Pillow Talk

At sixteen years of age, I was swimming happily at Roman Nose State Park, watching the clouds scud across the sky. Breast stroke was my favorite way of swimming. The life guard motioned to me. When I approached him, he asked, “Are those your parents?”

Glancing down the path his finger indicated, I saw that Mom and Dad were sitting on the step with their feet dangling in the water, holding hands. HOLDING HANDS? Yes, I answered. I blushed and claimed them. Such display of affection in public.

It was one thing to see Dad come behind Mom while she was in the kitchen working, wrap his arms around her, and proclaim his love. He adored Mom, his Anna Daisy. When we were little children, the last thing we heard were their murmurs of love….soft, caressing words. We never understood the words, but we knew the tone and feeling of love between our parents. It gave us the security of their love.

As Anna, our daughter, wrote in her last blog, even the last night before Dad was admitted to the hospital for the last time, they spent much time in pillow talk and prayer. They knew that their separation was coming. One of the last thing Dad said, “When Jesus comes, look to the East, and you will see me.”

On 6/9/’79, Mom wrote in her ‘Dear Poppa Journal’, Dear Poppa, This is my first day of living in “singleness”. After fifty-one years of walking in double harness, I find it strange. Every piece of news I have, I want to share. I may talk to you about my work. Please, listen. People loved you. How do I know? I wrote 30 more ‘thank you notes’ today.” Dear Poppa, the garden is beautiful! Your birds were noisy as I walked about. You loved the garden so much and that is where I will feel your presence most. Tomorrow is the day of worship. Last Sunday I was surrounded by my – no – our children. But tomorrow I stand alone. I must learn to do that again. Through all the years I leaned so hard on your strength. But dear One, I have the Lord with me. Isn’t that wonderful? I feel so at peace about your leaving me. God prepared my heart, and you took care of my needs in so many ways. So thank you, Darling. Most of all, I thank you for the way you loved me. How many times a day did you say, “I love you, I love you most!” As I sit in my chair with closed eyes. I sense your presence and I hear your words. Your chair is empty and upright. Your warm, bright afghan is folded and unused. Your love is a blessed memory. You filled and heaped my life with love and those embers now keep me warm.

Pillow Talk….even in the pages of a journal, and that one ‘Dear Poppa Journal’ now fills many notebooks of the journey of Anna Daisy Siemens as she continued on through life for another twenty-one years.

My dear husband and I have enjoyed Pillow Talk for fifty-six years. As time goes on, we know that at some point God will beckon one of us or both of us home. The Pillow Talk times become more and more precious to us.

And now I enjoy another kind of Pillow Talk each night. Pillow Talk with our Lord. The last thing before I close my eyes in sleep, I have “Pillow Talk” with Jesus. That precious time when I thank Him for the day, and count the blessings He has given me. The blessings always include family – our descendants and those to come, and church family. I feel the peace and joy of relying and trusting Jesus. I know that my life is in His Care. I thank Him for the things He gives me to do each day. And then just before my eyes close in sleep, I smile, knowing He will keep me during the night. Pictures and words fill my mind, but nothing I can imagine compares with Who He IS.

When I read His Word, I marvel anew at the immense love and sacrifice of Jesus. I am astonished at how He can open His arms to me; I am amazed at the complexity and yet utter simpleness of His plan to save me. And you.

Just yesterday, I read I Peter 4:12-13 (Message) – Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.

That glory is what I desire…Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Pillow Talk….
Intimate Time just before sleep.
When secret dreams and plans are shared.
A time when our love deepens
And my heart knows you care

Pillow Talk, we murmur pillow talk
Words of love and sharing, it’s Pillow Talk
Year after Year, our love still grows
You ask how, and I answer, “Pillow Talk’.