Growing Old--Like A Tree Planted By The Water

All of Hallmark can't match the impact of this huge 18"x 24" card by the grandkids.

Or the beautiful one made by daughter Joanna, 
or this one by oldest son Brad

This has been a memorable week, with our children and grandchildren from Pittsburgh, Rochester and nearby Smithland Road together for my birthday today, surprising me with all kinds of decorations and cards at lunch.

This on top of our all having been able to be together for a reunion in Delaware with Alma Jean's family yesterday. 

Then there was the surprise lunch at the Taste of Thai with my colleagues at the Family Life Resource Center last  Thursday. And this morning a ten--year-old neighbor, Jayden, brought a plate of cookies and a card from her family with the words, "We will be praying for you every day."

Then today's house church service was a special time of prayer and encouragement. Our faith family provides far more pastoral care and support than we could ever offer them.

All of this has been precious beyond words, in addition to all of the many cards and other expressions of love and best wishes for my birthday and for my upcoming surgery on Friday. How fortunate can one person get?

Speaking of cards, on the inside of the one made by Brad are the words of a German song, "Alt Wie Ein Baum" ("Old Like a Tree") as follows:

Alt wie ein Baum (the Puhdys, an East German band from the 70's)

Alt wie ein Baum möchte ich werden

genau wie der Dichter es beschreibt,

alt wie ein Baum, mit einer Krone

die weit-weit-weit-weit

die weit über Felder zeigt.

Alt wie ein Baum möchte ich werden

mit Wurzeln die nie ein Sturm bezwingt

alt wie ein Baum, der all die Jahre

so weit-weit-weit-weit

kühlende Schatten bringt.

Refrain:

Alle meine Träume (yeh)

fang' ich damit ein (yeh)

Alle meine Träume (yeh) yeh yeh yeh

zwischen Himmel und Erde zu sein.

Here is a translation:

Old like a tree, I'd like to be

just like the poet once described,

Old like a tree with a crown that spreads

wide, wide, wide across the fields...

Old like a tree I'd like to be,

with roots that a storm will never shake,

Old like a tree that year after year

so broadly spreads its cooling shade...

Refrain:

All of my dreams, yeah, are contained in this 

I can realize all of my dreams, yeah,

in this space between heaven and earth!

All such blessings are far beyond words, and each a gift of sheer grace.

Numerous cards like these from friends behind bars are enough to make your heart hurt.