30 Days of Gratitude - Day 30

 Day 30 – November 30 – “Give thanks for God’s continued love, grace, and mercy”

I am so grateful I was born after Christ. The God of the Old Testament seemed to be an angry, vengeful, fear-invoking God. I’m not a Biblical scholar, but I don’t remember any scripture in the Old Testament that depicts God as a God of love, grace, and mercy.

Having children changes you. Maybe the birth of His Son changed Him too. Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. Of course, Jesus changed the world. Some say the whole point of sending Jesus was so he could experience the human condition firsthand.  I don’t pretend to know the mind of God. But if the Bible is to be believed, and I do believe it, after Jesus was born, God became a God of love, grace, and mercy. He became compassionate.

So since I hope to spend eternity somewhere besides in everlasting flames, I am very thankful for God’s forgiveness (mercy) for my many transgressions, for God’s grace that I don’t have to “earn” , and for His unconditional love,.

Amen and AMEN

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 29

 Day 29 – November 29 – First Sunday of Advent – “Give thanks that the Christ-child is coming and continues to come to us”

Yesterday I put together my Advent wreath. Today the first candle, that represents “HOPE” was lit.

The current sermon series at church is on Dreams, and our Advent meditations for the month are also about dreams and dreaming.

When Christ was a “gleam in his Father’s eye”, so to speak, an angel appeared to Mary to tell her of her impending pregnancy. But the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to inform him that his fiancé was having a baby. There are Biblical scholars who believe Mary probably also had a dream, but that the writer of the Gospels probably thought an angel appearing in person would be more believable to the people of the time.

The Magi had a dream too. Many things were revealed to people in dreams in Biblical times. Angels appeared to the shepherds to let them know Christ was born. All of the time surrounding the coming of Christ seems to be wrapped up in angels and dreams.

Whether in a dream, or in person, the people directly involved in the birth of the Christ-child were informed of the event.

Christians celebrate the birth every year, and begin to anticipate it four weeks in advance.

I can’t imagine what the world would be like without Christ, so I do give thanks for His birth and life. He is always with us, in the Holy Spirit. Now, 2000 years later, we still anticipate the day He will come again.

Thank you, God, for the gift of Your son.

Amen.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 28

 Day 28 – November 28 – “Give thanks for what you’ve learned about yourself this month”

I’ve learned that I whine a lot.

I’ve learned that this isolation (due to COVID) has stolen a lot of my joy.

 God knows I’m trying to keep a positive attitude.

I’m alive and healthy, so I really am thankful for that. If I were sequestered and sick, what an awful situation that would be! And there are many other people in that exact place.

So while I haven’t really learned much about myself I didn’t already know, I truly thank God for my health.

Amen.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 27

 Day 27 – November 27 – “Give thanks for your favorite place. Why is it your favorite place?”

My “favorite place” changes with my mood and my age.

Historically my favorite place has always been the beach. Keith’s sister, Dianne, had a cottage on the beach at Gulf Shores. It is where we walked along the surf at night, built sand turtles, and spent hours talking and laughing. It is where Keith asked me to marry him. Back then, the road and beach were deserted for miles on either side, except for one little oyster bar.

In about 1979, Hurricane Frederic blew away most of Gulf Shores, including Dianne’s cottage and the oyster bar. In the years that followed, Dianne rebuilt the cottage, this time up on stilts, with a modern kitchen, and large enough to sleep 8 adults.

All the surrounding property was built up. No longer is there a view. From Dianne’s deck the only view is a multistory timeshare building directly across the road. No view of the beach at all, and no access to it unless you walk a half mile down the road.  Going to the beach became a chore rather than a pleasure.

Then we started going to the mountains. Renting a chalet up in the area overlooking Gatlinburg, TN twice a year, and inviting Mark and Aaron’s friends to join us, made for such laughter, music, and happiness.

Then everyone grew up, Keith died, and Mark, Aaron and I made one last trip to Gatlinburg in 2008 to have a little ceremony and leave some of his ashes on the top of one of the mountains up there.  That was my last trip to the mountains.

I’ve always loved being at home. But once your family is out of your house, it sometimes ceases to feel like a “home”. While there are still memories there, they fade over time, and over the chores of upkeep, yardwork, cleaning, blowing leaves, changing light bulbs and eating leftovers in front of the TV.

