the position Tía had trained her to fill. They,
as all who lived in the barrio, were aware of Naomi’s ceaseless
efforts to enlarge her ability to assist those in need, not just at
immigration, but also within their community.
Many had heard her say, when giving someone a hand without making it feel like
a handout, “Today I help you. Mañana you will help someone else.”
Usually those in need would hear this and stare at her as if she were crazy.
She would smile, pull out the little green book from the oversized black purse
she had inherited from Madre Vida, open
it, and have the person sign a pledge that he or she would do just what they
said when the time came. Once they had done as she asked, Naomi
would put the book in her purse, look the person in the eye, and
ask, “Comprendes?” Then she would wait until they said, “Si,
comprendo.”
Those who watched her do this with the most down and out reprobates laughed
behind her back. Yet over the years, stories had come back to her, some in
letters, and some as one hears news through the network of the niñas, who were married or in business.
Each time a story would reach her ears, she would smile and remind herself, You will be a blessing! A curse can
become a blessing. Her smile would light up her inner most being, and she
would think about all that happened to bringher to this place and tell her
heart, What a blessing it is
that Madre Vida chose me and gave me this life of purpose. Then that unexplainable feeling
would cross her mind once more, and she would wonder if God had not brought her
to immigration, into Tía’s care and to Casa
de Vida for such a time as
this.
Scripture and Authors Question
Psalm 65:4 says, Blessed
are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with
the good things of your house, of your holy temple.
Do you know that you, like Naomi, have been chosen? do you know that your sins cab be forgiven? If you doubt me, a reading of Psalm 65: 3 will convince you, for
it says, When we were
overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our
transgressions.
Our sins will be forgiven when we ask Messiah Yeshua to forgive them for he is the only sacrifice that a
righteous and Holy God can accept. If you haven’t yet claimed him as you
Kippur, do so today!
Until we meet again, may Messiah’s
blessings be yours.
Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing Book
One
www.Amazon.com
www.PaulaWordsmith.com
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