MY GRACE-FILLED FRECKLE....

MY GRACE-FILLED FRECKLE

How I love the blessing of Spring.....everything that was dead and dormant is new and renewed.  I never grow tired of sitting quietly in my favorite worn-out chair with the indentation of my butt on it literally watching the leaves bud out with a strong hot cup of coffee sliding down my throat watching the GRACE occur.   And that's exactly where I am right now as I talk to you, my friends.....the ones who love me in spite of myself.

This has been a difficult week......but a week filled with much GRACE.  I capitalize GRACE cause it simply deserves to be capitalized.  As many of you know, I am wearing hats these days.....cute, stylish, weird and funny hats.....not because I'm strongly battling chemo from cancer or a sudden case of balding.....but because of a freckle just inside my hairline on the top of my head.  A freckle.  No bigger than a dot made from an ink pen....but a very "quiet" skin cancer. 

Five....5.....cuts at what should have been a simple one, maybe 2-hour doctor office visit for Mohs surgery to remove this freckle a week ago Friday...moved into the 6-hour mark and a portion of my scalp shaved (yes...SHAVED) along with several inches of my scalp removed.  I'm not telling you this because I want your sympathy....although that's exactly what I did yesterday to my family as I texted them all begging for sympathy for which I now apologize.....(those dang drugs).....but because I want to share the GOOD.....the GRACE that came out of this past 10 days.  Yep....the GRACE.

I've never considered myself a very vain person.....I wear torn jeans to the grocery store, I wear minimal make-up, it takes me all of 46 seconds to fix my hair in the morning and I love buying my clothes from Goodwill.  But after about the 3rd cut on my head, I felt my bottom lip quivering, the salty sting of my tears rolling down past the surgical drape over my eyes as I heard the buzz of the shaver in that surgical chair.  Not because I feared dying or how much this would hurt.....but because of what I would "look" like to YOU.....and to myself.  And as I bit my lower lip so the nurse wouldn't notice me crying, I experienced the most amazing GRACE wrap It's arms around me....and settle me down.

Awww.......there's nothing a little GRACE can't heal.....even a nasty, gaping hole in the head where there once was a freckle.  But the GRACE in my life looks like the pictures I've included below....and GRACE looks like a make-upless, jump-in-her-car, barely-had-shoes-on friend named Pam that drove over just to hold me when I had a massive, extremely ugly, crying meltdown "just because".....GRACE looks like sterilized Goodwill hats purchased for me by sweet Cheryl so I had variety....and who even wore one with me to church so I wouldn't stand out.....and GRACE looks like the adorable little tike in the pew in front of me at church who made me laugh just as I was about to cry from hearing the song Amazing Grace because I'm LIVING Amazing GRACE....and GRACE looks like the family in love with each other two rows ahead of me as they worship together.....

GRACE looks like the beautiful hairstyle my dear, amazing friend FROSTY (yep, that's her name!!) gave me the day before the freckle was removed, that carries a heavy load on her shoulders that many of us would collapse under......GRACE looks like the dear friend/neighbor.....you know, one of those people we are lucky if we have even one of in this lifetime....and mine's name is BECKY.....who, even though she hates driving in the city, drove her bandaged neighbor through the canyon of Downtown Dallas at 5:30 on a Monday evening after a day of plastic surgery.....GRACE looks like food, mixed with doses of prayers, from neighbors and friends to feed my husband cause his wife is throwing up and doesn't want to wake up until everything is healed and hair has grown back (refer back to "Vanity" paragraph above)......GRACE is friends who doctor my wounds when most would puke looking at the wound much less touching it......and GRACE is the "smell" sense in all of us that makes us "smile" with the love of flowers from family that remind us they are there for us.  And most of all, GRACE is coming home to a wheelchair-bound man who would throw himself in front of a semi to save the life of a dog...or cat...or parakeet or even a scarred, hole-in-the-head wife.  That says a lot about a man.