Right now, my favorite place, and the place I spend a lot of time every week, is Alabama Veterans Memorial Park. The only two who live at my house now are Jaco and me. So about 3 times a week, we go up to AVMP and take a walk to the flagpole. Usually we are the only 2 in the park, so we have it all to ourselves. I usually talk to him as we hike up the road. I point out dead trees, Boy Scout bricks in the path,  and always comment on the state of the flag up on the flagpole. More often than not, I sit on a bleacher and remember … there I go again! Fond memories of Veterans Day and Memorial Day stepstone dedications, the year several of us worked as “docents” during the summer, and the day  a favorite 95-year-old WWII veteran, who was mostly blind, but whose friend brought him up there to sit with me, asked me to marry him.

He was a widower, who had 18 children by one wife, about 12 of whom were still living. I laughed and told him I could never “keep up with” his wife’s “activity”. I just don’t have the energy. We all laughed and he said, “Well, we didn’t have no TV back then.”

Yep. My favorite place right now is definitely AVMP.

30 Days 6of Gratitude - Day 26

 Day 26 – November 26 –  Thanksgiving Day - “What traditions are you grateful for?”

As the years go by, and as every day of 2020 sometimes seems like a year, our traditions have waned, and this year they have pretty much died.

Today is Thanksgiving Day, and I do give thanks that my family and I are healthy, because when health is gone, nothing else matters much. Every Thanksgiving Day since I was born, I have gathered with extended family to eat, remember, and enjoy the togetherness.  It is the one day of the whole year some of us see each other. There is always plenty of food, the parade on TV, the men falling asleep on the couch in front of the TV while the women clean up the table and the kitchen, and enjoy some once-a-year girl time.

At the end of the day, we all hug and promise to text, call or visit more often… but we never do, which makes the Thanksgiving Day mini-family-reunion all the more special, and IMPORTANT.

Not this year. Not 2020.

It is so very strange this year. I’m not somebody to give up easily, though. This year there is no big family gathering. This year our Thanksgiving feast includes just Aaron and me. Mark and Michelle are coming over to sit on the porch and talk a while.  So no turkey. No casseroles and deviled eggs. No pumpkin and pecan pies. Like I said, I don’t give up easily. I did a crockpot chicken, and quartered it. Instead of huge casseroles, I did tiny casseroles in aluminum “pans” and carried Thanksgiving dinner around to Mark and Michelle and several friends who can’t gather, and who will be pretty much alone today.

I think Christmas will be similar.

I think New Years Eve and New Years Day will too.

 I think the traditions of the past will remain in the past. Once a tradition is dropped, it is very hard to renew it later.  So thank you Lord, for 74 years of happy, warm traditions.

They can take away the traditions, but they can’t take away my memories of them.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day

 Day 25 – November 25 – “Give thanks for someone who can make you laugh”

The one person who can make me laugh ANY time is Mark Branson. His unique form of humor makes me laugh until I cry, and my sides hurt, and I can’t catch my breath.

However, because I love him so very much, he can also make me cry with his caustic and hurtful words.

Isn’t it strange that the one person who can delight you so much can also hurt you so much?

So I’ll suffer the “bad” because the “good” is so wonderful.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 24

Day 24 – November 24 – “Give thanks for a longtime friend”

I could write a book about this one!

But I’m going to choose just ONE friend – Pat.

We met in the back seat of Mr. Hall’s car on the way to the Citywide spelling bee competition in 1960. Mr. Hall was the principal of both Minnie Holman and Woodlawn Elementary Schools. Pat was the winner from Woodlawn, and I was the runner-up from Holman. That day was the beginning of a friendship that has lasted these last 65 years.

Just as an outline, there are these things:

1.    I am godmother to her children

2.    She was matron of honor in my first wedding in 1969. (She saved the pictures and recently sent them to me.)

3.    For 50 or so years, we wrote letters back and forth about once a month and spoke on the phone about once a year. (Before internet, cell phones and texting) That was the way people in different cities communicated back then. Hard to imagine now.

4.    When I moved to Texas, she took care of me and my family for several months, until we got settled.

5.    Both our mothers were overbearing, controlling, and independent.

6.    Both our fathers were laid back, loving, fun and controlled by our mothers.

7.    Both our mothers outlived our fathers.

8.    Over the years, Pat has anticipated my needs, and often called me to offer help before I even knew I needed help.

9.    We both love to write.

10. We both joined the military

11. We love each other more than sisters, but yet we ARE “Sisters” because we both are NSDAR members.

I can’t imagine my life without Pat, so yes. I thank God EVERY DAY for bringing Pat into my life, and keeping her there all these years.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 23

 Day 23 – November 23 – “Give thanks for someone that told you a difficult truth”

This is the hardest assignment yet. I’m not sure anyone has told me difficult truths, other than that a loved one has died, or like last week, my children aren’t coming for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year. It is hard to give thanks for any of that, and I’m pretty sure none of that is the “spirit” of this assignment.

