Telling the Truth

connecting the dots of my life

Category: Family

August 11, 2014

God’s Beloved Daughter-Child | Part 3 of 4

I haven’t always called myself God’s beloved daughter-child.  For years I wouldn’t have dared presume such a high-minded view of myself.  How did this happen?  And how might this help me think about what I believed when I was 11 years old?

This post is about the first question:  How did this happen?  The second will wait.  Thanks for being patient.  If I don’t address today’s topic first, I’ll end up picking my childhood theology to pieces. Read the rest of this entry »

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August 8, 2014

How am I doing? | Dear Diane, . . .

It’s September 1997, less than a year since Diane was diagnosed with ALS.  The disease seems to have a mind of its own.  In her case, it has decided to concentrate on her ability to speak.  Diane wrote the following piece about this loss. Read the rest of this entry »

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August 4, 2014

God’s Beloved Daughter-Child | Part 2 of 4

As a child, my survival theology was short and to the point:  (1) God would NEVER beat me like this, and (2) Jesus loves me no matter what, and wants to spend time with me.

My two small truths traveled well. Read the rest of this entry »

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August 1, 2014

Patting or touching? | Dear Diane, . . .

By the summer of 1997, about 1 ½ years after diagnosis, Diane’s speech and body no longer look or behave as usual.  Sadly, I no longer know how to behave as usual around her.  ALS is invading her body and her life. Read the rest of this entry »

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July 28, 2014

God’s Beloved Daughter-Child | Part 1 of 4

It’s the 1990s.  I’m teaching a seminar on spirituality.  At the beginning of the class I hand out to each participant, including me, a blank piece of paper and crayons.  The assignment is simple:  draw and color your childhood image of God.  You have 5 minutes.

I drew and still have my image: Read the rest of this entry »

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July 25, 2014

How can I say thanks? | Dear Diane, . . .

Diane, Sister #3, died in February 2006 after living 10 years with ALS.  From October 1997 until September 2000 Diane wrote short pieces she called Words for the Ones I Love.  Most are about her relationship to the local church she served for 7 years as Minister of Education/Administration.  She took disability retirement in May 1996.

The pieces are not confidential.  Diane gave me permission to use or publish them as I saw fit.  In fact, she liked the idea that her words might be read by more than her family and friends.  I’m excited to begin letting you see a bit more about her and the ways our lives connected.  Perhaps she’ll connect with you, too. Read the rest of this entry »

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July 21, 2014

Female Bodies and Sex Ed | Part 3 of 3

It’s 1960.  I’m 16 years old and I just graduated from high school.  I thought you’d like to see how I filled in the gaps between Daddy’s Sex Ed 101 and my graduation.

My Sex Ed 102 Learning Resources with Annotations by Me
*My parents’ everyday relationship with each other.  Mother seems to have no voice and no vote. Read the rest of this entry »

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July 18, 2014

Female Bodies and Sex Ed | Part 2 of 3

It’s 1954.  We just finished breakfast, and are sitting around the dinner table.  Sister #4 is about one year old.  Mother is holding her at one end of the table.  Daddy is sitting at the ‘head’ of the table.  Sisters #2 and #3 and I are present.  We don’t know it, but Sex Ed 101 for Daughters is about to begin.   Read the rest of this entry »

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July 14, 2014

Female Bodies and Sex Ed | Part 1 of 3

Am I ready?  Never.  But I want to begin somewhere.  So here goes.

Jesus, Mary and all other daughters of Eve
Female bodies were not celebrated in my family.  Too bad.  When I was a child and young teenager my female body was regularly ignored, observed, commented upon, shamed, ridiculed, Read the rest of this entry »

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July 11, 2014

Starving for Sisterly Conversation | Part 3 of 3

January 9, 1996, 9:00pm, Philadelphia
The phone rings.  Hi.  It’s Diane.  I’m not well – no easy way to tell you – not post-polio, but ALS – I’m going to need help, a lot of help.  I hang up and go downstairs, weeping as I tell my family the news.

January 30, 1996, late afternoon, Houston
I walk off the plane and see Diane standing in front of a pillar.  Small floral print on navy dress, empire waist and smocked bodice – ivory stockings – very pretty – gold chains – hair highlights in blond – stoop-shouldered and slow. Read the rest of this entry »

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