I could go on for 15 more paragraphs and still not have listed all the GRACE's that came out of this freckle, but I know you are growing weary of reading (if you're even still with me here) and I have a CPA (remember him....the one I have to pray before talking to just to avoid an anxiety attack??) who really needs some questions answered by me, so I will end this conversation with you by saying thank YOU for your many forms of GRACE you showed me and my freckle by your prayers, for your encouraging words, for taking care of my husband, for feeding us, for loving us, for extending your arms to hold me up when I could barely stand.

I am certainly the most BLESSED and GRACED woman I know.

GROWING SEEDS: "Church Library"

Raise your hand if you didn't know our church had a Library…….  

I admit; we had been coming to this precious church for 3 years before I knew it had a Library.  Seriously.  I am the least observant person you'll ever meet…Ever.  But my lack of awareness aside, I have been pleasantly amazed at what I have stumbled on this week.  Our First United Methodist Church here in little old Mt. Vernon has a top-of-the-line, computerized, color-coded magnificent Library!  Yep, its got books for everyone from 1 to 99 years of age and it has amazing people making sure it stays that way.  Let me explain….

This week, I met a lady by the name of Lena Mae Reeder….aka Head Librarian of our "Debra Earl Library".  Have you met her?  If not, you need to.  I fell instantly in love with this darling lady.  She has been volunteering in the church Library for years until recently, when care giving duties at home have taken precedence.  Fortunately, Lenora __?___ stepped up as Assistant Librarian and has been filling the gap.  For years, they have been organizing donated books, checking them for condition, color coding them, labeling and logging them into the computer.  I dare anyone to find a church library better than ours anywhere within 100 miles.  You seriously need to check it out.

 

And while you're in there checking it out, check out the quality of the bookshelves….hand-crafted by none other than Harry Earl.  Yep, he and JoAnne provided the conference table and comfy leather chairs and his children even donated some of their Christmas money in years past to purchase books for the Library.  Tom and Susan Samples provided the very first Library computer which was later replaced by one purchased by Lena Mae's six kids when the original computer maxed out its storage capacity.

We may be a small church as church's go, folks, but we are HUGE in hard-working, behind-the-scenes, wonderful people.  What started out as a small, simple church Library many years ago, has turned into a beautifully hand-crafted, God-filled room of knowledge that we all benefit from.

But Lena Mae and Lenora can't do this alone; they need VOLUNTEER(s) who can donate a few short hours of their time each week to assist in computer input, sending thank you cards, printing labels and other Library duties.  Won't you consider giving the blessing of your time to keeping the Library alive and vibrant?  You won't believe the blessing you'll receive in return!

GROWING SEEDS: "Pebbles in Your Path"

Nobody trips over mountains. 

It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. 

Pass all the pebbles in your path 

and you will find that you have crossed the 

mountain.

Do you ever just lay on your back in the grass looking up at the clouds watching as they pass above you….their shadows slowly shading the earth your laying on?  You reflect on your life so far……the experiences that have molded you into the person you are today….the very person laying on the grass staring up into heaven.  

Moments of whitespace.  

Breathing rest into your soul.

For me, these moments are memories of how I arrived at this juncture in my life.  My everyday life.  My everyday life that has included hearing those agonizing words "You will never have that child you always dreamed of" and a failed marriage to an alcoholic and eventual death of that alcoholic……an alcoholic who died alone…..the gruesome details of that death I will let die with him.  

The dark seasons of our lives…….

I am haunted by that time in my life….questioning whether circumstances would have been different had I only gently guided his heart to Jesus….if I had only gently guided MY own heart to Jesus.  Questions of whether he got to know God before he breathed that last breath……all alone.

