CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON--The moral of the story

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON

“Live for something. Write your name in kindness, love and mercy on

the hearts of thousands you come in contact with--you will never be

forgotten.”

--Thomas Chalmers

*

Early this morning, I was thinking and praying about what to write in

this week’s column while I was out jogging. I was deep in thought when I

heard a voice, and out of the corner of my eye noticed someone moving.

I looked across the street and saw a woman I hadn’t seen in a while

smiling and waving her cane at me. I waved and smiled back and called to

her, “Have a great day!” and kept running. I looked back one more time to

wave, and she was resting one hand on the cane. But she continued to wave

with the other.

I realized then that God showed me what to write about, because he has

written a special story on my heart about my friend with the cane.

I refer to her as my “friend,” though I don’t know her name; and we

don’t speak the same language.

The first time I saw her was about two years ago when I was jogging.

She was walking with a cane and wearing a big straw hat. I didn’t see her

face because she never lifted her head.

I passed her several mornings a week for some time. I usually say

hello to people I come across, and most respond in some way. But this

particular woman didn’t even look up at me. I don’t know if she heard me

or not--she just kept walking with her head down.

I occasionally thought about the woman and started praying for her. I

prayed that God would reveal his love for her in some way. After about

two weeks, she finally looked up at me. I smiled, but she just studied my

face.

The next time I saw her, she looked at me; and her eyes sparkled a

bit. It felt like a major breakthrough, but then I didn’t see her for

months. I wondered if she was sick, or if she’d just been visiting

relatives and had returned to her native country.

I continued to pray for her. Then one morning I saw her again, and

this time she looked up, nodded and smiled at me when I said hello. I

felt like I had a new friend. Some time after that, when she saw me

walking with an elastic sport’s brace on my leg, she pointed to it and

looked concerned.

During the months that followed, she pointed to it and shook her head

whenever I saw her.

The day she saw me back running without it, she pointed to my leg and

then held up her arms and cane like she was cheering for me.

Again, I didn’t see her for months, until recently. I was out jogging

and rounded a corner, and there she was. We were both so excited that we

talked at once, though neither of us knew what the other was saying.

We clasped hands, smiled and nodded.

It was fun to see my friend again this morning. We don’t know much

about each other, but we know we care about each other. That’s all I need

to know.

And you can quote me on that. *

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at o7

cindy@onthegrow.comf7 or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,

Newport Beach, CA 92658.