Nobody has ever told me I’m not smart enough to do something, or that I can’t do something because I’m female, or that I’m too old for something.

That said, I’m still waiting for someone to tell me what appears right now to be a truth, and it will be very difficult indeed: That I’m not getting a fence in my back yard. And it will be equally difficult to give thanks for the person that has to tell me that.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 22

 Day 22 – November 22 -  “Give thanks for those that bless the church with their musical talents.”

Music is so important to the  experience of worship.

When I was a child out in rural St. Clair County, my parents started attending a tiny church out in the middle of nowhere. It had maybe 10 people there, besides the preacher. They had a piano in the “sanctuary”, but nobody played it, and they didn’t sing hymns, even though there were some hymnals on the pews.

Mother volunteered to play the piano for them on Sunday mornings, so they could sing hymns. Well, that led to a small choir, and then to a prelude and a postlude. Then more people started coming. Within a year, the little sanctuary was PACKED!

With more adults, there were more children, more babies, and they opened a nursery for Sunday mornings. Pretty soon, there was Sunday School and first Saturday night “Singing and Supper on the grounds”, and then Memorial Day to clean and decorate the graves in the little church cemetery.

In another year, there was enough money to buy a small organ, and then they had to have 2 services, because the sanctuary wasn’t big enough to hold all the people who wanted to come to church.

They had weddings and funerals. The choir did Christmas specials. Practically the whole little community was attending church! All within about 3 years, total.

So yes.  I definitely give thanks for everyone who shares their voice, their direction, their instrument playing, and even their ideas!

Thank you!!!

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 21

 Day 21 – November 21 – “Name a random act of kindness you’ve received.”

I am inundated with random acts of kindness. I receive one almost every day.

I will tell you about some of them I’ve received in the last week or so, but you might not recognize them as “random acts of kindness”, but I would argue that any kind act someone does for me, that happened “randomly” fits the definition. One of the very simple ones I can think of right off the top of my head is when Aaron was over here last week, and carried out my garbage. Then he came back and put a new bag in the can. He didn’t tell me, wasn’t asked… just did it out of kindness, and it certainly was RANDOM.

Also last week, I had 50 newsletters to address and stamp. Patty randomly called and offered to help me address them. Kindness indeed.

You already know about my neighbor who gives me eggs from his chickens. This is kind of an “ongoing” act of kindness, so might not be so random any more.

Every once in a while, dear Pat sends me a box of books. What a wonderful thing for her to do for me! It’s always random, and I consider it a true act of kindness.

Linda occasionally brings me a blouse or a floor mat or a pair of shoes, or a book, and says, “This made me think of you.” Or “This is so YOU.” Random? Yes. Kind? VERY.

Sometimes Michelle shows up with buttermilk popsicles.

Sharon writes me notes and leaves them in my car seat. Sometimes it is a card, or a “just thinking of you” note. It always makes my day!

Lea called and offered her staff to help me unload the Wreaths Across America truck when it arrives. That is several weeks away, but what a kind thought, and takes loads of stress off me.

Chris messaged me and has offered Alabama Veteran members to help place the wreaths on the graves on December 19.

And precious Amanda encourages me with her weekly phone call “check-in”. She realizes that to me, texting is impersonal. It also is difficult for me, since I can’t hit a single little digit with my huge fingers, and spend more time correcting what I pecked than I spent even thinking about the message. Three words take me 3 minutes to text. So I tend to “sound” abrupt in my texts. But Amanda spends an hour or so of her time every week talking to me on the phone.

For me, every random act of kindness is a blessing, so when I say I am blessed, I really really mean it.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 20

 

Day 20 – November 20 – “What made you smile today?”

The first thing that made me smile today was when I woke up and Jaco’s muzzle was snuggled against my neck. He was still asleep.

When I got up, I put on the robe Mark and Michelle gave me for Mother’s Day. Not only is it beautiful and soft and comfortable, but THEY gave it to me. I think about them whenever I put it on, and THAT makes me smile every morning.

While coffee was brewing, I fried 2 of the little brown eggs my neighbor gave me from his chickens. I thought about all the years my grandmother had chickens, and let me help feed them and gather eggs. Thinking about my grandmother made me smile.

Checked my email. Two bids on two items I have for sale on ebay. That made me smile!

This Thanksgiving and Christmas, I will be alone for the first time ever in my whole life. I’m still going to put up a tree.  Thank you 2020.  That doesn’t make me smile, but I did get out the old photo albums and remembered Christmases past. THAT made me smile, until I got to 2007. No pictures that Christmas. Hardest Christmas ever, until THIS year.

So, what mostly made me smile today?

