The Circle of Life

Dear Reader:

My younger brother, David, died March 4, 1973…42 years ago today. When I discovered this picture a few days ago it made me smile. Oh…how David loved that tractor…up and down and up and down the sidewalks he’d go….and it looks like this time he lucked up and even had a lollipop along for the ride.

Every time I go in Tractor and Supply to get Rutledge another truck or tractor I always think of David. I believe the old adage “Only the good die young” holds true…at least in my opinion of my brother’s short life. (21)

David was so sweet and gentle…I never remember a single argument between us and that is something quite rare among siblings. He shared willingly, spoke softly, and the only “stick” he ever carried was one of forgiveness for the unkind comments his peers made about his later physical appearance.

The “title” photo was probably the last photo of a healthy, normal looking four year old…by five his appearance would be drastically changed. By eight his height had passed me (I was three years older) and it wouldn’t stop until he was 6 ‘ 5″ and weighed only 135 pounds. * You can see the effects of Marfan’s Syndrome disease in his long hands and fingers in the second picture.

I told Mollie, a few days ago, that the gender was always tough to call but I had a feeling that the baby might come the first week in March…because I always have David on my mind then. Birth and death go hand in hand in the Circle of life. For everyone we lose…another comes along to take their place in the circle.

It seems like there have been so many deaths lately and it brought back a conversation I remember grandmother telling mother while visiting on the farm one year. Grandmother said that you would think the cold winters would take the sickly and elderly but usually people survive this…it is right before spring that so many people pass.

Each year I think grandmother grows wiser in my estimation….because it does seem to happen that way. Perhaps that is why annually…in early spring… farm families always took the horrible tonic caster oil to flush out the winter blahs and perk up the metabolism for the spring planting to come… with that nasty-tasting iron based oil.

In the Lion King…the father/king Mufasa explains the circle of life to his son Simba this way…

Mufasa: “Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king you need to understand that balance and to respect all the creatures in the kingdom… from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.”

Simba: “But, Dad, don’t we eat the antelope?’

Mufasa: “Yes, Simba, but let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass and then the antelope eat the grass. And so we are connected in the Great Circle of Life.

“You, like all the creatures of the earth, must take your place in the Circle of Life.”

……………………….

How true! As a living creature of the universe and a child of God we must all take our place in the Circle of Life. We must all strive to keep the delicate balance of this circle. We must all respect every living creature in the web of life.

It is important that this lesson be passed down from generation to generation. I just think some people, like my brother, are gifted learners in their understanding of the circle. They, intuitively, share the circle and protect the circle so well on earth…even in their short stay…that they are called back home into the loving arms of their Father…their Creator.

So until tomorrow…Let us treat each other with the respect we all deserve as children of God…following Christ’s last commandment: “Love each other as I have loved you.”

“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

* My day with Miss Eva Cate…It started out bright and early around 7:00 with cinnamon rolls that Eva helped me make and eat…(Isn’t it amazing when small children leave the high chair behind… then they circle around and want to return to it)

Eva Cate picked out the place in the garden to plant her lollipop seeds for Easter.

The Princess and the Pea…Once Upon a mattress!

Eva Cate had a “test run” Easter Egg Hunt on the B&B side and then we took a new little angel statue to put beside the new baby-to- come’s Japanese maple tree.

Wishes were made in the fountain for a baby girl cousin named Holly….(according to Eva Cate’s wish… and she wants her to “be just like me.”)

And our finally activities (besides shopping) were swinging and tree climbing…a day full of “making sure of each other.”

Time to head back to Mt. P….John, Mandy, the kids and I met Tommy and Kaitlyn for dinner…(compliments of Susan Komen’s free gift card for our team’s successful Race for the Cure). Our “free” dinner was entirely possible because we had such a diversity of gift donors participating in the fund-raiser for fighting breast cancer. In other words, thank all of you for dinner last night!