Nameplates

One of the pleasures of being 'European' is that we are able to easily move between so many wonderful cultures. In fact, it can cost us less to hop on the train or Ferry to France, than it does to take the train up to London. One morning we took the train to Lille France. It's a fast trip from Kent -just twenty minutes under the English Channel and a fast zip through the French countryside and you arrive at Lille. From the station it's just a few seconds walk into the centre of town.

As we walked through the quiet sun dappled older part of the historic French village, we paused to look at the wonderfully aged oak front doors of some houses. Inevitably there were the customary beautiful flowerpots and window boxes filled with geraniums and the like, certainly set there for the benefit of no tourist. And on each door, nameplates: 'Monsieur' et 'Madame' et 'Mme'... whoever.

But one in particular stood out. I paused a while to ponder who these people were who lived behind that door, whose nameplate read not only Mr. and Mrs. but added so tellingly the words 'et nos enfants.' (and our children). Were those children still there or had the years taken them away to other places? I just don't know.

But I like to think that whether small or grown up, living in that village or far away, for those children, this house with that nameplate would be forever home. And that those who wrote those loving words 'and our children' would never be forgotten by them.


Almighty God, on all our journeys, through all our days, keep us mindful we pray, for those who at each stage of the journey have held us and loved us. Amen

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