Memories.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 19

 Day 19 – November 19 – “Give thanks for what you’ve learned and are learning about God”

I’ve learned that my 5-year-old idea of God being an old man in long robes, and sitting on a giant throne in the clouds isn’t a realistic view of God.

I’ve learned that no matter how big I can imagine God to be, He is much bigger.

And God is not a person. He is love and light. He is omnipotent and universal, which is, frankly, beyond my wildest imagination.

God neither rewards nor punishes people. He gave us free will, so if asked, He will give us guidance, but we are essentially masters of our own earthly fate.

I’ve learned that God answers prayer, but sometimes His answer is, “NO.” Nevertheless, prayer changes the one who prays. God doesn’t change. I do.

I’ve learned that sometimes, when I’m alone, I feel God’s presence all around me.

But sometimes I ask, “Where are You God?”

And I have learned that God gives us “prevenient grace”.

It is His eternal gift to us.

Thank you God, for loving me unconditionally.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 18

 Day 18 – November 18 – “What is your favorite creation?”

Easy one. My  favorite creation is sunset on the beach. Hands down.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 17

Day 17 – November 17– “What do you love about your friends?”

For every friend I have, I love something different, because no two are alike.

1.    1. Some of my friends are warm and caring,

2.   2.  Some of my friends are brutally honest, yet also caring.

3.    3. Some of my friends will talk to me any time of the day or night, any day of the week.

4.    4. Some of my friends call me to share the troubles that arise in their lives

5.    5. Some call me to share the joys that arise in their lives.

6.    6. Some listen intently but silently.

7.    7. Some listen and give me feedback.

8.    8. Some of my friends anticipate my troubles or needs, and act almost miraculously to make things better.

9.    9. Some of my friends and I have drifted apart over the years.

1   I love my friends, and I love that they love me too.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 16

 Day 16 – November 16 – “Name a time that you’ve been given a second chance.”

Second chances are slippery slopes, and sometimes have grim outcomes.

 Since this 30-day exercise is about inspection and self awareness, I’m pretty sure the intent is not to explore all the mistakes I’ve made over the years. I have, however, explored many of them, and a whole lot of them involve second chances. But I am a person who likes to find “silver linings”, so while many of my “second chances” have been disastrous, I like to cover up the disasters with things like, “… well, if I hadn’t made THIS choice, I wouldn’t have met you,” or “.. well, if I hadn’t made THAT choice, I never would have been a nurse or a soldier or a mother.”

The BIG silver lining is that God ALWAYS gives me a second chance, and a third and a fourth… ad infinitum.

Thank you, God!

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 15

 Day 15 – November 15 – “Give thanks for your pastor”

Thank you, Lord, for Reverend Malinda Weaver.

Pastor Malinda is youngish for a pastor, but that gives her a freshness and an energy that is inherent in youth, but mostly lost in older ministers.

She is “on call” 24/7, and every Sunday has a fresh, new “lesson” (that’s the new term for a sermon). I wonder if older pastors have a portfolio of sermons that they recycle at every new church, kinda like professors that have a set of lectures they use every course. I’m pretty sure Pastor Malinda doesn’t yet have a set of prepared lectures. I think she writes a new one every week.

Before COVID, we rode together to visit our “shut-in” and ill church members. She has a great sense of humor, and I really enjoy traveling with her.

She has a clear, articulate voice, but she is working on doing the little inflections at the end of her sentences like the old-timey Methodist preachers used to do.

One of the things I like most about Pastor Malinda is she has no fear of difficult Bible verses, and will preach on any of them.  And I think it’s a “thing” now, that preachers do sermon “series”. Gratitude is going on right now, hence this project that will continue through November 30.

And today, at Avondale Park, was the “Blessing of the Animals”. I took Jaco over there to get God’s blessing. While he loves walks, he also loves people and other dogs, so it was hard to get him to sit still, because he wanted to greet everyone and every dog.

Pastor Malinda said the prayer of St. Francis of Assissi, and blessed Jaco.

Thank you, sweet Malinda, and I thank God for you.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 14

 Day 14 – November 14 – “Give thanks for your home.”

My home is something I am VERY thankful for.

This house is where I raised my sons, and where several other guys spent a big part of their childhood. There are so many memories here – both good and bad, if I’m perfectly honest. The good far outweigh the bad, though.

Aside from many years of warm, happy Christmases, there were also many fun Easters.

I cooked Easter dinner every year until about 2002.  After dinner, all the boys here hunted Easter eggs in the back yard. The plastic eggs had numbers inside them, and each number corresponded to a small gift, such as bubbles, matchbox cars, slinkys, and books. Three numbers always meant $20, $10 and $5. The year Mark was 22, his friend Josh said they were too old to hunt Easter eggs, but I said no eggs, no dinner.  He said, “Where is my basket?”

