the sad mom at christmas - marilyn newbury · the sad mom at christmas ... started learning cello...

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

©MarilynNewburyCalgary2016

THESADMOMatCHRISTMASMarilynNewbury

DedicatedtoMarilynandAlbertSparkesforthegiftsofthenativitysetandthesnowlady,

asourceofnewjoyeveryChristmas

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

TheladyinthisstoryiscalledMichael’sMombecauseshehadason

namedMichael.

Michaelhadgrownintoatallman,

buttoMichael’sMom,hewasstillherlittleboy.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Hehitchhikedeverywhereandtravelledallovertheworld.

Michaelhadbecomeveryadventurous.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Sometimes,hesleptinatentinthecenterofadistantcity...

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

...orinthemiddleofnowhere.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Occasionally,hejustslept

inasleepingbaginthemiddle

ofasteepmountainpath.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Ifhewasreallywetandcold,hewouldknock

onafarmer’sdoor,andaskifhecould

takeshelterinthefarmer’sbarn.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Onetime,Michaelheardacougarcirclingaroundthehammockinhisbedroominthewoods.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Michaelranawayasfastashecould,buthedidnotletthisfrighteningincidentstophimfromgoingonhisriskyventures.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Hetookbicycleandrafttripsinisolatedareas,

scaledicecliffs,

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Heflewinandoutofthemostdangerousairportintheworld.

andsurfedrivers.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Michaelespeciallylovedmountainclimbing.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Onetime,hestraddledaveryhighmountaintopasifhewasridingahorse.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Michael’sMomworriedwhenshesawallthescarypicturesofMichael’sexploits.

Shewasafraidhewouldgethurt.

Sureenough,afewweeksbeforeChristmas,Michaeldidhaveanaccident,

butitwasnotinafarawayplace.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Ithappenedathisworkintheairport,rightinhishomecity.

Michael’sfingertipwasseveredwhenitgot

caughtbetweentwocolliding

baggagecarts.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Eventhoughthedoctortriedtosewthefingertipbackon,

iteventuallydiedandhadtobecutoff.

ThismadeMichael’sMomverysad.

ShethoughtMichaelmighthavetroublescalingcliffsandclimbingmountains.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Michael’sMomdidnotknowhowshewouldbeabletoenjoy

Christmaswhenshewassosad.

Shewonderedifhewouldever

beabletoplayhisukuleleorguitaragain.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Michael’sMomwantedasignthatJesus’lovewouldbewithher,evenwhenshewasdownhearted.

Sheprayedandlookedeverywhere,butcouldnotseeasign.

Tohersurprise,asignofGod’slovewasfirstsenttoMichael.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Ithappenedonthedayhewasdrivingtothehospitalsothesurgeoncouldcutoffhisdeadfingertip.

Michaelturnedontheradiotohearsoothingmusic,buthedidnotlikethesongsthatwereplaying.

Hewantedtohearhisfavouritesong,the‘CelloSuiteNo.1inG’byBach.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

MichaellikedthispiecesomuchthatoneChristmasEve,afewyearsback,hehadrentedacelloandtriedtoplaythesong.

MichaelNewbury

December24

RentedaCello.MichaelNewburyOkhaha.IlearnedtwinkletwinklelittlestarandabassdiddlythingyandtodayIstartedlearningCelloSuiteNo.1byBachsoit'squitethejumpandmylefthandandshoulderareprettytightbutI'mlovingit!

Eventually,Michaeldecideditwastoohardtolearn,sohegaveupandjustlistenedtothemusicinstead.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Andnow,inthismoment,allMichaelwantedtohearwasthatspecialpiece.

Justashedroveintothehospitalparkinglot,hisfavouritesong,the‘CelloSuiteNo.1’,startedplayingontheradio.

Michaelpulledthecarovertothesideoftheroadandletthetearswellupinhiseyesashemadepeacewithhissadness.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Michael’sMomwasverygladthatGodhadgivenMichael

asignofJesus’love,butshewantedtohave

herownsigntocomforthersadness.

Eventhoughshedidnotfeellikeit,shestarteddecoratingthehouse

forChristmas.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ShedisplayedherChristmastincollection,

hungherspecialteddybearsonthestairrail,

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

putuptheChristmas

tree,

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

andtriedtobuildagingerbreadhousewithhergrandchildren.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ButshedidnotfindasignthatGod’slove

wouldbewithherwhenshewasdespondent.

Inspiteofherfeelings,shesetupthenativityscene:

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

thestonewallandthetrees,

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

thecamelandthewisemen,

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

andtheshepherdwithhissheep.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Shefoundanangel,butitdidnotmatchtheset,sosheputitonadifferenttable.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Finally,shefoundJoseph,Mary,andthelittlemanger.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

SheunwrappedbabyJesuslast,becauseHewasthecenteroftheChristmasstory.

Sheverycarefullyremovedthetissuepaper,butwasdismayedasshelookedatthefragilebabyJesus.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Michael’sMomdidnotknowhowthishadhappened.Shedidnotwheretofindthefingertipstogluethembackon.

Twoofthefingertipsweremissingfromoneofthetinyhands.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Michael’sMomgentlylaidthesmallinfantinthemanger.

Asshelookedatthebrokenfingers,sherealizedthatthenativitybabyJesushadadamagedhandjustlikeherson,Michael.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

SherememberedthatwhentherealbabyJesusgrewup,hishandshadbeennailedtoacrossforeveryone'ssins.Hehadfeltpeople'spainandsorrow,evenhers.

Michael’sMomwasreassuredthatJesusunderstoodhersadnessandMichael'sloss.ShehadreceivedhersignofGod'slove.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

NowMichael'sMomknewshecouldenjoyChristmas.

Whenevershewalkedbythenativityset,

shelookedatthetwobrokenfingersandfeltthepeaceinthesadness.

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

Sometimes,shestartedhumming

oneofherownfavouritesongs,

‘JoytotheWorld!’

ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution

ProofCopy:NotoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistributionProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution