Greetings Dear TSJ Peeps!
First of all … once again it is a joy to welcome new subscribers to The Shared Journey! To understand today’s blog it would help if you took at least a quick look at pages on this website talking about the beginning of TSJ and Solomon and more recently, SJ (Solomon Junior). Because I have begun writing about Tom’s incredible battle with cancer and his recent death I can imagine new “peeps” could be confused. But the larger purpose of becoming a “TSJ peep” is to faithfully explore our life’s journeys together and learn from our shared experiences.
So, welcome to the TSJ pastures. I promise you will get used to the metaphors soon.
Yes, at this time our blog has taken on some sadness but it will not always be so. We are mourning the loss of our most beloved encourager of The Shared Journey. As a husband and father Tom really was the best earth shepherd you could ask for. He kept us all within his conscious care while he safely guarded our home and family so we could laugh, learn, and respect each other.
Solomon and SJ- or as Tom always called them-“The Boys,” (our translators of wonder and wisdom), will help us keep playing in the pastures even without him. We will do our best to remember what he taught us while he was visibly here even though we can no longer actually hear his voice or feel his touch.
When it feels like an elephant is stepping on my chest Solomon reminds me that it is wise to allow our feelings to flow because that is healing, but it helps to let the water of gratitude and love flow too. It dislodges the lumps in the throat and opens up the heart.
In our faith Christmas is a season in which we celebrate birth and hope and above all love sent to us from the Great Shepherd. And it is a happy season.
And Solomon reminded me that his birth into the hearts of TSJ peeps happened four years ago. And he is here because Mr. Tom (as Solomon respectfully and affectionately called him) heard me laughing with glee when my nephew and niece helped me find him on the internet at Squishables. (They no longer make them.) So Solomon came just-in-time to bring new life to The Shared Journey. And he came one month before Tom was diagnosed. I call that “just-n-time grace.”
Tom made Solomon’s arrival happen by doing something he literally never did. He bought Solomon off the internet. I was suffering from back pain that Christmas and just seeing Solomon made me laugh. Tom completely always embraced my laughter from when we first met until his spirit took flight.
Tom lived a principled, intelligent life that was filled with humor and wit. Together we enjoyed our faith on a rather simple, everyday level. Tom was a well grounded man who was practical as well as a natural entertainer.
While I worried what people would think about me writing about Solomon, Tom never wavered. It was simply right that Solomon would come to our home to help us live right (through wisdom lessons) and light through playful imagination.
Today Solomon wanted me to tell you that when I think of his birth by adoption into our family my heart feels light. And since Tom so completely approved of and loved Solomon (and untamed SJ) I can turn some of my sadness of Tom’s physical departure into the grins and giggles Tom so loved about our relationship. And about life itself.
Finally, something rather poignant gradually happened after I started writing Wednesday Wisdom blogs. Tom would encourage “The Boys” to help and when he got home from work he always wanted to hear what they had to say. And lately whenever he heard some small bit of inspirational wisdom or a story he would accidentally call it Wednesday Wisdom!
Solomon is celebrating his birthday and reminding me that Mr. Tom is now adopted into a new pasture where he no longer hurts. So today is a day of birth and new beginnings.
Solomon is going for a little trip with me to family gatherings. He is quite smug because he made me smile and he knows I need him and so does SJ.
All is well.
