5 SOUTH

By Lori Carmody

There is a saying, “Do it with passion or not at all!”  Done.  For two full weeks and counting I have passionately been achy, congested, running a temperature, coughing and I have been down and out. 

I got sick on Thanksgiving.  Every year since my children were old enough, after Thanksgiving dinner was finished and everyone was on their way home, our family would hunker down with the fire lit and watch the comedy, Christmas Vacation.  This year I slept through most of the movie.  Then on Saturday evening, before the kids headed out of town, we planned dinner out and to take in Snowflake Lane.  I barely survived dinner and had to pass on seeing the snowflakes. 

Being the traditionalist that I am, it made me sad to miss out on these usual festivities.  As I laid in bed after they left on Sunday, I got to thinking of years past.  So many wonderful memories of our family, grandparents, and others lingered in my mind and on my heart. 

In the Exercises of St. Ignatius, he encourages us to regularly notice the grace given to us by God.  For years I have taken this advice and intentionally taken stalk of what “consolations” came my way each day (what I was most grateful for; what had given me joy, peace, contentment that day).  Now, as I was reminded of years gone by and the sweet memories of many consolations that had been given to me during Advent, I realized that although I wasn’t able to partake in activities this past week, I had many graces to savor. 

One of the treasures that rose in my heart from years gone by came from 1999.  My mom had taken a tragic fall suffering head wounds and multiple strokes.  At the time she was living at Providence Mount Saint Vincent Nursing Home.   The following is a portion of what I wrote in our Christmas letter that year.

“On the 9^th of December, “5 South” (the nursing home floor where Lori’s Mom lives) was having their annual “trim the tree” gathering.  Kaitlyn and Lori spent the evening with Mom Zirkle.  Kaitie charmed all the residents with her excitement over hanging ornaments, eating cookies and candy canes, and dancing to LOUD Christmas carols (so the residents who are hard of hearing could hear).  One woman that we have seen over the past several months was smiling with Kaitie …we’d never seen her smile before.  A few other folks turned down encouragement by the Activities Director to decorate the tree; that is until Kaitlyn gave them an ornament to hang and walked them over to show them where to place it.  After the tree was decorated, the residents gathered around for a group picture and, of course, they wanted Kaitlyn in it.  Then we put on jammies – a new nightie with little Christmas snowmen all over it – and you should have heard the rounds of ohh’s and ahh’s as she twirled and danced for all to see.

Luke 1:26-36 tells us about a virgin having a child, Jesus, the redeemer.  It really makes no sense that this was God’s answer to a suffering, needy world.  No sense, that is, until we remember what another child did a few weeks ago for a suffering, needy nursing home floor.  Then we begin to understand that a child was God’s only answer to save the world … and it was a dancing, smiling, including, feasting, grand answer at that! "

When I followed the sage advice of St. Ignatius and savored this memory, I was deeply consoled.  It brought back feelings of the joy that I experienced that evening in 5 South.  It also reminded me that I was not alone.  God had walked with me and my family during that time of deep desolation as we watched our mother suffer.  

On this particular Sunday when I was tempted to feel sad for what I had missed out on over the Thanksgiving weekend, I again discovered that God meets me wherever I am at and shows me how to “dance, smile, include, feast and to love”. 

So think about it ~ despite the goodness and/or frustrations of your day ~ what memories of the past can you rest in today that may console you of truth, of hope and of God’s profound and sustaining love? 

When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations delight my soul.  Psalm 94:19 

Thanks for reading. 

Lori