Sunday, March 4, 2018

Time to chime

This antique mantel clock once belonged to Ted's grandfather. It was beautiful and held sentimental value.

One day I surprised Ted by having it restored so it would chime again. It is a clock you wind with a key to have it keep time. The beautiful chimes sounded every quarter hour, day and night; it was the music of our home.

In spring 2013, my dear husband was hospitalized, fighting the last battles with cancer. I spent a lot of time there, so wasn't home much to wind the clock.

When Ted passed away, there was much I was overwhelmed with, and I didn't bother winding the clock. My home was empty without Ted and eerily silent without those cheerful chimes. But I almost couldn't bear to hear them...without Ted. It was a season of quiet.

One morning many months ago, I felt ready to wind that clock to hear those chimes again. But I wasn't successful in getting it to work. I had to be content to enjoy the familiar beauty of the clock without the functionality.

Now nearing the five-year anniversary of missing Ted, I realize my life is filled with purpose and meaning once more. Though I still think of Ted all the time, I have been able to say, "I love my life again." (Ted and I used to say to each other, "I love our lives together.")

A couple nights ago, I dusted the trunk with Ted's significant memorabilia and dusted the clock, moving it slightly. I thought about getting it restored to working order again. As I went about doing other work, a familiar bell chimed. It was not connected with my phone and it made me stop in my tracks. "Was that the clock??" I wondered.

It sure was! I then noticed it was the on-the-hour chime, so I counted the bells, thinking I would need to adjust the time. To my surprise, the clock chimed nine bells and it was exactly 9:00. How did that happen?

As I continued working around the house, I tried to think of a logical explanation. I understood that moving it caused it to start again -- though several minutes later. There is no cord, no battery and no solar connection for this old clock to keep accurate time. How was it after all this time that it began working again, chiming at the perfect hour?

Logical or supernatural -- it doesn't matter -- my heart soared with delight to hear those chimes come back to life! Every quarter hour since, my joy soars as I hear the chimes. The chimes remind me I am loved. Loved by God. Loved by Ted. The music of our home is playing again.


Thank you, God, for your unfailing love. I am greatly glad in you. You are the center of my heart. You give many good things because you love to see my delight!

3 comments:

  1. Wow! Our God is amazing. He has perfect timing.

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  2. I love these stories about how God reminds us He is there.

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