Gifts

This lovely bouquet came in the post yesterday and was a gift from my oldest and best friend. It came with full instructions on how to revive the flowers after their journey and, sure enough, after an hour or two in water they were visibly refreshed and I love them. 

This blipper, too, is visibly refreshed this evening. She has just returned from a packed carol service at church – all the seats were filled, and there were people standing at the back and a few watching in the Atrium via the video link as well. 

There’s nothing unusual about that; ours is a lively, vibrant church and the carol services are always well attended. What was extra special was the person who was sitting next to me. 

That lovely man, who has suffered from debilitating anxiety for the past seven or eight years, and hasn’t been able to attend a service in person for at least six of those years, managed this evening to walk up to church with me.

At my suggestion we arrived very early before it got too crowded and we sat at the back, right beside the doors to the Atrium so that we could leave if he felt unwell. But he stayed for the whole service, and enjoyed it enormously. He was so warmly welcomed by lots of our friends who hugged and greeted him, and my heart was full to bursting to have him with me. We will still need to watch the morning service online on Sundays because he’s not able to rush in the mornings, but being able to attend the carol service this evening together was a priceless gift. No wonder I’m visibly refreshed!