Before I got my body there was a blessing given in the bloodline I would join at birth. Things like this have always happened, historically. Abraham and his posterity, for instance. I might add, adoption into families applies the same blessings. They are spiritually driven. Our physical bodies carry DNA. Our spiritual selves carry what I call DBA: Divinely Bestowed Assurances.
My great, great grandmother, Rebecca Rhodes Parrish, lived across the river from Nauvoo, IL. A widow, and a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she sometimes provided shelter for the prophet Joseph Smith. When there was trouble in Nauvoo, her sons would ferry the prophet across the river to temporary safety. One of her sons was Henry Strong Parrish, my great grandfather.
Once, when times were rough and food was scarce, Rebecca fed the church leaders who were gathered in their living room, including the prophet. Afterwards, Joseph Smith saw Rebecca leaving the house with something tucked under her cape. He called to her, asking what she was carrying. She lifted her cape to reveal the last of the flour from their pantry.
“Where are you going, Sister Rebecca?”
She replied that the neighbors needed food.
Joseph sent her on, and when she returned he asked if he could give her a blessing. You’d have to have a sense of our faith to know how it might feel to have a prophet ask to give you a blessing. Somewhere in our family genealogy it is recorded that it was promised to Rebecca that as long as she and her posterity remained faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ, they would not want for the sustenance of the world.
In our family history that same blessing was given at different times to my grandfather, George Washington Parrish, and my uncle Fred Parrish.
We have personally seen a fulfilment of that divine bestowal of assurance.
While my family rejoices in such a blessing, let me also say that there are other familial propensities that are not so wonderful. Weaknesses and challenges, we accept as part of our journeys. They balance each other out. But this particular blessing is on my mind lately.
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| "Work is always my salvation, and I will celebrate it." Louisa May Alcott |
My husband, David is still working. I know, during this pandemic, that this is unusual, and we are deeply grateful. There is still a need for the judicial gears to remain in motion, and truth be known, he works every day from 7:30 until around 8 each night, sometimes more. There is a wide-swinging adaptation curve, trying to figure out how to run the courts from home. I am profoundly proud of him, and grateful that he is willing and able to devote so much of himself to this. Thank goodness, we do not have kids at home. (And curses that we do not have kids at home. How I miss them!) We are both able to focus without interruption. We are in the autumn of our lives.
David is still drawing a paycheck. I am not. My work has dried up. Gigs are cancelled, classes are cancelled. Even royalties are taking a hit, because fewer devices are playing our music (it’s real, folks). But we are ok. We are ok.
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| We recognize the blessing of having a place to work from, at home. |
Last week I was thinking about my friends who may not be ok, financially. I have a lot of artist friends, and the art world has ground to a jolting halt. But I also have many friends whose livelihoods they never would have thought would cease so suddenly. They are worried sick.
I pray for them. Sincerely. Mostly I pray that they will feel guided and comforted. But I also pray for the rest of us that we will have the courage and the wisdom to pitch in.
So, last week, as I was drying my hair, I got to thinking about my friend, Lisa, who cuts my hair. Under the buzzing drone of my blow dryer I was praying, and in an instant I had a flicker of a thought. I have learned that those firefly flickers of thought are often the Holy Ghost trying to connect, so I am training myself to pay attention. I set my dryer on the counter, picked up my cell phone, opened my Venmo app, and paid Lisa for a pretend haircut. Dave or I would normally be getting a haircut soon, so it is something we are used to paying. I find that when I have these flashes of inspiration I need to act on them right away. The Adversary tends to manipulate my mind when I think too much. (I’m not saying we need to be reckless, but we also do not need to be paranoid about our own needs. When the Lord speaks, I need to act.)
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| Flickers of inspiration. |
Here’s an idea: if we are among those blessed to still have an income, it would be a good thing for us to lend a hand to those among us who do not have that blessing at the moment. Just a little piece of what we would normally do, if things were not so bonkers. There comes of it a feeling of solidarity among human beings. We are in this together.
So, each day I challenge myself with a little pretend scenario: If I have a bit of flour left, even if it’s my last bit, am I willing at this very moment to take it to my neighbor? And if so, which neighbor, Lord, needs this flour?
I would rather die wanting than go to my grave wrapped in gold.
(Coronavirus deaths to date: 53,216 )
