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WRITE 2 THE HEART
Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart"
June 22, 2004
Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator @ write2theheart.com
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An accident left Debi bereft of two of the people she loved the
most. Learning what her grandmother had said was her one regret
was an eye-opener.
Grannie's One Regret
Debi Russell
Losing my mother and grandmother in an automobile accident
15 years ago just yanked the rug out from under me and my
carefree lifestyle. Mother had gone to get Grannie to come see her
new 3-month old great granddaughter. Grannie didn't like the
interstate, so mother took the old route to our town. Coming to an
intersection that had always been a 4-way stop, my mother (who
never even had a parking ticket) stopped at the stop sign, pulled up
closer to the intersection and stopped again, then she pulled out
while she and Grannie were laughing about something. The 4-way
stop had become a 2-way stop in the years since my mother last
drove that route. The 18-wheeler couldn't stop fast enough and
both departed instantly.
I lived in Houston and was having my usual late Sunday supper
with a former coworker when I got the news. I screamed so loud
the whole restaurant came to the foyer, then an incredible calm
came over me. I calmly informed the friend who had paged me that
I could not fly and be around strangers. I would be there by noon
the next day.
On the way home I heard the words to "The Greatest Love of
All" by Whitney Houston. My mother was a high school
counselor and this song was so appropriate. Her service was a
memorial instead of a funeral. I stayed calm through all the
planning.
Then we went straight from her service to my Grannie's, who
had played the piano in her community church for 65 years. She
always had the preacher (who up till a year before was always a
different visiting preacher) over to lunch. She always called each
one "Preacher." This one had been around Grannie for over a year
so his words were so touching and sincere.
He had visited my grandmother many times while she was in a
nursing home getting therapy for her broken hip. Preacher said he
always left there exhausted because Grannie made him go to every
room and pray for each resident. He ended her service with this
story that makes me realize how easily we become unconsciously
selfish.
After Grannie returned home from the nursing home, he went to
visit with her one afternoon. She couldn't play for the church
anymore and was pretty low in spirits. He told us that he looked at
her and said "Jewel, I know you will leave this world one day with
no regrets. You are a better Christian than I could ever dream of
being."
She looked at Preacher and said, "I do have one regret."
Astonished, he looked into her eyes and asked, "What in the
world could you regret?"
"That I didn't buy the tallest house in South Sulphur."
Puzzled, he asked her why she had that regret.
She replied, "Now that I can't play for the Lord, I could sit on
the rooftop and shout 'Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves' and more people
would hear me if my house were taller." To leave this world with
one regret and that regret would only benefit our Lord and Savior!
Afterwards the calm left and I became so angry with God for
the first couple of years for taking two beautiful people from me. I
came to realize that I could only appreciate them deeply and learn
from them after they were gone. God has a reason for everything...
we just have to wait and see the 'why.' I don't go a day without
thinking of each of them and how lucky I was to have them love
and nurture me to become the person I am today... flawed but
appreciative ... and forgiving!
Debi Russell
Debourke @ aol.com
Daingerfield, TX
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Letters From Our Readers
Hi, Cheryl. I thoroughly enjoyed Janet Seever's article,
"Thanks, Dad, Thanks." And I'd like to say, "Thanks!" for sending
it.
Donna J. Shepherd
Devotionals by Donna
www.devotionalsbydonna.blogspot.com
Cheryl,
Janet Seever's "Thanks, Dad, Thanks" brought tears to my eyes.
Being the story was published just before Father's Day made it all
the more touching to me. I'm happy that Janet found those letters
from her father. I know she's so glad to have saved them to reread
again and again as needed.
Blessings,
Patricia Spork
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
Ken Prieur
Ryan
Larry Miele
Daniel
Amy
John
Joanne
Gary Boardwine
Josh
Hadassah
Chanz Wackerly
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
A friend of mine, Patricia, has challenged me to set and meet
weekly goals. We both have to set a goal and spend the week
meeting it. At the end of the week, we have to visit each other’s
house to see that the goal has been met.
The one who has not met her goal has to buy the other lunch. If
we both meet our goals, we will plan a day out to reward
ourselves. This has been a real motivator for me; I have finally
cleaned out my craft closet. But what to do if both of us don’t
meet our goals?
May God bless
Cheryl
Copyright © 2004, 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.
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