My Jewel - Meals on Wheels, Chapter 2

Jewel......the lovely lady in the picture above is one of the neatest, sweetest, most incredible ladies I have ever had the privilege to meet.  She is 102 years old, lives on her own, still works her garden, and always has that sweet smile you see above on her face.  I have never once heard her complain about anything and she has been gracious enough to share her special family with me.   Did I mention she has a wit about her too?

It is not uncommon for me to find her and her daughter, Jo (they call her “Sarge” cause they say she rules with a firm hand, but in reality, she is a softie!), in the living room starting on yet another quilt for a lucky family member.  Or find her and her son, WB, playing dominos on the kitchen table.  Her health is good, her attitude even better, and she raised a family that takes care of their Mom.   There are no words to describe the love they all feel for their Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and Great-Great-Grandmother.    She was married many, many, many years and still gets a gleem in her eye when she speaks of the Love of Her Life.  I know she must miss him terribly, but I’ve never seen her sad because, I believe, she knows she will once again be with him.  

I hope for my sake that its a long time from now.

Thanks Jewel, for being such a jewel in my life....

you are so very loved!

My Meals on Wheels Journey, Chapter 1

Meals on Wheels.  I’m sure everyone’s heard of it; probably been curious about it and probably thought of it as something they would do once they turn 65, retire and have nothing better to do.  Right?  Well, I’m not 65, not retired and have a full day, every day.  And this is the most important thing I do each month.  It’s been, hands down, one of the most satisfying, spiritual, rewarding things I’ve ever done.  I’ll let you in on a very well kept secret about Meals on Wheels........it’s not about the food.  Yes, the food is necessary & important to these kind folks, but more important than the food, is the visit.  And I’m not talking about for them.......for ME!  

I deliver meals to the west quadrant of Winnsboro, Texas, just a 20 minute drive down the country roads of East Texas from my home.  I meet up with some wonderful volunteers who have their own routes and busy schedules, yet find time to give back to their community.

They, like me, enjoy the benefits that come from getting to know 

these wonderful, mostly homebound, adorable people.   Each one 

is so unique and special in their own way that I want to share them

with you.  Don’t get too excited; you can’t have them; they’re mine; 

but I believe you could be as blessed as I am by getting a glimpse 

into their lives.

The two guys in the picture to the right are my favorite volunteers.  Always smiling, joking, laughing; they have true joy in their hearts.  They are always quick with a hug and a helping hand out to my car with the food.   I don’t know much about them personally; but I don’t really need to.  I know enough.

The happy lady to the right is Tina.  She is the heart that keeps the 

Meals on Wheels beating in Winnsboro.  She makes sure the food 

is ready, volunteers in place and that everyone gets a meal.  If a 

volunteer doesn’t show up or is unable to, she delivers that route 

herself.  She has brought new life to the Winnsboro Senior Center.  

Something you need to know about Tina; she carries around an 

“aura” about her that draws people to her.  She loves the Lord with 

all her heart and it shows.  She has lived more life at her young age 

than most people have who live to be 90, and came out better 

because of it.  She is a special person and has made my life better by 

knowing her.

This Blog is not meant to be a commercial for Meals on Wheels.   But it is meant to encourage you all to volunteer at something......to give a little of yourself in your busy little worlds to someone who would give their right arm for a busy little world.   

I promise; you will be better for it.

“Lord, you made us as a gift for Yourself.  Until we settle that truth in our hearts, our souls will be restless and aimless.  It’s not all about me......it’s all about You.”

         Lee (on Twitter)

What A Challenging Week!

“Challenging”......the dictionary definition goes something like this, “demanding, testing, taxing, exacting;  difficult, tough, hard, formidable, onerous, arduous, strenuous, grueling; uninspiring.”  Wow, my week fit most of those definitions.

Without going into detail, just know this was one of those weeks that challenged me in many different ways: patience, forgiveness, regrets, understanding, friendships and family.  Yep, all of these and more.   I have been cut deep to the core of my soul this week by someone who I considered not just family, but a friend.  Someone who I thought my relationship with was strong enough that a phone call to me would have resolved her concerns and allowed me to explain what really happened.  Someone who I considered a good person and not someone that spread untruths to people near and dear to me.  I’m so deeply disappointed that there are no words to express it.

I’ve struggled with how best to handle this.  I have prayed long and hard daily about this.  I have wrestled with forgiveness and with understanding.  I’ve lost sleep over this.  What is one to do that has been accused, judged and punished wrongly?  Is it best to not try and defend myself but rather let God do so on my behalf, at his own time?  I think so.  

“Lord, may our hearts kneel at your feet pouring our desperate needs to you; for you always respond to the broken and contrite heart.”

        Lee (on Twitter)

My Ant Ellie

It’s hard to use words to describe the lovely lady in the picture.  She hasn’t always traveled the easiest roads; and she hasn’t always been lucky in love.  She has had to depend on herself when others let her down and has worked hard her entire life.  But you would never know any of these things if you met her.  You would see a charming, beautiful, energetic lady who never stops laughing; who has a constant smile on her face like the one you see above.  Her heart is made of gold; probably put there by my  Grandmother who spent many of her years panning for gold in the family creek.  She has many of the same characteristics that I remember about my godly grandmother.  She would give a perfect stranger the last thing she owns cause, you see, it wouldn’t occur to her not to.  This is her character.  This is who she is.  

Ant Ellie never had children.  We’ve never talked much about why, but I would guess that while growing up, she never visualized her life without children, much like I never imagined myself not having children of my own.  But it wasn’t her destiny to have children.  It is, however, her destiny to be the cool Ant that all the kids adore; the Ant that will ride the roller coaster with them at the age of 65 when their parents wouldn’t dare get on it; the Ant the kids can talk to about anything and know she will love them unconditionally.  The one the kids, who are now adults, can turn to for support and a shoulder to cry on when their own parents’ health is failing.   Her arms are always open just like her heart and I love her so very much.  There is not a better Ant out there and I thank God every day for letting her be my Ant Ellie.  Everyone should be so fortunate!  And did I mention she loves to shop at Goodwill?  She’s SO cool!

You may think I misspelled “Ant” above, but you’d be wrong.  It’s a family joke.  My beautiful niece, God love her, has always spelled it that way and Ant Ellie always got the biggest laugh out of that, so who were we to change it??! 

God doesn’t give you the people you WANT,

He gives you the people you NEED - 

To help you, to hurt you,

to leave you, to love you

and to make you into the person

you were meant to be.

“Lord, thank you for providing the constant in my life called Ant Ellie. I am certainly not worthy of this treasure.”  

    Liz