Grandpa and Joseph's Blanket by Sandra Rafuse

The prompt for the month of October reminded me of a children's book called Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman. It's a lovely story about a Jewish family who welcome a new baby boy into their home. They name him Joseph. The grandfather in the family makes a wonderful blanket "to keep him warm and cozy and to chase away bad dreams". Over time Joseph grows older and the blanket becomes worn out. When his mother insists it be thrown out, Joseph, who loves his unattractive, torn blanket, takes it to Grandpa because "Grandpa can fix it'. And Grandpa does. The blanket becomes a wonderful jacket.

The story goes on and we see how Grandpa reuses the material from the blanket he made in the beginning. Joseph keeps growing so eventually the jacket shrinks and is too small. His mother insists it be thrown out. But not to worry; "Grandpa can fix it". Every time Joseph takes the most recently worn out item to his Grandfather, Grandfather figures out what he can make with the material that is still good to use, until, with the last piece of material Joseph brings to him, Grandpa makes him a button, a wonderful button. One day the button is lost! The last bit of material is gone. There is nothing left to use. Even Grandpa admits, "you can't make something from nothing." The reader might think the story ends here, but it doesn't. Joseph goes to school the next day, and, sitting down at a table with a pen and a piece of paper, he realizes he has "enough material to write . . . a wonderful story!"

Besides reminding me of Gilman's book, the prompt also stopped me in my tracks. Why? Because I do not have a collection of writing on hand to reuse, recycle, or reduce. Oh yes. . .I wrote interesting letters to friends, and I completed short essays on university exams and I penned brief accounts of events that took place during the previous year on my out going Christmas cards, but I never saved any of them. It never occurred to me to do that. And it wasn't the kind of writing I would have needed to be doing to use now anyway.

I feel my true to life writing journey started with joining the InScribe Writers Online Blog. I am so pleased to be a member. I can see so many opportunities that await me in the future. Just the suggestions that have been published so far this month could keep me busy for weeks, if not months. And I have so many experiences to draw on. I love what Lorrie Orr said in her recent blog; "God often takes messy life experiences and transforms them into good and beautiful things that reflect his light and love. Then we, in turn, can share about them in our writing". And, of course, there are all of our other experiences to share to bring glory to God.

I am not discouraged that I am a beginning writer. I am full of hope and anticipation and determination to increase my writing skills. I am a writer. I'm retired. I have all the time I need.

Sandra Rafuse lives in the small town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan, with her husband Bob, a Gordon Setter named Sadie, and a Peregrine falcon named Peet. She is a retired teacher, an amateur writer and is enjoying having the opportunity to share what God has been teaching her through her life experiences.

P.S. Our very old cat named Kitty is no longer with us. We are sure he is running and playing and eating and sleeping with the dogs he knew when he was with us here. He is missed.