I thought of Elaine today.
3-year-old Abby was holding one of those "Read-Aloud Bible Stories" in her hands, asking me to read it to her. She let me know, "I love this book!" (it sounded more like "I LUUUB dis book!") I stopped and thought of Elaine.
It was Elaine who gave us the first Read-Aloud Bible Stories book we ever had. It was she who gave Abby the rest of the 3 in the set. She and I were the kind of friends that would simply ask each other up front, "What would you like me to get for [your child] for their birthday?" I had told her how much I liked the first Read-Aloud Bible Stories that she gave us, and that I'd eventually like to buy the rest of the books. She went and got us the other 3 books in the set.
Come to think of it, Elaine had lots of good recommendations for books and DVDs that helped our children grow in our Christian faith. I remember one year she gave Katy the Boz DVD Thank You God for Colors and Shapes. Admittedly, at first I thought to myself, "Oh c'mon, does a DVD about shapes and colors really need to be Christianized? Isn't that a bit over the top?" (I'm pretty sure I later told her about this, so I'm not saying anything she wouldn't have known.) But as I watched it, I grew in appreciation of it. It wasn't just coating everything with God, but rather it helped even ME see how God is present in and integrated into our everyday life, how I can appreciate the wonders of God even in the things I see in my everyday life.
I will think of Elaine thankfully whenever I read those books to my kids or see those DVDs. I am grateful for this everlasting legacy Elaine has left for my kids.
- Judy Tsao
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