The
phone rang probably 6 times before Noah got his aching bones moving
to answer it. April, the nursing home activities director happily
said, “Noah – I mean Gramps. This is April Castmon, the nursing
home's activities director. Well, I called to get permission from
you, for something. We'd like to make a dozen copies of the word
search puzzle sample you left with us. Yesterday I talked with 5 or 6
residents about the puzzles and showed them your sample. It was about
all I could do to hold them off till I got permission from you.”
In
an excited tone, April said, “Monte told me he wanted to share a
puzzle with Barb Deets. What thrills me, is that Monte was a circuit
riding preacher for forty-seven years, and wants real bad to be the
hands for Barb in working your puzzle. Barb has Arthritis in her
hands so bad they're both curled up into permanent fists. Well, Monte
got that old determined preacher look in his eyes and told the others
that he and Barb mean to be the first puzzle team to complete the
thing. He had that real 'git-er-done-for-Jesus' sparkle in his eyes.
April
continued. “What's almost comical is that Nancy Fanes doesn't get
along with hardly anyone except the aid that feeds her her meals.
Well, she told Monte and the others, she aimed to find someone to be
her partner and they'd beat the socks off the Monte and Barb team.”
It
must have been twenty times, at least, that Mannie had to explain to
other residents, what the puzzle contest excitement was all about.
Margaret was a little lady that had few happy memories, and was
always moving her rings around on her fingers, like she was a jewelry
model. Mannie described the puzzles and the searching it took to
solve the puzzle. Margaret fingered her dime-store engagement ring
with its glass diamond inset. She interrupted Mannie in saying,
“Mannie, if you have to dig for these key words, and since they're
really important, maybe you could call the puzzles 'Diamonds', or
'Heaven's Diamonds', or something.”
As
Gramps listened to April explain these exciting discussions at the
nursing home, it was like God had uncovered a diamond; a real gem of
an idea. The little imaginary business was beginning it's own market
research with more than positive results. April said, “Gramps. When
do you and your teen team get together? I'm going to have Mannie
Toth, my helper-in-training, here about 10 am this Saturday, to go
over some new regulations we now have. She's just bustin' with some
super puzzle ideas for you, I know you and your team will want to
hear about, and give serious thought to.”
The
phone call ended on an excited note. “Thank ya, Jesus. Thank ya,
Jesus,” Gramps repeated countless times, as he tried to busy
himself around his house, so empty since his precious Nenee
passed away. But he knew what he had to do, and without further
delay. Gramps stood the broom in the utility closet, closed the
closet door and headed straight for the front porch.
Almost
like it was made of fragile paper, Noah (that's Gramps), sat himself
in the front porch rocker that had been Nenee's favorite. He couldn't
count the number of times he'd hear her through the screen door,
always with her open Bible on her lap. She'd be telling some teen
girl, of God's peace, power, and promises that were there for the
accepting, by faith.
Oh
how Noah missed his sweetheart. But there was some kind of connection
with those past memories, to be had, as he let himself relax in the
rocker and watch the nearby tall forest trees sway in the afternoon
breeze. In some odd way, he imagined the trees were all swaying in
unison like robed choir singers, praising God through song. Noah
imagined the message of the song must be something like, “God's up
to something. He surely is. Trust Him today, in every way, 'cuz there
are diamonds just waiting for you.”