It turned out that was the last year they had the Easter eggs, but that year they had more fun with the little people toys than ever before – all of them in the yard blowing bubbles, playing whiffle ball, and feeding the birds.

My basement birthed many bands, some of which are still together and performing, and two are still practicing down there sometimes.

The house has stayed together thanks to many, many friends who have contributed talent, skill, and money. It needs work now, but I’m sure it will hold together until I’m gone.

I could have done things differently, some better, but some I did just right. My only REAL regret is selling the back lot to people who made my yard very dangerous and then built the ugliest house in the neighborhood about 50 feet from my bedroom window. That wouldn’t be so bad, except they took down my 30-year-old red maples and the flowering trees that we planted back in 1992.  I still keep the picture of those trees, because it makes me very happy.

    

But I still am very thankful for my home, and the memories it holds.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 13

 Day 13 – November 13 – “Give thanks for your family. Be intentional today about encouraging one or several of your family members.”

I thank God EVERY DAY for my family.

So today I called my oldest living relative, Ruth. She is my dad’s first cousin, making her my second cousin, and she is 94 years old.

What an amazing woman! She still drives, and before COVID hit, she was line-dancing at the Senior Center every week and attending church every Sunday. She has a beautiful little garden home, and smokes 3-4 cigarettes a day out on her back patio.

But Ruth lives in about 1980. She has no computer and no cell phone. She does have a color TV, and spends her day reading and working crossword puzzles.

After COVID hit, and she couldn’t go to church anymore, someone brought her a CD player, and brings her a CD of her church’s weekly service.

I did send her a couple of masks several months ago.

She has survived the death of her husband of 50+ years, and the death of her older son (Bill, who weighed over 600 pounds). Her younger son, Tom, has been ill for years, but lives within an hour’s drive, so she drives over to visit him every couple of weeks. Tom is now bedbound and “can’t stay awake” more than a few minutes. Ruth still enjoys sitting with him.

So today I called Ruth. I wish I could hug her.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 12

 Day 12 - November 12 - "Give thanks for your talents".

I do. I wish I hadn't ignored some of them for 30 years, so that now they're about gone.

But we do what we do, and for reasons others can't understand.

We can't change the past. We don't know the future.

We have only the present. It's our GIFT.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 11

 Day 11 - November 11 Veterans Day - "Name a veteran that you're grateful for. Call, text, or write them a letter today thanking them for their service."

Today I identified 124 veterans I am particularly grateful for, and who have been instrumental in helping other veterans for years. All of them are active in one or more veterans service organizations (VSOs) that spend all year every year identifying veterans who are struggling and helping them, sponsoring programs for youth such as Boys State, Girls State, Boy Scouts, Legion Baseball, myriad scholarship opportunities for veterans' children, presenting counseling for veterans, doing PTSD and Moral Injury groups, helping the V.A. with things the government doesn't provide, like socks, blankets, programs at the National Cemetery (flags for Veterans Day and wreaths for Wreaths Across America), visiting other veterans (especially WWII and Korea War veterans) and providing transportation for veterans who have no way to get to appointments.

The assignment was to write them. So I put the 124 into 10 different categories of things they do, and wrote them all an email.

Thank you for all you do for our country!

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 10

 Day 10 - November 10 - "Give thanks for someone who encouraged you."

Pastor Malinda, This assignment gets harder and harder! So many people have encouraged me over the years that I don't even know where to start!

Beginning with my grandmother, who encouraged me to be kind, and who assured me I was smart and beautiful. She is the one who, when I lost my baby teeth, and my hair was stringy and straight, again said that "pretty is as pretty does" and "beauty is only skin deep. It's your character that matters".

When I got to high school, David Littleton encouraged me to learn to play the cello, but he also urged... no, actually pushed me into debate, orchestra, and reading "lurid literature"... introduced me to "Lady Chatterly's Lover".

Randy Marsh encouraged me to finish college, and Susan Hill encouraged me to write and to finish graduate school.

All my early mentors who encouraged me are deceased now.

Maybe one or more of them is/are still looking down at me and maybe even one of them is my guardian angel.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 9

 Day 9 – November 9 – “Name a child that you’re grateful for. How do you imagine they’ll make the world a better place?’

Another hard one for me, because I’m not around children much. I have no grandchildren, so I go weeks on end without even SEEING a child, and usually only when I actually (used to) GO to church.

Ahhhhh! CHURCH!

Rose Weaver! She is about 8 now… in the 3^rd grade this Fall. I probably have more contact with her than any other child I know. But not because of ME. Because of HER.

