The Red Thread

This past week has been very hard. Last night, Matt helped me a lot and I felt so blessed, but this morning the temptation did come…just stay in bed. Discouragement is one of the things I seem to be fighting the most right now. I know I can do it, but there are times it just seems overwhelming. I have felt so little and so criticized this week that at times I have felt like giving up. But I prayed hard this morning and I got up and headed for the shower.

When I got out and started to get dressed in the warm bathroom, trying to speak positively to myself, I suddenly stopped still. A warm scent was suddenly all around me.

Scent is a powerful memory…for me, nothing brings back a memory like a scent does. This particular scent was one I haven’t smelled in years. It was my Grandma. My Grandma has been gone for years, but the scent of her is something I still remember. Some of my sweetest and most cherished childhood memories revolve around my Grandma Cottam…her warm, comforting scent, the smell of her store room, the sound of her clock, her warm soft hugs when I would just breathe her in, her quiet, sunlit bedroom, her sweet little laugh and smile. Every little girl should have Grandmothers like mine.

My Grandma Cottam had more children and grandchildren than most people are ever blessed with, but she had the unique gift of making each one feel as if they were the only one, and loved more than anything. When she would hold me, she would always say, “My Ann.” It didn’t matter how old I was. I miss her every day.

This morning, when in a rare, quiet moment I was suddenly wrapped in that warm scent all over again, I felt her close to me. I stood there for several minutes, not wanting to move. In those few minutes, I felt like Grandma was with me again, helping me know that I am not alone, that I have help, and that everything will be alright.

The Chinese have a legend of The Red Thread, which binds people together who are meant to be together, regardless of where they are. I do believe there is something to that…we are meant to be with some people. We are meant to help and love each other. This morning I was given a marvellous reminder that I am not alone, and that I have been given so many people to help me to be stronger and better than I can be alone.

We do have help.

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