By now you know, Momma has a weakness for a good mystery (especially if it involves Spirits in the Sky, who she can’t see, but believes in, anyway.) And Grandmama was a force to be reckoned with here on earth so why would she be any different in heaven? So grab find a comfortable spot on the bed, it is story telling time.
There are gifts, then there are gifts that appear in inexplicable, mysterious ways. Such is the Story of the Spirit in the Sky. About two months after her Mother-God-Rest-her-Soul winged her way to Heaven (like Enoch, she was. RIP Daddy said), Momma rushed in to the kitchen. It was the Sunday morning after Christmas but before New Years.
Momma noticed the cupboard door was open, again….
This was a pet peeve of her poor, proper Dutch husband (RIP Daddy) who felt because she was in such a hurry, all the time, he had to be the official family door closer. (Another pet peeve was why Momma would haphazardly throw down a place mat, upside down on the table, so for instance, the flower fell out of the pot or the horse was on its back with its feet in the air and the grass pointing up…you get the picture). Little wonder his blood clogged his arteries, his blood pressure rose. All that because of Momma, ya think????
Momma spied the highest cupboard door open and something that did not look familiar on the top shelf. Since she was the one that was always guilty, she must have left it open. She grabbed a chair, climbed on the counter. Hiding, yet in clear view, Momma found an open bag of her Mother-God-Rest-her-Soul‘s pink, white and green mints that Wonder Boy loved to share with her. Uh………. how exactly did they make it to Momma’s top shelf? Beside the bag of mints, was a separate bag with Wonder Boy’s name written, in Grandmama’s handwriting. Inside the bag was a Christmas mug probably purchased at her last church bazaar and a pair of homemade puppet mittens.
Momma knew her Mother-God-Rest-her-Soul bought pre-Christmas gifts for her grandchildren and could only assume the last time she visited, unbeknownst to Momma, her Mother had climbed up and put this on the top shelf of the cupboard, away from young Wonder Boy’s prying, all-seeing, all-knowing big blue eyes. Since she had omitted to tell Momma before going to her greater reward, she had to get Momma’s attention, somehow, someway, even if it meant getting her in trouble for not closing cupboard doors behind her.
Momma could only assume her Mother-God-Rest-her-Soul was thinking, if Momma saw it, she would actually give it to Wonder Boy. (Right again) Since the bag of mints was opened already, Momma said she always questioned if her Mother-God-Rest-her-Soul had a premonition that she would not live to enjoy them and so brought them along with the pre-Christmas gifts?
Since Christmas was already over, who knows how long and hard her Mother-God-Rest-her-Soul tried to get Momma’s attention. All these years later the mints, the cup and the mittens are stored in the China Cabinet, a confirmation of the ties that bind Grandmama’s and Wonder Boy’s relationship.
One day when Momma, RIP Daddy and Wonder Boy moved, her Sister, who was helping, tossed out the bag, with her Mother-God-Rest-her-Soul’s handwriting, not knowing the history. No matter how hard Momma looked, sadly, that bag was just like her Mother-God-Rest-Her-Soul – Gone, Baby, Gone.
Now when Momma sees she has once again left a door open in haste, she wonders, is her Mother-God-Rest-Her-Soul trying to send another message? What do you think my Four Footed Friends?
Momma says no one knows for sure, till: In the sweet by and by….When we meet on that beautiful shore….(Hymn)
