%PDF-1.7 1 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Outlines 2 0 R /Pages 3 0 R >> endobj 2 0 obj << /Type /Outlines /Count 0 >> endobj 3 0 obj << /Type /Pages /Kids [6 0 R 17 0 R ] /Count 2 /Resources << /ProcSet 4 0 R /Font << /F1 8 0 R /F2 9 0 R /F3 10 0 R /F4 11 0 R /F5 12 0 R /F6 14 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 15 0 R /GS2 16 0 R /GS3 19 0 R /GS4 20 0 R >> >> /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] >> endobj 4 0 obj [/PDF /Text ] endobj 5 0 obj << /Producer (dompdf 1.0.2 + CPDF) /CreationDate (D:20250810104543+00'00') /ModDate (D:20250810104543+00'00') >> endobj 6 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 7 0 R >> endobj 7 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1809 >> stream xXKFWqh8|K%k!ȡE4twsd_$njJ !CGg&iQQzJjMw-lt#_{IKot~[|XPdi,|ʤUY'%nA\ߪp“)W}5_o<߼XdIuPdI]Nl>q6V..~ Q(eW([TdKZarZQӺt89 ]OXW2djze'zigƾ%cOͱ@ϊ4Y\M ewR7t3yT3ۉޘ~0GbF^6U^?H>H;NtJOt1cs|N"WLX 'orf&#s\d5}sbîCV39XW0-612Q7ʱ,EO?j^ɞXִ#\%ԻsG8XT1Z3 x\ X-<ܾAD HKWV2P?bԗlk:ŒamGH+O#hv^J,}:t<óMCQVOdѬqV5BU6N p_ ,ϩx766_FiIV2xު/GG :Y<]J(Är&{3Iao6SW% 6%bC"ea-gR2ZAy'v,6bg=$vl!jQV{dH.Ӫƨw&Gϛel̳v]L9^8;ˑAV cg>%&- u Vj33»QCLF9d12 eZHq2'1(\#CX+b0] MV%"5XƲ@{n'V_y5@Kv?Z?Zɝ;&og{9UqkI'69B- a[4WgaEr-TZi4F ɣ3Z*2LrA$d4#:"w\V6)cU<h-OuU+HmOTuB_/;#t̸,Ɛc0Jq}&c95> endobj 9 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F2 /BaseFont /Times-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 10 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F3 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 11 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F4 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 12 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F5 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Oblique /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 13 0 obj [6 0 R /Fit] endobj 14 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F6 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 15 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 0.3 >> endobj 16 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 0.3 >> endobj 17 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 18 0 R >> endobj 18 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1351 >> stream xVM6ﯘc 8Zɶc6M]Z[̊CR?#-7vkErf͛.T{}}{SZeQ%O7?ӪN?6]辥۟+EIG?s'er}˞7m5 ʻ #{mO.0'EGvƒ8DlX|'ݿ_b٭rWaǶ;]tҖb Og@!:!D:pa{͂܋)SfW &3~Yx#'tG79eZ.3f`9$qVt0[Ȓ;y`_.* i-f[fLt b7@|2jLR BT>A7xNĢG8 p&Tr\l jOvg>uOW"`h-Xj+#ďGm#ܯ3z c\NDl:w(>&] =lR DSor#KgdRܖxߠ?xMAqR%<h3Y _ spP;*׉eDQЋVNhDQ~A"-$}c3\à Zr3xG>̱(zXyقj訏0?5UL l 6F٥jH7\: Pt\Ewb]؃50K#^@/CC]eE(2įQ2CuƱF+i*s. aJ^"0Gt/i©نq65IV*sT~Ub7 }*>Gw!v >^DvXѐ ,wف~埈̟ 9,U]9J̀fLFQQp.* aMs|>G;7녿x$hөW$ jSg T*> #GAٮ J0v*Xn>91x?6ɎԳO7kW1}6b}]݆#Ct5Ky~=jsz)6峳g_gP endstream endobj 19 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 1 >> endobj 20 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 1 >> endobj xref 0 21 0000000000 65535 f 0000000009 00000 n 0000000074 00000 n 0000000120 00000 n 0000000401 00000 n 0000000430 00000 n 0000000579 00000 n 0000000682 00000 n 0000002564 00000 n 0000002671 00000 n 0000002779 00000 n 0000002889 00000 n 0000003002 00000 n 0000003118 00000 n 0000003147 00000 n 0000003257 00000 n 0000003316 00000 n 0000003375 00000 n 0000003480 00000 n 0000004905 00000 n 0000004962 00000 n trailer << /Size 21 /Root 1 0 R /Info 5 0 R /ID[<2e0a25d25f7270f41e2d39331e2d8945><2e0a25d25f7270f41e2d39331e2d8945>] >> startxref 5019 %%EOF On the Corner | Caring Magazine

