Dear Mom,

I watered your plants today, inside and out.  How nice it was to hear the water flow from the hose.  I held my thumb over the spout a bit and let the water arch over the succulents in the yard, (they are yellowing without your attentive hand) and I was reminded of countless hours spent in the evening through dusk with you and dad washing the car and attending to the yard while I rode around on my roller skates or bike and Annie played with sidewalk chalk and a jump-rope.

I miss you, Mom, and I can’t wait to celebrate your return home to your yard and the ‘Peaceful Garden’ Dad has named “Wisteria.”

I was pleased to see Wisteria today.  There is a sunflower blooming in the center pot that is usually on the upper deck.  The Jade is deep green and plump.  The bamboo I gave to you because I under-watered it, is shooting nicely, and I repotted the pink roses you received while still on the 14th floor.  Everything waits for you to grace it with your radiant smile, Mom.  Especially the Ficus.

The beautiful Ficus that once stood over eight feet tall in your living room, which because of over-fertilization, is half the height it was.

Remember when it first showed spots on the leaves and we wondered if it was over-fertilized?  You rinsed the roots and repotted it several times before you had to prune it back significantly and send it to recovery in Wisteria.

It has new leaves, Mom.  It’s recovery is slow.  It comes and goes with the temperature changes, strong and weak breezes, hydration, fertilization, sunshine and fog.  But it IS coming back.  Although not very visible at first, gradually, it is returning to its splendor after the trauma it experienced.  I can’t wait for you to come recover in Wisteria, Mom.

You are the Lord’s.  Do not be afraid.

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.(Matthew 6:27-34)

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.(Deuteronomy 31:8)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.(Joshua 1:9)

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face [amyloids] tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you. (2 Chronicles 20:17)

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.

The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah
(Psalm 46:10-11)

:::::NOTE:::::
[Selah (Hebrew: סלה) may be the most difficult word in the Hebrew Bible to translate. Selah is probably either a liturgico-musical mark, being held to be a variant of “shelah” (=“pause”); or an instruction on the reading of the text, something like “stop and listen”.  Alternatively, Selah may mean “forever”.]