'fraidy Cat

I probably have some of the same fears that most people do....snakes, wasps, things that go bump in the night. . .escalators.

What you are not afraid of an escalator?

I vaguely remember a fall down some stairs when I was a very young child.  It seems like there was a tricycle involved.  I cannot remember the details.

I just know that for as long as I can remember I have been very unsure of myself when coming down steps.

And you let those steps be electronically operated - real, sincere FEAR!

My family and friends have seen me walk a long way in search of stairs  - to avoid an escalator.

So - I recently was enjoying grandchild #5 (my little effervescent) at the Avenue's Mall.  We had parked on the second level, visited two of her selected stores and were looking for another when I saw it - on the lower level so we walked down the steps.

I told her I don't like escalators.

There were two more places she wanted to go - one back on the second level and the other - we were not sure.

So I suggested that we go into Penney's and take the elevator up.  I'll never forget her words as the door opened and she saw a caution sign on the floor - loose tile.

"Grandma I'm afraid of an elevator".

I assured her it was safe and she need not be afraid.

We were soon back in the mall and still looking for that one more place when I spotted it -- DOWN STAIRS

Okay, we would just walk to the stairs and walk back.

Except I had just told her not to be afraid.

You guessed it - that's what she said to me.

"Come on, Grandma, you don't need to be afraid.  It will be all right... I'll help you:'

Only once we got there, little Miss Effervescent was on the escalator - on her way down  and grandma "FROZE".

Fortunately a nice young man (and what seemed to be a huge crowd of onlookers) saw my angst.

He was very helpful and took my arm as we made our descent.

So now my granddaughter and I have a plan.

She's going to work on elevators - and me -- oh help - I'm going to master the escalator

"When I get really afraid I come to you (God) in trust" (Psalm  56:3 The Message)

May your life be filled with enough sunshine

to make you appreciate the shadows!

Say or Do

"Don't just say what you do....do what you say".

I've heard those words forever!
I'm not that good at following them.

However. . .

Recently I observed someone very close to me - observing quiet time.  I don't think she knew I was watching but I was (sorry if I seem like a stalker).

I actually thought she was a consistent, never miss, quiet time participant.

(Now for those who don't know - "quite time is the time when a person reads and meditates on Scripture and prays).

Later she told me how over the past few months, she has been getting up early and seems to have developed a pattern.

HUM.

So, following what I saw her do, I went to the bookstore to see if I could find a devotion book that I could use - to see if I could become more consistent.

Now a disclaimer.  I have known that I should do this since I was in high school and truth be told I usually read a few different devotionals each day.  And I've seen my mother have a quite time as long as I can remember.

And now a confession.  I was not a Beth Moore fan - for a long time.  I thought she seemed arrogant when I heard her speak the first time, tried a Beth Moore Bible Study a few years ago that didn't work for me - and really have only recently begun to appreciate her as I am in a small group Bible study where we all can interact - listening and sharing.

And so it was - that I saw the book, Whispers of Hope" (Beth Moore).  I have loved the same titled song for many years so I picked it up.  I picked it up - and saw that it's a 40 day study.  Apparently there's something about becoming consistent if you do something for 40 days (note how many diets are telling you - do it for 40 days and you'll be amazed).

Today is my 17th day and it's great.  One thing that works for me is that I am writing - like a journal - but it has a form, not just all the thoughts I have which are usually quite scattered.

So the purpose of my words - Do what I do....take some time each day...medicate and pray!

May your life be filled with enough sunshine

to make you appreciate the shadows!

Pushing 70

I think he started saying it when he was 70 years old.  That was 25 years ago.


Each year, the day after my daddy's birthday, he would tell us that he was pushing the next number.  He had been  "pushing" 88 for nine moths when he died on September 16, 2009.   He was happy to be his age, it's just something he did.


Earlier this week I celebrated my 69th birthday.


As that day was fast approaching I began to think about being 69.  One thing just kept coming back to my thoughts - my maternal grandmother died when she was 69.


She seemed much older then than I do now.


I'm also healthier.


But still - she was 69 and a half years old.


My mother was 48 when she lost her mother.  All of my siblings and I are way beyond that. We feel fortunate that we still have our sweet and feisty mother.  She prefers sweet.


As we shared my birthday lunch, I began to lament  the fact that I am now 69 - that if daddy were here he would tell me that I'm pushing 70.


Mother interrupted,


"And your mother is 93".


I started to rethink my attitude. My daddy's mother lived to be 90; my mother's daddy lived to be 97 and like she said "my mother is 93".


Hum.


And then there were the words of my youngest granddaughter, a  radiant 8 year old.

"Grandma you look really good for your age!"

Hum.


For a long time I was 60+.  That really has to now be 70-.


I thought about what has happened to me in my sixties -- I've had a slew of part time jobs where I've made wonderful friends,  Four grandchildren were added to our family (remember that three came in one fell swoop).  I became a published writer and figured out the best way to care for our mother through connections I had because of one of those part time jobs.


So what's next?


Read more, exercise more, learn more, play more, love more


Oh and of course - Write more - which of course - I hope you will read - And until the next time my words hit your screen,

May your life be filled with enough sunshine
to make you appreciate the shadows!