Love Prevails

July 14, 2020 — This powerful Meanings of Life card has come to mind a lot lately. I’m thinking it’s because I am one of those very self-protective (okay, borderline paranoid) people who believes strongly in taking every precaution and, as much as I’d like to “honor the steps of others along paths I cannot see,” I can’t for the life of me get why anyone would go out & about if they didn’t absolutely have to, much less without a mask and, wait, to Disney World?!

Struggling with my feelings about this, I finally emailed the author of the winged heart message, Contributing Cardie Rosemary Tolliver. “I don’t want to feel so judgmental,” I railed to Rosie. “I find myself impatient with people who do not have the patience to just stay put, and angered by people who are angry at the imposition of wearing masks. I keep re-reading this card for its comfort and perspective, Rosie, and want to thank you for writing it. And, just curious, do you recall what prompted you to compose it a decade ago now?”

Rosie responded, “The winged heart card … it expresses more tolerance than I am really capable of these days. Sadly, I share your judgmental feelings toward the actions of soooo many,” she said. “I am especially frustrated because they put the nurses in our family, Andy and Kate — and all medical personnel — at risk for Covid and “I want to show you this print that hung over my father’s big desk as I was growing up,” Rosie said. “It still hangs over his desk, which now graces my messy office.

“I remember I was nine when I figured out what the message meant, and was struck-still standing there in the den. I have tried to make this a guiding principle in my life, but it is more simple than easy.”

On our emails, Rosie and I had both copied her equally-wise and talented daughter, Jenni Betz (author of a half-dozen popular Cardthartic cards, wife of Nurse Andy, sister to Nurse Kate, and fun mother to three good, kind, caring boys). Jenni was quick to reply, “Mom, I made my own sign here, shortly after safer-at-home started ;)”

Then she shared with me that Andy had  already been sick with Covid back in May and, “since no one knows how long antibodies might protect people, we’re worried he could contract it again. Especially since cases here in Ohio are surging,” Jenni said. “We all know you can’t count on luck to pick you out of a crowd …”

Very true. But, hey, we can count on love to help us cope with our fear and anger and resentment. It seems that, as long as we’re willing to honor those emotions, we have “the freedom to rise above.” Instead of kvetching about strangers not wearing masks, I’m now sending loved ones cards that say how much they mean to me … then I write in how much I hope they’re taking their own health and safety quite seriously because they would be missed very much indeed.

As usual, my dear friend and neighbor Hannlis said it just right. When she gently reminded a visitor to our little building that, “We wear masks here,” the man grumbled, “I know. It’s in my pocket.” To which this true lover-of-life replied, “That doesn’t do me much good. I’m 96 … and I’d like to see 97!”