Vol. #28

Grace Uncovered

Read Issue

Latest Impact StoriesView All

Popular Topics

PopularView All

On the Corner

June 3, 2004
3 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
Listen to this article

Welcome home

by Robert Doctor –

Does every family have a family couch—where most of the conversation takes place—where most important events are explored—where feelings emerge unannounced? Ours is a large, leather corner sectional. It’s where everyone goes to sit when they walk into our well-named family room. It’s the gathering place, and on special days or special occasions all the family members are there. I sat on our family couch the other day surrounded by parents and children and just sat back listening to the voices. My “spot” seems to be in the corner, and each of the grandchildren take great joy in rushing to beat grandpa to his spot. It’s kind of a rounded corner, so there’s always room to squeeze another body in.

Such was my joy on this occasion. Morgan Ellis Jennings introduced himself to his extended family. He dropped in just a few days late accompanied by his parents, Julie and Paul Jennings. He’s not small—weighing in at eight pounds fifteen ounces—almost 21 inches long. He was lying comfortably in his mother’s arms close to his cousin, Grace, six months his senior. Quickly, he began contributing strenuously to the conversation in his own unique way. His four-year-old brother, Griffith, who had already met him at the hospital, just stood in front of him transfixed, his wide, dark eyes filled with awe. His two-year-old brother, Owen, who was being introduced for the first time, wandered over, took a quizzical look, and then ran off to more exciting conquests.

Julie looked radiant—her face lighted from within. Paul had a big grin pasted on his face under sleepy eyes. She held Morgan close to her, the warmth of her body warming him in a symbiotic, reciprocal kind of way that comes when one person nurtures another. Already, he’s giving something back. Paul wandered away in search of ‘Griff’ and Owen. I got the impression he didn’t want them to feel pushed aside, or replaced in any way. His arms opened wide and surrounded both sons. When he crouched down to talk to them, his eyes became brighter, his face said: “I’m here—with you,” and they resonated to his caring warmth and love.

Some of Morgan’s older cousins came around, hovering close for a few minutes, asking questions, relating, and looking with wonder in their eyes. Their parents stood just behind them, marveling at the mystery of new life and immense joy.

Julie passed Morgan over to Diane, sitting beside the couch in her rocker. She was the only one besides his mother to hold him that day. The bonding started quickly—her tone of voice, the sounds coming from deep in her heart, the slight crinkle of lines around her eyes, her face revealing more than any words could describe the miracle of borderless, expansive love.

Looking at her as she held our fourteenth grandchild I felt overwhelmed with feelings. Simply to describe them with the word “joy” would do them no justice, for they stimulated thoughts of twenty other children in those remarkable arms listening to her, relaxing with her, feeling the comfort of complete security locked in her embrace.

My mind traveled back fifty years—startled for a moment at the tempo of time in which a life is lived—seeing her when first we met—seeing her full beauty now—wanting somehow to express my appreciation for choosing to live her life with me—knowing, without the ability to conceptualize, the true meaning of love.

I looked around the room—what a family—what a remarkable group of people sharing the excitement of a new member within an elastic extended family. What a bunch.

So Morgan—we’re all really glad to see you—unique and independent as you seem to be, yet still fully connected to your parents, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmas Diane and Doreen—Grandpa Colin—and don’t forget the guy in the corner of the couch. He’s been praying for you for six or eight months, now, and loves you already.

Download this page as a PDF

You May Also Like