Delicate
I’m afraid of the delicate cycle. On my washer it reads, “Delicate/Handwash”. If I’m supposed to be hand washing my silk camisole, why should I put it in the cold, steel drum? Too many good intentioned loads have ended in catastrophe. My laundering skills are remedial, so messing with delicates makes me nervous. Usually I suck up the $3.50 charge and send my angora sweater and lacy things to the dry cleaner.
Most of us are anxious about delicate things in life - frail grandparents walking down stairs, husbands handling our wedding crystal, and babies born with degenerative diseases. Before having a baby with a life- threatening disease, I wasn’t comfortable around sick kids. When I was in my twenties I signed up to read books to children recovering from brain injuries. After my first visit I asked to be reassigned. I was clumsy in the presence of these fragile kids, worried that something I would say or do may cause them harm. Their faces, smiling at me, didn’t hide their shaved heads and IV lines.
But living in the presence of a delicate child has shown me that fragile things are some of God’s most compelling gifts. I stop dead in my tracks to watch a butterfly. An ice skater gliding on a single thin blade is mesmerizing. And, I’m in awe of Merritt’s hands. Her hands are precious, and I find that like a humming bird or baby fawn, I am stunned by their beauty. Unlike my sturdy hands, that scrub wallpaper paste off walls and untangle necklaces for teenagers, her hands are soft and unaffected by her surroundings.
Delicate things stand up to the harshness of the world, mocking tragedy and grief, boldly saying, “You can not make me ugly.” We were moved by the images of the cross formed out of the rubble of the World Trade Center, and the American flags raised over houses sunk under Katrina’s water. Small, yet subtle images that barked back at brutal forces. Merritt’s hands talk back to her disease. She is delicate, but I’m no longer afraid.
44 Responses to “Delicate”
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March 8th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Kathy, thanks so much for your very kind comments on my blog. I just discovered the “mom blogs” in the last week or two.
This is a beautiful piece.
I am enjoying looking around. this is a neat concept.
March 9th, 2007 at 10:14 am
What a fabulous way to share your insight. Beautiful piece & I’m really enjoying your site.
March 10th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Kathy, the beauty of your photo under the word “Delicate” immediately drew me in. This is a remarkable piece, your words obviously guided by love. Thanks for the experience!
March 12th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Hi– I came here from MOG- I’m decluttering today along with you. What a great post! I can relate a little… my two preemies looked so fragile in the hospital with all the tubes and wires, but I “got over it” because they were mine.
I’ll be back to read some more!
March 21st, 2007 at 7:56 pm
A beautiful post. Like Amy, I had two preemies and with the first baby I was terrified I’d break one of his legs. He was much stronger than me in many ways!
October 31st, 2008 at 9:15 pm
ну что тут скажешь…
October 31st, 2008 at 10:21 pm
“Работай с умом, а не до ночи”
November 1st, 2008 at 8:28 pm
“Мало кто может похвастаться такой смекалкой, как у автора”
November 1st, 2008 at 10:29 pm
“Очень познавательно. Спасибо.”
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:32 pm
“Спасибо за статью”
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:45 pm
все может быть=))))))
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:58 pm
“Побольше бы таких статей”
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:20 am
“Очень полезная вещь”
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Какая прелесть!!!!!!!!!!!!)
November 5th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
тема реально старая
November 6th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
просто афигенно!!!!))
November 7th, 2008 at 1:40 am
Благодарю!
November 7th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
“отличный пример стоящего материала”
November 7th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
“Прямо даже не верится”
November 8th, 2008 at 3:45 am
“спасибо за инфу”
November 8th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
“да, новость пошла по инету и распространяется со старшной силой”
November 9th, 2008 at 12:42 am
ну что тут скажешь…
November 9th, 2008 at 2:58 am
“Спасибо за блог”
November 11th, 2008 at 3:37 am
отлично!!! Все супер!
November 11th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
“познавательная тема”
November 12th, 2008 at 1:47 am
“Класс”
November 13th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
“я в восторге от Вашего стиля”
November 13th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Не пойму в чём дело, но у меня тока 2 картинки загрузилось. ((( А ваще понравились!
November 14th, 2008 at 12:32 am
“Хорошо пишешь”
November 14th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
круто..взяла почти все))
November 14th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Восхитительно..
November 14th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
супер оригинально
November 14th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Спасибки)))))) в цитатник!
November 16th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
супер оригинально
November 16th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
…. вот так вот…..
November 16th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
“Очень полезная вещь”
November 16th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
видели видели)
November 17th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
“Интересные решения”
November 17th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Большое спасибо! Есть ещё повод получить удовольствие… С вашего разрешения, беру.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
все может быть=))))))
November 17th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
ммм)) так клёво))
November 17th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
=))))))
November 18th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
да,но это еще и не все…
November 18th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
ммм)) так клёво))