Fuss




	Write 2 The Heart January 13, 2005 Welcome to your latest issue of Write 2 the Heart. Take a moment to browse our new bookstore at: http://www.write2theheart.com/html/book_store.html You will find wonderful books written, or include stories by many of our talented writers. You will also find books that aide the budding writer. I highly recommend “Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Guide,” and “2005 Writer’s Market.” Both are must haves for all serious writers. They are great tools to find that perfect market for your writing. Molly’s story is a tribute of her love for her sister. We also see a mother filled with determination to see that her daughter receives the best treatment while under the watchful eye of a loving family. We Will Never Fuss Again! Molly Lemmons The rolling engine came to a screeching halt as the big train came barreling into the Oklahoma City depot when I was five years old. I was there to meet the train that was bringing home my seven-year-old sister, Sally Ann. As I stood by Daddy who held my baby brother, Bob, in his arms, we watched anxiously as Mother and Sally Ann got off the train. I ran to grab her, and as we twirled around hugging, we both squealed in happiness, "We will never fuss again!" My mind flashed back to how we happened to be at the train station that late October evening in 1942. We were in Crandall, Texas, a small town with a population of only a few hundred folks, where we were visiting our grand- parents. It was a blistering hot summer that year, and both of us were learning to ride her new bike, taking turns riding around our grandparents' property. It was so terribly hot that Sally stopped every few minutes to run in and grab a cold glass of water. I fussed at her for "hogging" the bike and not giving me my turn! Sulking, I plopped onto one of the gliders on the mammoth screened-in front porch of Mama-Dear's house and I pouted with my lip stuck out as I watched her ride on and on without "taking turns." "You'll be sorry!" I screamed. "I'm telling on you!" It wasn't long until Sally came back around and said she was going in. "I don't feel so good." "Ha-ha, you shouldn't feel so good, because you haven't shared!" And I stuck out my tongue!. She said nothing but silently went into the house and lay down on the divan. Early the next morning, she awoke up with a fever of 105 degrees. Dr. Woods came out to the house and checked the little girl, who by now could not walk, and her head was "frozen" at an angle. Gravely and sadly, the doctor said as kindly as he could, "I'm sorry but Sally Ann has Infantile Paralysis-commonly called, Polio." A disease of the muscles, Polio was an especially crippling malady, striking mostly children. I stood in the waiting room of Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas, and listened to Mother and Daddy as they talked with the doctors. "If she is to respond to therapy, she must not be hindered by the emotions of family around her. You will have to leave her with us for a while. We will send for you when we feel it best." Believing Polio to be contagious, I watched sadly as they wheeled her away and out of my sight into isolation. Tears streamed down my face! How sad and how sorry I felt that I had been so ugly to her that day. Questions whirled in my mind: Would she walk again? Would she die? I was terrified of losing this sister of mine. Hearts heavy, we returned to Oklahoma City. Mother stayed behind for a while where she could observe Sally through one-way mirrors. And now here they were, and she was getting off the train! I knew our reunion would be brief but we got to be together one night before she had to check into Crippled Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City. Once again, they jerked off her clothes, put on her hospital gown and wheeled her away and out of sight. I recall so vividly standing on the ground below her window four stories up and waving at the tear streaked little face pressed against the window. Finally, Mother had enough! She marched up to the hospital to check her out with the promise of giving the treatments to Sally herself. The treatments consisted of hot packing. This involved dipping wool rags into boiling water, running them through the wringer and wrapping the aching little 7-year-old body in them. The wraps were so hot that Sister cried. I had to run outside and go down the street to keep from hearing her scream. The exercises were even worse. Lifting her leg caused excruciating pain. Finally, because Mother so faithfully fulfilled the responsibility of the heart-rending therapy, Sally recovered without having to wear the leg brace for which she had been fitted, and the only outward sign that she had polio was that one leg was shorter and smaller than the other. There were changes from inside the little girl, however. At school, she wasn't chosen for the planned recess games of choosing up relay teams, so she just stayed in from recess and read. Studying the Bible became her first priority and for all of her suffering, good things did come out of it. She developed depth of character and faithfulness of heart, preparing her to fulfill her strong desire to be a missionary. While as children, we didn't always keep our promise to "never fuss again," we did, however, always remember why we said it that day so many, many years ago. That sister, today is my dearest friend. Molly Lemmons mollyloubelle @ cox.net This is an excerpt from my book, "Kind of Heart," a compilation of columns I wrote for newspapers. I am retired from the Mustang Public Schools, and have become a professional storyteller, "Miss MollyLouBelle with Tales to Tell," www.storyteller.net/tellers/mlemmons. I am a member of Territory Tellers, and the National Storytelling Network. My stories have been published in “Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul,” “The Christian Chronicle,” “The Christian Journal,” “Ideals Magazine,” and “Christian Woman.” In April 2005, Wings ePress will release my second book, “The Passing of Paradise,” an inspirational romance. I live in Mustang, Oklahoma with my husband of forty-eight years and my seven cats! We have two grown children and two grandchildren. You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator @ write2theheart.com Write 2 the Heart now has an affiliate program with Cognigen. They have several long distance plans to chose from. I personally use the PowerNet Global 4.5¢ Per Minute Plan. I love having my own toll free number without the monthly fee; I only pay for actual calls. My family can call home whenever they are out of town. I have used it more times than I care to remember over the last three years in emergency situations. Cognigen has more than just great long distance rates; they have calling cards, internet access, web hosting services and much more. You can check out all of their telecommunication products and services at http://ld.net/?cbspeir. Looking for an affiliate program? You will be surprised at all the products and services you will have access to. Military Prayer Reminder As you read over this list of names, please take a moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Ryan Larry Miele Daniel Amy John Joanne Gary Boardwine Josh Hadassah Chanz Wackerly Robert Henderson David Habighurst Tonia Melissa Bair Matthew Nutter Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. Cheryl’s Corner Last year, David’s gout acted up for months. It kept getting worse and worse until he thought he had a broke foot. He was having a very hard time getting around and the pain was excruciating. Finally he broke down, went to the doctor, and came home with a new diet and medication. Every time David goes to the doctor, it seems he comes home with a different diet. Of course none of these diets allow the same thing. After cross-referencing all these diets, I have discovered the only thing he can have is water and some vegetables. At my wits end, I asked him which diet he would like to follow today. “You decide, you can either kill me quick or kill me slow.” There’s nothing like a serving of high pressure. God bless, Cheryl Copyright © 2005, Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.