Every Petal...

The wife of one of our history professors was diagnosed a few months ago with cancer. For a while they couldn't decide what kind it was, and after undergoing treatment for something it turns out she didn't have, she was just recently re-diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A friend of hers - the wife of another history professor - organized a campus-wide Sabbath of support. She asked that anyone who knows Jonna leave flowers and/or notes of encouragement and support on the family's driveway gate. The evening was to start at 5 p.m. and go through sundown, welcoming the Sabbath with a gate full of flowers of faith. Someone had taped a note to the gate saying, "Every Petal is a Prayer," and when I arrived a few minutes after 5, several people were already there. They had bags full of lilac branches they were tying all over the gate. Someone else was there with a couple of potted geraniums. And others had already left bouquets of different types and colours of flowers at different spots on the gate. I added my bouquet (on behalf of a committee I chair at the university) and left again. I hope someone takes a picture when all is said and done. Jonna, we're still praying for you.