I won’t go into how beautiful she is, with her gorgeous red hair and her sweet smile, because all that beauty pales in comparison to her unconditional love for everyone she meets. “Everyone she meets” includes anyone who crosses her path.

Rose greets me every time she sees me. EVERY TIME.

She could teach the Dale Carnegie course, and maybe even add a few pointers of her own. She never forgets anyone’s name. Unless you have experienced it yourself, you have no idea what a warm feeling it is for a child you barely know to call you by name every time she sees you.

I’m grateful for Rose, but the rest of today’s question is about how she will make the world a better place. The answer is that she is ALREADY making the world a better place!

Rose exudes unconditional love. When you meet her, you might get the feeling she is an angel. She knows no hate, no political rhetoric, no unkindness of any sort. I don’t know about the whole rest of the world, but she is certainly making the world around her a MUCH better place! I’m thankful to be in her world.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 8

Day 8 – November 8 – “Give thanks for those that bless the church by planting flowers, mowing the lawn, and making the outside of the building look beautiful.”

Thanks indeed! The gardeners who perform these labors of love do so with their own equipment/mowers/clippers. They labor in the hot sun, with a spirit of grace and pride in their work. I lift them up in prayer and I’m very grateful for them.

But in this spirit, I’m also thankful for the volunteers who work every year for the Yard Work Ministry at the church. These guys mow lawns and weed-eat and clip hedges for people in the community who are unable to do it themselves. What a WONDERFUL ministry! Summer in Alabama is not a joke, with temperatures frequently hitting 100 degrees, with 90% humidity. Yet, these folks load up their mowers and head into the community. I give thanks for them too.

So while I’m thinking about it, I look around my neighborhood, and I see people out mowing their own lawns, but some of them ease on over to their neighbors’ lawns too. We have a lot of older people, but like many communities, some of our homes are “gentrified”, with millennials living there. These young people do not hesitate to do double lawn duty for their elderly neighbors. 

So on a broader scale than asked, I give thanks for all the people who help others keep their yards beautiful by donating a few hours of their time, and a bit of gasoline/oil for their mowers, and doubling up on the sweat.

Amen!

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 7

 Day 7 – November 7 – “What is the best gift you’ve ever received?”

This is the most difficult topic so far, because “best” is so broad. It’s like asking me what is the best book I’ve ever read, or the best movie I’ve seen.

As for gifts, the one I treasure the most is a personal note on a Christmas card Mark gave me about 13 years ago. I still keep it in my Bible, and read it often. I have it memorized now, of course, but I still love to see his handwriting, because I see his face in my mind.

Another “best” gift is my Quilt of Valor. These are handmade for one veteran, and there is a cloth marker on the back of the quilt that states who made it, and for whom. Since I’m old, I actually use mine. It makes me feel cozy to wrap up in it.

My brother, Bob Galloway, and his wife Eunice have given me so much over the years… not just their love, but several trips to North Carolina, Washington D.C., and other places, and twice in the last 15 years or so, they have bailed me and my family out of dire emergencies. It’s hard to say what is the “best” gift they’ve given me.

Finally, the folded flag I was given by the Hoover Veterans Committee back in 2018. It was flown over the capitol in Alabama in my honor, and has the certificate signed by Governor Kay Ivey.

I’m thankful for all these gifts, and many more. 

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 6

 Day 6 – November 6 – “Give thanks for someone who forgave you.”

Now this one is downright impossible. I have no way of knowing for sure what is in someone else’s heart. Forgiveness isn’t about words. Forgiveness is a state of the heart and soul. I know when I forgive, but as far as humans are concerned, that’s all I can really know.

It seems my dog forgives me, but then he loves me unconditionally. I can yell at him, stomp my foot at him, and slam the door in his face, yet he wags his tail and smiles at me, licks me, and nuzzles me. He apparently forgives my temper and bad moods.

And I know for a certainty that God forgives me, and that’s the ONLY one I’m positive about… so thank you, God, for forgiving me.

Pastor Malinda, I have to call ‘FOUL” on this question.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 5

Day 5 – November 5 – “Give thanks for music, art, and authors. Name one of your favorites.”

Pastor Malinda, next time you do a list of what to be thankful for, please give us 3 different days for these different categories. For today, though, I’m going to gloss over art (Some of my favorite artists are Michelle Branson, Jinger Crouch Glasgow, and She-She Vaughn). I’m going to basically skip authors also (Some of my favorite authors are James Lee Burke, Michael Swindle, and whoever I am currently reading…  namely, TODAY, Candace Millard.)

So let’s talk MUSIC. Can you guess who my favorite musician is? If not, you don’t know me.

