A few minutes ago, I was headed down the hall of the nursing home where I work. A very old gentleman was propelling himself in his wheelchair in the opposite direction. He rarely ventures from his room and even more rarely initiates conversations, so I was surprised when he stopped me.
"Do you have a minute?" he asked.
"Sure. How can I help you?"
He pointed to the back of his wheelchair. "I'm kind of worried about where I'm going to fill this thing up."
My response was a blank look.
"With gasoline. So it will go faster," he explained.
"You're in luck, Joe. It's not a gasoline powered wheelchair. Much cheaper," I responded.
"Oh, okay. That's good. Thanks." And he continued down the hall.
So now there's one guy not bothered by high gas prices.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Saturday, September 30, 2006
eulogy for a baby bird
In my job and in my family life, I've become quite familiar with death. Unexpected and awful death, gentle and longed-for death, tragic death, peaceful death. I work with people who are ill or very old, so nearly each week I lose a friend to death. Some are ready and I rejoice for them. Some are fighting to the last. I've learned how to mourn appropriately and move on. But this morning, I found myself in tears when I reached work and found the baby bird from our aviary dead in the bottom. He'd had an accident last week, and I've been nursing him along, hoping he'd make it. I don't even really like birds, so I'm not sure where all of this emotion came from. Probably exhaustion. The twelve hours I worked yesterday have combined with coming in early again today to produce a numbness that is only thawed by large quantities of Diet Dr. Pepper. So here I am. Teary over a baby bird. My friend Edna, who is turning 100 this month, watched me from her wheelchair as I removed the baby bird from the aviary . "That's a terrible responsibility," she said. Perspective came washing over me as I looked into her serious face.
Matthew 10:29-31 "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (or even zebra finches)
Matthew 10:29-31 "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (or even zebra finches)
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Happy Birthday, Dear Karyn
Okay, so a month later, after increasing pressure, I'm going to blog about my 29th birthday.
I truly hadn't expected it to be one of my best birthdays ever, even though I'd been looking forward to having the "golden birthday" ever since I'd moved to the Midwest and heard of such a thing. On my birthday evening, I talked to a friend who expressed it this way, "You are a blessed woman." And he is right.
My family members reached out to express their love from across the miles on that day and sent thoughtful presents and cards. My coworkers celebrated with a wonderful birthday bash. Some of my friends--no, FAMILY here from Morning Star came together in a surprise celebration. My very kind roommate Melody called my mom for a list of my favorite foods which she cooked for about fifteen people. As a transplanted Southerner, I rarely cook southern food (most of my friends won't eat it anyway), but I miss it. Melody made barbequed pork, sweet potatoes, and beans and cornbread. Jane and Bev chipped in the 'nana puddin' and the sweet tea. It was a feast we all enjoyed. Then I was loaded down with fun presents, like extravagantly bright pajamas, lotions, a loaded picnic basket, candles, and Barnes and Nobles gift cards! Henry even brought the backgammon board for a birthday game, but he wasn't in a festive enough mood to let me win. I think I would have enjoyed a party like this at any age, but it was sweeter at 29. My priorities are clearly defined now, and the fellowship of Christian friends is more valuable than any present that I could recieve.
The most wonderful presents were given to me by my cousin Georgia, who is a continual blessing of God to me. She sent money to help me pay for a trip to Iowa the following holiday weekend where I visited with my friends Emily and Daniel and their children. (more to follow in another belated posting) After I returned from that trip, she sent me something that I'd been praying about getting only the day before it arrived: a beautiful leather-bound ESV Bible.
Growing up, I imagined that being 29 would be quite different than my life is now, but while it is different from what I wanted, it is also "exceedingly abundantly" better. I would not have chosen the life I have now, only because even with my over-active imagination I could not have understood the varied and creative ways that God has used to pour out all these blessings on me.
I truly hadn't expected it to be one of my best birthdays ever, even though I'd been looking forward to having the "golden birthday" ever since I'd moved to the Midwest and heard of such a thing. On my birthday evening, I talked to a friend who expressed it this way, "You are a blessed woman." And he is right.
My family members reached out to express their love from across the miles on that day and sent thoughtful presents and cards. My coworkers celebrated with a wonderful birthday bash. Some of my friends--no, FAMILY here from Morning Star came together in a surprise celebration. My very kind roommate Melody called my mom for a list of my favorite foods which she cooked for about fifteen people. As a transplanted Southerner, I rarely cook southern food (most of my friends won't eat it anyway), but I miss it. Melody made barbequed pork, sweet potatoes, and beans and cornbread. Jane and Bev chipped in the 'nana puddin' and the sweet tea. It was a feast we all enjoyed. Then I was loaded down with fun presents, like extravagantly bright pajamas, lotions, a loaded picnic basket, candles, and Barnes and Nobles gift cards! Henry even brought the backgammon board for a birthday game, but he wasn't in a festive enough mood to let me win. I think I would have enjoyed a party like this at any age, but it was sweeter at 29. My priorities are clearly defined now, and the fellowship of Christian friends is more valuable than any present that I could recieve.
The most wonderful presents were given to me by my cousin Georgia, who is a continual blessing of God to me. She sent money to help me pay for a trip to Iowa the following holiday weekend where I visited with my friends Emily and Daniel and their children. (more to follow in another belated posting) After I returned from that trip, she sent me something that I'd been praying about getting only the day before it arrived: a beautiful leather-bound ESV Bible.
Growing up, I imagined that being 29 would be quite different than my life is now, but while it is different from what I wanted, it is also "exceedingly abundantly" better. I would not have chosen the life I have now, only because even with my over-active imagination I could not have understood the varied and creative ways that God has used to pour out all these blessings on me.
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