Open Invitation

I remember the day Bernice rescued me. I had been in that stuffy attic for oh, so long. She rubbed the dust away with an apron, her hands much older and care worn than I can recall. "If you want, it's yours. Seth could have it someday," she offered, passing me over to a younger set of hands. "It was your Dad's when he was little." I was sad to leave her, of course. Having belonged to her boy those years ago, I couldn't help feeling somewhat nostalgic, but that was tempered with the fact that I'd soon be played again. How I longed to stretch my strings, tune back up, and let 'er rip! Just like with Rocky. It didn't happen right away, though. This next boy was very little, and his mom was a bit too protective

for my taste. So I waited. At least I was out in the open and a part of the family again. It wasn't long before I was being toted from room to room and strummed with reckless abandon. Seth just loved running around with me, though his mom would occasionally threaten to put me up if he didn't settle down. Hey buddy! Better cool it, We don't want that to happen!

I even moved around with our family a few times, but no matter where we went, it was an open invitation to play. I played with big kids, little kids, and adults alike.

Imagine my surprise when, one day, I looked up into the aging eyes of my very first boy all grown up. His hands were large and calloused but man, could he play now! I was exhausted!

As with all young children's play things, I was "grown out of" yet again, but it didn't take long before I was passed to yet another set of hands. They differ from any I've ever felt before. Hesitant at first, and always gentle, this boy plucks slowly, singing (mostly Christmas songs) and every once in a while he pats me like a drum. It blows me away that Micah is the first boy to actually talk to me. He tells me about his day and where he wants to go. He fills me in on where he has been and who he has seen. He even whispers "Goodnight, Ay-ah." This boy doesn't run around with me, ever. I love the snugly way I'm cradled on his lap with a pillow each time he plays. I must admit I've developed a soft spot for the little guy.

I've been hearing the word "surgery" a lot lately. It seems my buddy is facing some leg work coming up soon. His mom says he'll be having several leg surgeries at 7:00 am on Monday, August 9th. I'm hoping I can go too. She's making him a prayer blanket so he'll be "snuggled in prayer and love" she says. Really, the "blanket" is a schedule for volunteers to sign up for a fifteen minute time slot to pray for him that day starting at 6am and ending at 6pm. Won't you leave her a note here or on Facebook letting her know what time you'll pray for him? She says she'll post your first name and last initial along with the time you pick on this blog. It's an open invitation to pray. Anyone can do it from anywhere, big kids, little kids, and adults alike.

Micah will be in a SPICA cast for five to six weeks after he gets home from the hospital. I sure hope he'll still have room for me on his lap.

So, how about it? Let's see if we can make that blanket before August 9th!