I noticed Mabel’s new
haircut last Sunday as she passed in front of me to get to her favourite pew.
“Your hair looks
lovely.” Mabel smiled at my compliment, then gestured to her ear and replied,
“I didn't want it so short but I couldn't manage it and I still can't
reach the back because of my arm.”
“Here, let me help
you.” I attempted to finger-comb the back of her hair just as the pastor called
the service to order. But ever so often my mind darted back to Mabel and her
arthritic arm. Then my thoughts went to Jesus and His commendation of the widow
and her copper (Luke 21:1-4). How its significance was measured in the context
of net worth. And I could not shake the feeling that finger-combing Mabel’s
hair would be the most significant event of my barely-started Sunday.
Clearly, widows and
orphans are undesirables in good writing, as they were in the social context of
Jesus’s day. Scorned by the
religious. Thus Jesus spoke that what constitutes the
religious, what is pure and without fault, is taking care of widows and
orphans.The notion of widows and orphans being an inconvenience persists up to
the present, and got tagged on to writing. And running through the
maze of thoughts as I sat in church pondering Mabel, Jesus, widows, coppers and
orphans (while finding the texts in my Bible as the pastor unfolded his sermon)
was a comfort that if my books contain widows and orphans, they would not
suffer because of it.
(Photo credits
MajesticImagery of Free Digital Photos)
Susan Harris is the
author of six books and has also contributed articles to magazines and
anthologies. She first heard of widows and orphans in a writing context after
Little Copper Pennies was published. In spite of the number of widows and
orphans that lived there, the book was successful and went on to be picked up
by a larger publisher.
6 comments:
Well done, Susan! Your caring response to your senior friend's hair-dressing predicament provided a delightful and touching introduction. I chuckled and a smiled as you brought out the interesting and helpful widows and orphan application to writing and book design. (And thanks for the reminder of our Lord's concerning for the widows and orphans around us.) ~~+~~
I felt an extra sense of compassion for her, Peter. Two years ago I fell on the ice and injured my right arm and could not style the back of my hair either. I had to cancel school visits scheduled for that week. So I really identified with Mabel. I was really surprised too that I was thinking so many things and following along with the message. Doesn't always happen but when it does, it's like a bit of omniscience. Thanks for reading.
Thoughtful, and I learned something about writing too!
Pam
Thoughtful, and I learned something about writing too!
Pam
I think we need to pay better attention to our widows and orphans (or single moms and babes) for they are too easily forgotten, and sometimes, quiet. A good reminder, Susan, and a good lesson in writing, too.
Thank you, Susan. You shed a light on how easy it is to consider many simple acts as insignificant. God doesn't!
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