There's nothing special about my story……it's the same as yours.  This infertility and deceased alcoholic was a pebble I stumbled on as I climbed this mountain….and it is one of those soul conversations I have with myself as I lay, flat out on the grass looking into the heavens.  And like the hand of a good friend, I feel God's hand resting on mine as we lay quietly on the grass together……watching the clouds go by…..and he whispers, "Be-loved….if you falter, I'll just keep whispering it, close to your ear……this is the way - beloved - walk in it."

"I look up to the mountains - does my help come from there? 

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble, the one who watches over you will not slumber."

Psalms 121:1-2, 3

Goodbye Dear Friends, Phyllis and Earl

Oh how you will be missed.....and never forgotten.

You have shown those of us who have had the privilege of knowing you, what true love and commitment is for each other.  You may not realize it, but people watch you......they watch you, Earl….how you gently hold Phyllis' elbow and carefully guide her, ready to catch a possible stumble at any moment.  And Phyllis….they watch the courage you have and how you handle a difficult disease such as Parkinson's with a smile and determination.  You never give up....you keep moving forward, never letting the disease define who you are.  I have never seen a better husband caregiver as I have Earl....ever.....and I have never seen a more determined, faithful wife as I have Phyllis.  You two go together like macaroni and cheese.

Chuck and I know all too well how difficult it is to close a chapter you aren't ready to close and to start a new chapter with only empty pages staring back at you.  There's something about the unknown.....about what tomorrow will bring when you are fighting to stay in the present, that brings you to your knees.  Don't ever forget that you are not alone in this next chapter; you have a gazelion friends here in Mt. Vernon who would be by your side in a moments notice.  That's the thing about friends; you have to BE a good friend in order to HAVE good friends.....and both of you, have been the best friends anyone could ever ask for.

So as you start the next chapter of unknowns, just know that we are sending you off with our love, our friendship and our prayers.  

We love you.

Chuck and Liz 

GROWING SEEDS: "Your Journey"

"Your journey has molded you for your greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. 
Don't think that you've lost time. 
It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. 
And NOW is right on time." 
Asha Tyson

 

Do you sometimes wonder how you got to where you are?  How did you get to Mt. Vernon, Texas?  Born and raised here or maybe running from the city?  How did you get to First United Methodist Church Mt. Vernon?  Was it a fluke that you parked your car in this parking lot?  How did you come to marry the person you married?  Did you just decide to get married one day and grabbed the first person you saw?

See, I believe when we are true Christians, everything happens right on time.  What does it mean to be a "TRUE" Christian?  So often we call ourselves Christians, but are we really?  Would you sell everything you had if God asked you to?  Would you leave your family and serve as a missionary in Timbuk2 if God asked you to?  Would you talk about God to the card-carrying atheist down the street if God asked you to?  Awwww.....kind of makes you tremble a bit, doesn't it?  I know it does me.

But that's exactly the question we all have to ask ourselves.  Sometimes we struggle just getting dressed and making it to church on time much less serving as a missionary somewhere where the roaches are the size of a Jeep.  It's tough enough adding an extra $50 to our church giving much less selling everything we own and walking in faith.  But isn't that what Jesus defined a Christian as being?

I remember years ago, my prayers went something like this, "Dear God, forgive me where I have sinned and help me to serve You better.....but not in Africa or someplace dirty like that....Oh, and God....do you think You might encourage my boss to give me a raise?  I sure could use a new car."

Yep, I'm ashamed to tell you, that was my exact prayer.  But I also believe God knew I needed to go through this idiotic selfish time in my life to get to where I am today.  I'm a far cry from being all God wants me to be; a FAR FAR cry.........but I know that BECAUSE of my past experience, I can now answer "YES" to the questions above. 

It took each and every situation I have encountered in my life to bring me to the now......the good, the bad and the ugly......
and NOW, is right on time!

GROWING SEEDS: "Fall Forward"

FALL FORWARD

I remember when I was in the 5th grade, riding with my Mom one May as we drove down Central Expressway in Dallas heading towards downtown.....towards the church school my parents worked long hours for so us 3 kids could get a Christian education.  I had my big poofy dress on, my hair up in a tight bun and my new black shoes buckled tightly.  We were headed to my piano recital and I was bawling.  I wanted to throw up. 

