For One More Day

I have been reading a book given to me by my son, titled, “For One More Day†by Mitch Albom, author of “Tuesdays With Morrieâ€.   In the book his mother died unexpectedly and 8 years later he gets to spend one more day with her.  He makes the following statement on his third and final visit: “And I realized when you look at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know.†  I know that to be so.  I am not so sure that others feel that way.

Our next door neighbor (John) had an old fridge that he was putting on the street for the city to pick up.  He also had an old dishwasher and some other things that he wanted to get out of his shed.   Jerilyn and I volunteered to dispose of them for him by taking them to a local metal recycler.  By the time he got thru cleaning out his shed our truck was full.  On our way down to run the Noland Trail, we stopped by the metal place and picked up a cool $15.   I told John we would give him whatever we got, but he insisted that we keep it for hauling it away.   It felt very good to be doing a good deed for our neighbor, keeping stuff out of the city dump and making money at the same time.  We are very fortunate to be surrounded by good neighbors.  I remember reading something to the effect that “you pick your friends and God picks your neighborsâ€.   If things work out as they should, your neighbors become your friends.

Well the big boat that I have talked about in previous WOW’s has found a new home in Winston-Salem, NC.  I was preparing to haul it back to the boat repair shop for yet another estimate on the cost of repairs and my cousin Jesse in W-S asked me what I wanted for it.  I made him a deal he could not refuse, so the boat is waiting, patiently, for him and his son to arrive and tow it away.  I must admit, a lot of good memories will go with it.  My son and I spent many good hours, bonding and fishin’, on that vessel.   I am contemplating getting another, smaller vessel, but that will depend on how much I use the little boat tied up at the dock.  There is a lot of work to be done on the big boat.  I wish Jesse & Nathan good luck on the repairs.

Back in 1957, Alice Roth was at the ball field in Philadelphia, watching the Phillies play the Giants.  A batter for the Phillies, Richie Ashburn (center fielder), hit her with two fouled balls in the same at bat.   The first broke her nose and play was stopped as she was administered to.  When the game resumed, Ashburn fouled off the first pitch and the ball struck her again while she was being carried out on a stretcher.   Alice’s experience leads us to believe that we have no idea what will happen to us when we roll out of bed each morning to begin our daily activities.  With this in mind, the following quote from “Forward Day by Day†seems appropriate:  “Try living one full day as though you have been given some secret knowledge that is will be your last……just approach whatever has been scheduled for the day as though these will be your last encounters with the people you see.  The experience may yield some habits of mind worth keeping.†  (thanks, Colbert King).

I ran across this the other day and found it an interesting observation:

“Sometimes we need to stop analyzing the past, stop planning the future, stop trying to figure out precisely how we feel.  We need to stop deciding with our mind what we want our heart to feel.  Sometimes we just have to go with……whatever happens – happensâ€.

I recall this quote because we recently had a fellow church member die suddenly.   Two Sundays ago, we met George and his wife Dolly (who is wheelchair bound) in the hallway after the early service.  George always hugs Jerilyn and gives me a firm handshake and a big grin.   Little did we know that would be our last encounter with him.   He departed this earth at age 79, longer than most of us can expect to live, but not as long as we would have liked for him to stay.  It is easy to question why The Lord does certain things and difficult to just accept his decisions.   Sometimes, we have to go with whatever happens….. happens

I hope you’re enjoying your summer, or whatever season it is in your part of the world. Thanks for reading my weekly missive.

Tommy

“What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.”

Collette