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Mrs. Thalia Ludlow woke up in deep, instinctive need to go comfort something … a thunderstorm, somewhere, needed a big hug.
This was exactly what she dreamed about upon waking, but that was because her husband's voice was a immense basso profundo – one of the ways she knew he loved her, and their grandchildren, was the extent to which their home did not sound like a thunderstorm, all day, every day. R.E. Ludlow had been a soldier 33 years before his retirement, but he had kept that voice peaceful in his home interactions.
But, here was the thing – cutting clear under the sound of the shower that might mask the noise at sufficient distance so his grandchildren could not make it out – he was sobbing, all out.
Mrs. Ludlow hurried into the bathroom and then stopped her hurry... Capt. Ludlow was having a breakthrough, a release he needed.
“Thank You, Lord … You not only have brought me and my family to peace, but today, for the first time, I felt it … I've healed enough past all You have led me through to feel it … my grief for my children may never end, but finally, finally, there is room enough for there to still be peace because You are my peace and have made that room for me!”
Mrs. Ludlow had known this breakthrough was coming … giving up the job that was no good for him was a final practical step … he still had a few days left but was training his replacement … he had applications in for jobs that would let him build and grow, grow and build, finally having a choice in the matter … he had looked again at the family resources and realized that even without taking money from the business he was growing, he did not need to rush into new employment … his grandchildren were also settling into peace and happiness … he had the love of his life beside him … everything was stable … at peace … and finally, his feelings had caught up with the situation.
Mrs. Ludlow tiptoed backwards out of the bathroom; Capt. Ludlow needed this time with their Lord, uninterrupted. If he had seen her, in that high of an emotional state, his body would have demanded he experience that with Mrs. Ludlow, and she knew they would have enjoyed that immensely … but while the flesh was always willing, the spirit needed time too, so she put on her robe, got her tea, and went out to the living room, where sleepy Amanda (7) and Lil' Robert (5), the two early-rising grandchildren, came and found her.
“I just feel like good things are happening today!” Amanda said as she snuggled up on one side of her grandmother.
“Me too!” said Robert as he snuggled up on the other side.
“Well, they are!” Mrs. Ludlow said, and gave them a kiss as they settled in to go right back to sleep with smiles on their little faces.
Capt. Ludlow came out looking for his wife five minutes later, and saw the scene – Mrs. Ludlow saw his face and eyes light up from joy and love – and then did a perfect military turn – about-face, because –.
“Lord, I just stopped crying – I guess I gotta get it all out of me before work!”