Mom's reassuring words fell on hollow ears as I cried my scared-witless tears.  "Why did I have to play in a stupid recital?  What if I forgot the music I had spent months memorizing?  What if.....what if??"  And almost as if I had "willed" it to happen, that is exactly what happened.  As I sat on the black bench of that baby grand piano that night in front of a few hundred souls, knees shaking uncontrollably, halfway through the second page of "Moonlight Sonata", I forgot the next note.  I found myself starting over.....and over.....and over.  I could feel my heart pounding through my chest....hundreds of eyes staring at me and holding their breath almost "willing" me to find that next note.  And then I felt it......I felt the hand of my piano teacher, MaryZeline Winsett......resting on my shoulder.  She leaned down and whispered in my ear what the next note was.  And as quietly as she came up on the stage that night, she was gone.  And I finished Moonlight Sonata with a roaring applause.

MaryZeline Winsett taught me that terrifying night so many years ago that when a piece starts to fall apart - fall forward.  Don't worry about the music behind you - keep moving forward.....don't look back.  Don't keep repeating past stuff......move forward.

A very wise woman once said, "Fear is always the first step of faith. We are all going to botch it some days. We all sometimes get the notes wrong. But the song only goes wrong — when we keep thinking back to the wrong notes.”

As I reflect back on 2013 and all the many mistakes I've made over this past year......those words are going to be my wisdom words for 2014: 

LIFE ONLY GOES WRONG WHEN I KEEP THINKING BACK TO THE MISTAKES.

Past mistakes are experience.  Forward is always the way Home.

"But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind
and straining forward to what lies ahead....
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Phil. 3:13-14

Merry Christmas

Christmas has taken on a new meaning for me in the past few years.

For the first time in my life, I understand the true meaning of Christmas.  For the first time, my excitement of what is in that wrapped gift under the tree has been replaced with Thankfulness for the ultimate gift of Grace.

The Greatest Gift of All……..

Merry Christmas from the Etheridge home to yours…….May you hold in your hands, the most PERFECT and IMPORTANT gift of all……..all year long.

Love,

Chuck & Liz

GROWING SEEDS: "Guard Your Heart"

"Guard your heart above all else,

for it determines the course of your life."

Proverbs 4:23

There's a story I heard this past week that you NEED to hear.  We all NEED to hear…..truly HEAR this story.  A story told by Max Lucado.

It was about a young girl named Taylor Storch who, with her family, had headed to Colorado for a little skiing.  This 13 year old laughed all the way up and down the mountain until one sudden moment, she fell - crashed - down a straight rocky slant of the mountain.  By nightfall, she was gone from this earth and Home with her Father….and her parents, Tara and Todd, were signing papers giving away Taylor's still-warm heart.

Max said they ended up giving Taylor's heart to a 38-year old woman in Arizona whose heart was failing so much that she couldn't get off the couch anymore - Patricia Winters was her name.  

Taylor's mama had only one request.  She called Patricia Winters and asked her if she could come "hear" her heart.  So Taylor's mama flew from Dallas to Phoenix and knocked on Patricia Winters' door and Patricia Winters walked right past the very couch she had been confined to for so long, opened the door…..and her arms…..to Taylor's mama.  Taylor's heart beating right there next to her crying Mama's.

And then Patricia Winters reached over and handed Taylor's mama a stethoscope.  And there it was; clear as a bell; 

Thrum…Thrum….Thrum.  

Taylor's mama could hear it loud and long, right there in her ears…..her daughter's still-beating heart.

And then Max had asked slow and quiet. “What was Taylor’s Mama really hearing?”

“It indwells in a different body, but that heart is the heart of her girl…. ” Max said.  “And when God hears your heart, that’s what He hears — the still-beating heart of His Son.”