But Aaron Branson wouldn’t be the skilled musician he is today without so many other people from whom he has learned technique, theory, music history, and who have encouraged him along the way. Most of these people are gifted musicians in their own right, and some of them are my “adopted” children. I can’t name every single important person for this list, so in no particular order of importance, because all of them belong in the number two position for one reason or another, here are some of them:

Will Cash  Aaron’s first guitar teacher, at age 10 or so. Now they remain best friends, have been in dozens of bands and music groups together over the years, have authored music together, attended UAB together, have been in each other’s weddings, have shared the love of each other’s mothers, and I could write a book about him. One of the most talented guitar players in the South. I thank God for Will Cash.

Mark Lanter One of Aaron’s first UAB instructors, but more important, head of the Jazz Combo, and Aaron’s first public concert “recital”. He called Aaron one of the most talented bass players he has ever had, endearing himself to me the first time I met him. Over the years, they have also become great friends, continued to play in numerous groups together, including Black Jacket Symphony, Eat A Peach, and the Peytones. Mark is one of my favorite musicians, and a terrific drummer. I thank God for Mark Lanter.

Allen Barlow Besides being one of the most talented guitarists around, Allen owns Homewood School of Music, and has given many musicians the chance to teach music to others. Allen LIVES his Christian faith. During the COVID quarantine, he has created opportunities for many musicians to perform virtually, earn virtual tips, and therefore maintain food on their tables and homes in which to put those tables. Allen quietly worships God in everything he does, every note he plays, and I love him. I thank God for Allen Barlow.

This is getting too long, and I haven’t even STARTED on my “second favorite” musicians, so just let me share a few more who all share that spot: Tyler Diuguid, Peyton Grant, J Willoughby, Matt Casey, Matt Carroll, and Nic Herring.

I thank God for MUSICIANS.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 4

 Day 4 - November 4 "Give thanks for the food on your table."

During the last 6 months of the COVID pandemic, I have not only given thanks for the food on my table, but for the people who made extra effort to be sure my family and I had food.

I thank God every day for Tyrone, Miriam, and Olivia Tolbert, who brought me boxes of food every week for several months. I was able to share the bounty with my family and my neighbors. I really was blessed by their love and thoughtfulness. No... I AM blessed!

The 21st District Youth Group, led by Chrystal Jones and Connie Demand also called me when they did their Veteran Food Giveaway. 

My neighbors Scott and Margaret have given me dozens of fresh eggs from their chickens. 

Aaron shared his meals from Satterfield's with me almost weekly.

So while I always thank God for the food on my table, I also pray for the people He works through to be sure I have the food to thank him for.

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 3

Day 3 – November 3 – “Open the door or a window. What’s something you’re grateful for outside?”

I’m grateful for my side patio and the memories it holds from over the last 30 years.

When we moved here in 1991, there were 2 albino squirrels that skittered across the top of the fence every morning, and sometimes in the afternoons. For about 3 years, they played on that fence and in the magnolia tree that grows in the middle of the patio. We watched them for hours on end.

We put a table and chairs out there, and a grill in the little gazebo at the edge of the patio. We barbecued year-round, hosted hundreds of cookouts for the boys and their friends over the 20 or so years they were home.

I gathered different kinds of wind chimes from all over the world, and put them across the top of the gazebo, and on top of the gazebo, the boys had a ”clubhouse”, with wooden slats up the edge to climb into it.

One edge of the gazebo was a hickory tree. I showed the boys how to crack hickory nuts with a rock, and how to pick out the meager fruit with a bobby pin. We also used the hulls from the nuts to throw on the charcoal for a hickory smoke flavor. Daddy always said you could starve to death eating hickory nuts.

One day, Keith used some of the bamboo jungle to build a “shed” in a corner of the patio. He put 2 chairs and a little table in there. We spent so many nights out there with candles and a boom box, solving the world’s problems,sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, or just enjoying the nights.

We built a little bamboo fence across the far side of the patio, to keep Lucy, our little dog, inside the area, and it was on that patio where Harry, Lucy’s “husband” breathed his last.

We caught a baby possum out there one evening. He was disoriented and frightened. After a few days, when his mamma didn’t show up to claim him, we took him to the wildlife center at Oak Mountain. We later learned that, without our knowledge or permission, Mark had hidden the possum in his jacket and taken him to school for a day.

Aaron fell out of the magnolia tree several times, since he climbed it almost every day for about 3 years. We were glad it was short, so he had only about 6 feet to fall. He was never seriously injured.

Keith made a little shade garden around the base of the tree, but once we put the dogs out there, they made it into their bathroom, so the plants didn’t make it after that.

Now the furniture is gone. The bamboo fence and the shed are gone. The grill is gone, and even the gazebo is gone.

