Sarah agreed. Tom asked Grandma Sparkle what she was going to do now. “Well, I need to go to see physical therapists to help me learn to use a walker and later I’ll get a boot placed on my foot. Since I’ll be quite stationary, I think that I will get a computer and have Sarah show me how to use it. Then I’ll write a book. I only need to use it like a typewriter and to erase my mistakes without rewriting the whole page.”
Sarah was dumbfounded. What would Grandma do next? “Of course, I will help you,” she said. “But what will you write about?”
“I’m write about my experiences, of course. The beginning of my book will say “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.” It’s from Jeremiah 29:11.” Grandma Sparkle paused.
“Then I’ll talk about happiness. What is happiness? Does it come from inside or outside of ourselves? Or is it a combination of blessings or contentment with our circumstances? Is it waking up in your own home with a smile on your face for a new day? Or sitting down with relatives and friends gathered around a feast of food? Is it a feeling of rejoicing when you have helped someone and they appreciate it? Is it a feeling of accomplishment when you won a race or finished a sewing project? Was it adrenaline that made you take on the world or a feeling of being safe? Is it the feeling that you will have enough food and the things that give you the freedom from want? Is it the absence of pain? If you never felt pain, would you ever appreciate happiness of pain relieved? Or is it a two way street? Does pain removed make you appreciate happiness more? Does having limited food supplies make you appreciate a good meal with family more? Is happiness just being with family and friends? I don’t have all the answers but I can tell about my experiences.”
Happiness is an abundance of food when you are starving. Happiness is shelter in a clean environment when you don’t have it. Happiness is the relief of pain when you are hurting. Happiness is a shower or bath with clean clothes when all you have is the clothes you are wearing. Happiness is a good book when you have none. Happiness is peace when you worry.
Do you think that I could write a book called “Ten Days Without Happiness?” Opal asked. I asked, “Why me, Lord.” I was angry. I hurt. I tried to bargain with God and told Him that I would do whatever He wanted me to do if He sent a rescuer. I was depressed.”
Opal continued, “But I had happiness when I released the negative things to Him. I had Happiness because God was there. He was there in the nature all around me. He was there in the presence of unconditional love shown in the hug of a small child who trusted me. He was inside me in the assurance of eternal life through faith in Jesus when life for me ends. I even have the assurance that I will be with Mark again.”
Sarah didn’t know what to say. She just knelt down and hugged her Grandma Sparkle. “I love you Grandma,” she whispered.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Tom called Sarah every day after Grandma Sparkle had returned home and asked about her. Sarah said that Grandma was doing well. Sarah stayed with her and drove her to the physical therapist three times a week. Last week, she also had a doctor’s appointment. He said that the bones were aligned and appeared to be healing well.
The next time that Tom arrived at Grandma’s house he saw a woman in a recliner with a desk top computer on her lap, writing away on the computer.
“What is this?” Tom pointed to the white leaf that said “Peace Tree” on it. Sarah laughed before she answered. “Grandma drew around a sycamore leaf from the Peace Tree in Harvey. She plans to applique them to pot holders and other things in her house so we will think ‘Peace.’ I know that she will tell the stories about the Peace Tree that is now in Lake Red Rock where Indians made Peace Treaties. She will also tell the story about the sycamore Peace Trees planted in the National Cemeteries.”
When Susan returned from work, Sarah helped her make supper while Grandma Sparkle read a story to Jessica. Apparently the routine was that Sarah helped Grandma Sparkle during the day while Jessica went to the babysitter Michelle’s house and played with Billy. When Susan returned from work, it was Opal’s time with Jessica while the two grand daughters made the evening meal. Tom felt he was in the way so he asked permission to check Grandma’s books on mining.
When Sarah was finished with dishes, she left with Tom to go to Knoxville to the races. “How is she really doing?”he asked.
“She is happy. Grandma lost thirty pounds. She didn’t mind it too much but felt that she did it the hard way. She sure likes me to fix her meals now. I offered to stay with Grandma, Susan and Jessica until college classes resume for the fall term. Everything seems so peaceful now. Grandma Sparkle is even going to write a book about her experiences.”
When Tom took Sarah back to Grandma Sparkles house, they stopped by the front door, but instead of waiting for Tom to open the door; Sarah unbuckled the seat belt and threw her arms around Tom. She whispered in his ear. “Isn’t it wonderful!!”
She suddenly felt whole again. The missing part of her life was found.
“Well, I think that you are wonderful.” Tom said.
“I don’t mean us, I mean that Grandma Sparkle and Jessica are here.”
“You don’t think that we are wonderful together?” Tom teased.
“Well, I do but I haven’t been thinking of you much. It’s been enough just to try to find Grandma and Jessica.”
Tom replied, “I think of you most of the day. . . . How do you feel about that?” He pulled on the lobe of his right ear.
“I think that we have years of classes and a career to think about. I don’t need to be distracted from that.”
Tom laughed. “So now you think that I’ve been nothing more than a distraction?”
“You have been the one person that I could talk to without feeling that I needed to put on a happy face. You are the one that understood me. You helped me so much. Thank God, you came into my life when I needed you.”
“Well, I was in Ankeny most of the time.”
“But we talked every night. You were the one person I could lean on.” Sarah replied.
“You stand up for yourself quite well but I hope that life will be so good to you that you won’t feel that you need to lean on anyone. You know you are resourceful like your Grandma Sparkle.”. . . “You are the kind of woman I want to be married to some day. What do you think about that?”
She moved back in the seat, looked into Tom’s eyes and responded, “I want a relationship that is more than a friend but less than a wife. Why don’t we remain boy friend and girl friend and see what the future holds? I’ll go back to my apartment in Ankeny and you can stay with your friends in your apartment. I won’t date anyone else but I want to finish my education first.”
“Okay. We’ll take it slow and easy. You are my special girl.”
“I’m not a girl. I’m a woman who sparkles like my grandmother.” Sarah murmured.
“What did you say?”
Sarah ignored the question but instead reached over to Tom and kissed him.
The End
The Search for Grandma Sparkle Page 14