Always Read the Back of the Card

I received a "Thinking of You" card in the mail recently from a friend. After I read the card and the personal hand written note, I flipped the card over to look at the back. I always like to see who printed the card (i.e. Hallmark, American Greetings). This particular card was a Guideposts Greetings card and a short article by Gina Bridgeman was included on the back of this card. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to share it with you. Thank you Sharon Weaver for sending the card and thank you Gina Bridgeman for your thoughts and insights. Just look what I would have missed if I had not looked at the back of the card.

Someone Cares

"I read recently that by the time you reach age seventy-five you might easily have slept the equivalent of twenty-five years of your life. I think I've already spent as least that much time watching. Last week I watched my son Ross play trombone in a jazz band concert, my daughter Maria dance in a recital and my husband Paul's barbershop quartet in concert. Soon, I'll begin the springtime rite of sitting on hard metal bleachers watching countless hours of high school baseball.

I was telling my mom that maybe I should be doing more and watching less when she laid the truth on me in her reliably sensible way. 'We can't all be stars,' she said. 'Somebody has to watch, or it would take all the fun out of performing.' Then I remembered how our daughter rushed up to us after last year's school musical. 'Did you see my dance?' she wanted to know. The fact that Mom and Dad had seen her seemed as important as the dance itself.

My mom also pointed out that there's more to my role than simply watching: Somebody has to drive to rehearsals, get the piano tuned and volunteer to bring the post-game snack. None of that may be glamorous, but I've learned that the performance - or whatever form that 'starring role' takes - couldn't happen without the supporting players. We watchers play an important role in the lives of others, who need to know that someone is cheering especially for them."

Gina Bridgeman

Guideposts Greetings

0925831