
A Life In Pictures

It must have meant something to my granda, Jimmy Webb, because he kept it with his personal effects right up to his death in 2001. The clue to why might come in the year it is dated; 1957. In that year my mum turned ten years old and her sister turned 8. Their mother, Agnes, was 25 years old that year and hadn’t aged a day in seven years. Indeed, she has remained 25 years old ever since. You see, she had died in 1950 and it had been a terrible trauma for my granda who took years to recover well enough to get on with life. Yet, get on he did and he brought up his girls with the help of his wife’s extended family. He went on to see grandchildren and a great grandchild too (my eldest son Brendan James- named for my dad and my granda).

Seeing this prayer card today made me sad for my poor granda and for my mum and her sister. They lost their wife and mother at such a tender age; forever young at 25. It helped me to remember the strength of my granda and the consolation his faith was to him. That, in turn, caused me to be ever so grateful to him (and to my parents, teachers, priests and others) who gifted me the idea of there being a God and a God who loved and healed rather than robbed and sent disaster.
It also united me with the suffering of so many in the world today through poverty, war, division and of course the pandemic sweeping the world. God did not send this (I’ve been disturbed to read so may articles and social media posts saying that very thing. Stop!) but God is in the midst of it, loving, strengthening and healing.
Let us pray,
For those suffering the bitter sting of grief and loss today; may they know consolation.
For those effected by the pandemic in any way; may they know healing and reassurance.
For those who have died; may they rest in eternal peace.
Amen


4 Comments
Gary Donnelly
A very beautiful article. You have captured the grace of this wonderful and loving man perfectly. Thank you.
Jim Deeds
Thank you. Love you.
Jennifer Donnelly
Jim that was so beautiful to read. Our granda a truly remarkable man in every way!
Jennifer
Jim Deeds
Ah thank you. Love yo.