Not Quite Right

There's something not quite right with the world today, my friend Helen is no longer here; she joined The Church Triumphant on Tuesday. Today she will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband, Marvin. I can only imagine how joyful the reunion in Heaven must be; for the two of them, and for Helen's precious loved ones who are waiting for her there. Helen was one of the very first people I ever met when we moved to Puerto Rico in 1995. She and Marv welcomed us into Grace Lutheran Church in Santurce, that's the way Helen always was; warm and welcoming, and it's the way she lived her life. When I began teaching beginning quiltmaking classes from our home there, in the winter of 1996, guess who the first one was to sign up? She recruited others and helped them to procure their supplies as well. Helen embodied the spirit of hospitality. She was quick to invite and always happy to offer herself in any way that was needed: a car ride, a meal, a phone call, a visit, a hug, a prayer... you could count on Helen. We used to laugh together over our "plight", being residents of the Island of Not Quite Right... the nickname she gave to Puerto Rico. Don't get me wrong, it's an absolutely lovely place to visit. Living there, day to day, can be another story all together. This is Helen in 1996, holding her quilt that she named, what else: "Not Quite Right!" My heart is heavy today; please join me in prayer for her family, I can only imagine how deeply they are grieving now. I am thankful for the happy memories of Helen and the joy and love that she spread so easily... in a way that was always, absolutely,  just PERFECTLY right!

Life is Good!