As we start a fresh new year, I pray I never forget that the heart that beats in my chest cavity…..that gives me life….that breaks when someone wrongs me….that speeds up when I'm excited and slows down when I sleep….is none other than Jesus' heart inside of me.  

I pray I never forget that.

P.S.  Two days after I wrote this article for the bulletin, the recipient of Taylor's heart passed away.  This heart that had lived so fully in both Taylor and in Patricia Winters', suddenly stopped beating.  What a strong reminder that we are just a heartbeat away from eternity.

GROWING SEEDS: "I Fear It"

Have you ever gone through a Christmas alone?  I mean….REALLY alone?  Like "No-Family-No-Friends-No-Anyone" to share this time of year with?  

I-FEAR-IT   

I fear that one day, it will be ME that has no one to purchase Christmas gifts for…..ME that has no where to go on Christmas Day……ME that has no family to visit or call.  

A few years ago, it suddenly dawned on me one day that I'm the youngest in my family…..I'm 13 years younger than my husband…..I have no children….and I'm going to be that lady in the nursing home sitting at the front door begging people to talk to her about her colonoscopy cause she is all alone.  I cried for 3 days.  And on the fourth day, I purchased a Long-Term Care Insurance Policy.  I could barely breathe from the reality of it all.

Sometimes reality really BITES, you know???

But guess what……it's not all about ME or YOU.  I've learned since that pity-party-Liz-day many years ago that you will never be alone if you simply become the friend you wish others to be towards you.  There are so many lonely people out there; especially this time of year.  Look around….they're sitting next to you in church…..they're passing you in the grocery store…..they are your neighbor.  The key is to put your "its-not-all-about-me-and-my-family-&-friends" glasses on and see….truly SEE…and become a part of their life.  If you can do that, you will never be alone.  You will never want for more friends and you will have more friends than your heart will hold.  But you have to LOOK.  Discouraged people generally don't carry a sign saying "I'm bummed".  

So, this Christmas, whether you are sporting those stylish new eyes in search of discouraged souls or you ARE the discouraged soul, I encourage you to find each other.  Invite someone who is alone to come over for Christmas dinner and join your family for the day or if you are alone and disheartened, I urge you to call a Stephen Minister here at the church.  Either way; the Spirit of Christmas will light up your life in ways you never expected!

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Philippians 2:4

GROWING SEEDS: "JOY"

 JOY

Welcome to the 3rd Week of Advent….the JOY week.

I must admit, I started this week off with anything BUT Joy.  It's funny how you can be rocking along, enJOYing the lights on the Christmas tree and everything that goes with this sparkling, holy season when WHAMM……your enJOYment gets zapped right out of your hands.  Something happens…..something is said…..something knocks you right off that JOYful high you were flying high on.  

And that's what happened to me; I lost my JOY for a brief moment this week.  I lost sight of the JOY that I had a Messiah that saw I couldn't fix myself and all the messy baggage that comes with me.  He saw that I needed help….He saw that I needed HIM.   So He decided to drop down to my level….and with 10 fingers, 10 toes, 2 ears, 2 eyes and a big heart, He left His comfortable throne and moved into my world.  He became flesh in my messed up, chaotic, angry world.

And isn't it funny how He puts the answer right under our noses when we need it most?  As my unJOYful self was reading the "Return To The Heart of Christmas" daily devotional that Pastor Jack handed out a few weeks ago, I discovered the answer: "Life is in the Preparation, not just the Destination."  We are so busy getting to our destination that we miss the preparation along the way…..you know, that messy "growth" part in the middle of our journey.

We say "Merry Christmas" so easily…….but is it REALLY that merry (Mary) when we are struggling through the crooked paths and rough places of life?  Those times when someone hurts you with their action or words….when you feel alone or betrayed?  

Without these messy growth parts; the "preparation" for our destination, would we fully understand what JOY is?