JanBeek

Sam’s Song

I am writing a book. I think I told you that in my first blog this year, the “I’m Back!” message. The chapters each are dedicated to one of my seven grandchildren. Working title, “Lessons I Am Learning from My Grandchildren.” A few nights ago, after working the afternoon on the chapter about my grandson, Sam, who is a 24-year-old special needs sweetheart, he showed up in my dream. It was so vivid! He was playing the guitar (Sam doesn’t play the guitar) and singing to his mother (Sam doesn’t sing!). In my dream, he sang and played beautifully! I got up, grabbed a pen and paper and immediately wrote the words before I would forget. What you have to know before reading Sam’s Song is that our son and his wife adopted Sam and his sister, Hope, at age 4 1/2. She was two-years-old at the time. Neither of them spoke. Well, Sam had about 10 words… half of them English and half Spanish. No, si, bano, frio, hot… you get the idea. They were rescued from a river bank. Their parents had abandoned them. After nearly two years in various Foster Care placements (the last being a Spanish-speaking home), they joined our family. Sam’s attribute that distinguishes him as my special grandson, and the lesson I am learning most from him is “Compassion.” Read his song and see into his heart!

Sam’s Song

Thanks for takin’ me in,

Seein’ me new,

Believin’ in me, and

Seein’ me through

When nobody else would,

Nobody else would.

Nobody else would do.

I was battered and torn,

Beat down by the world,

Lower than a slug in the sand.

Couldn’t find my own way,

Couldn’t have my own say,

Didn’t know how to make a demand.

You saw through to the me –

Scared, shut up, trapped me,

A lost soul caught wordless inside.

You brought hope to my life,

Saw God’s love in my eyes,

Opened up what was meant when I cried.

Thanks for takin’ me in,

Seein’ me new,

Believin’ in me, and

Seein’ me through

When nobody else would,

Nobody else would.

Nobody else would do.

__________________

Here is Sam with us: Grammy & Grampy on his high school graduation day.

He was home-schooled all 13 years. His Mom, Monika, did a terrific job!

I’m Back!

About a year ago I stopped writing in WordPress. My email account associated with it was full and overflowing. The task of keeping up overwhelmed me. Something had to give. So, I just stopped blogging. It’s been a good reprieve.

Then, about a month ago I flew home to Montana from a family reunion in California and brought a cold virus with me. It turned into pneumonia and threw me for a nose dive! I was so zonked by it that whole days went by in my pajamas, too drained to get out of bed or off the couch! I had way too much time to think. My husband got the bug from me. The only difference between my pneumonia and his “walking pneumonia ” was that he was too stubborn to lie down! As soon as he felt better, he went skiing. Relapse! He spent a couple days in his pj’s, too. Then when he felt better, he went skiing again. After the second relapse, he gave himself a week before he was on a ladder, painting the eaves. I gave myself the full month … in fact it’s been five weeks. Finally, I am better. I feel like I am going to survive! God bless the friends who brought food, called, prayed, visited, shopped for me, found good books to keep me entertained and still, and sent cards of encouragement! I am so grateful.

During this time of forced rest, I had time to think. Time to evaluate my life. Time to reprioritize. Time to read one of my favorite WordPress bloggers, Janet Riehl, order and savor her newest book, Sightlines, and time to be inspired by her insights and talents enough to sign up for an eight-week Writers’ Workshop. I’m back! I’m committed to starting a writing project and finishing it. I’m ready to rejoin the world of the living and make my voice heard.

Stay tuned!