10th January 2022

What decorates your fridge door? I have a varied collection of fridge magnets which cheer me up as I pass by. Very mundane: the one that tells me to ring Bristol Careline every month to assure them I’m still alive. But that also reminds me that the Council is caring for me. The oldest one was made by my greatniece as a child, butterflies dancing over a river and reedbed with ‘Auntie Lesley’ painted on it and reminds me how my family cares for me. I have one ‘Shalom’, two of the Aaronic prayer: ‘the Lord bless you and keep you…’ and one that tells me each day is a gift from God. Joy or challenge?

Another challenge is to ‘Bloom where you’re planted’, while the Senility prayer invites me to ask the Lord to ‘give me the senility to forget the people I never liked, the good fortune to remember the ones I do like and the eyesight to tell the difference!’ A carved and polished wood one in central position is inscribed: ‘Bless this Home’. But the one I like best has a lovely promise: ‘Friends are God’s way of taking care of us.’ What could be better to bring warmth and joy?

Lesley Fuller