The things that remain are the magnolia tree, now 30 years older and much taller, the hickory tree, that still drops nuts all over the patio, and, of course, the memories.

I’m thankful for the memories.

30 Days of Gratitude Day 2

Day 2 – November 2 – “What’s something that you’re looking forward to?”

Lots of things. It’s hard to choose just one thing… but let’s start with tomorrow. Tomorrow is the most important Presidential election in my lifetime so far. And I’m not so much looking forward to tomorrow, as I’m looking forward to the day AFTER tomorrow, when I hope all the bitter, sarcastic, mean-spirited, nasty, distasteful political bickering and name-calling and mud-slinging will dissipate. We have always been a nation politically divided, but usually we at least listen to one another. This year, nobody has listened to anybody, and everybody has been offensive and vile against everybody else. I’m SICK of it, so I’m VERY MUCH looking forward to it decreasing to a mild howl very soon. The 2 questions I hear the most will be answered: “Do you think there is any way Trump can be re-elected?” “Do you think there is any way Trump can lose the election?” I DON’T KNOW. Yes to both questions. No to both questions. We will know the answer on Wednesday.

On a brighter note, I’m looking forward to Aaron’s gig next Saturday at David’s Pizza in Homewood. I just hope I can find a parking place.

I’m looking forward to next Sunday, when Veterans Week kicks off in Hoover. There will be recognitions of veterans, and presentations of folded flags. There will be PATRIOTISM at its finest. I’m REALLY happily looking forward to that. Also, I’m a keynote speaker, so I’m practicing for that.

Veterans Day, there will be a motorcade through downtown Birmingham, to demonstrate support for veterans, in lieu of the usual parade. I’m hoping to participate as a rider on one of the 100 or so motorcycles that will lead the motorcade. I’m especially looking forward to this particular year’s “non-parade”, because it won’t be so long, so I won’t have to hold my bladder for hours on end.

The Veterans Day banquet will be small and intimate, but I’m still looking forward to it. THIS year, there will be no longwinded speeches that cause me to fall asleep, or want to scream “SHUT UP!” There will be only pertinent speakers, and most attendees will be VSO members. It will be a wonderful evening.

November 14 is the UAB Blazers Homecoming game at Legion Field. There are 1000 free tickets for veterans and their families. I will be presenting the “POW/MIA table” ceremony before the game, so I’m practicing for that. I’m also looking forward to sitting in the midst of 1000 veterans and their families.

And every year I look forward to Thanksgiving. While it won’t be the large family gathering we usually have, the smaller intimate family dinner will still be reason to give thanks for another year of love and support for one another. Thanks to God for a roof over our heads and food on our tables when so many are without either, especially THIS year.

Then I’ll start looking forward to Christmas and Wreaths Across America and all the pre-Christmas activities and parties!

30 Days of Gratitude Day 1

Day 1 – November 1 – “Who are the people (past and present who’ve made a deep, lasting impact on your life?”

Well, dozens. Too many to list here, because it would take hundreds of pages, so I’ll name a few.

First my precious father, whose gentle, happy nature, and positive outlook seemed to always be my rainbow. He was definitely my “port” in every storm life threw me. If there is a saint up there in heaven, it is my Daddy. After he died 50 years ago, I still felt his presence for a long, long time. Every hard choice, every climb up a hill, every heartbreak, I cried to his spirit to help me through it.  I wish Daddy could be there to hug me and cry with me. Every joy, every  goodness, every happy event, the same. I wish Daddy could be there to hug me and enjoy it with me. The impact he had on me was, in part, I try to have his positive outlook. But mostly, I try to live as if he is standing by me. I want him to be able to say, “You did good.”

Other family members, including

Grandmother, who was the hardest worker I’ve ever known, but who also taught me to sew,  taught me to fish and to clean them once I caught them, taught me to love jigsaw puzzles and playing games, and kept our extended family together as long as she lived.

My brother, without whose unconditional love and support I might be homeless right now. I love his dry sense of humor, his intelligence, his spiritual goodness, and his beautiful and loving wife.

My cousins, Pat, George and David, all of whom have positively  impacted me in so many, many ways for so many years.

My sons, whom I will address later in the month, when I’m specifically grateful for my children.

And several lifelong or almost lifelong  friends: Pat, Deenie, Mary, Debbie, Ann, Jinger, and on and on…

Plus a few more “recent” friends, who have enriched my life and made me a whole better person through their support, and through just knowing them:  Ron, Chrystal,  Bob, Nancy, Pam, Mel, Don, and the list goes on…

Thank them all for loving me, supporting me, and blessing me just by knowing you.