One Simple Act

I saw the dry leaves piling up in a corner of my front porch this morning.  Normally, I would just grab the ol' beatup broom from the garage and get to sweeping, but the heavy cane I was grasping in my right hand, reminded me that I was not so mobile.  Oh, heck....I can do this!  Hobbling to the door that exits to the garage, I reached out, pulled it too me and proceeded to the porch.  Hopping off the entrance stoop, I commenced to put the broom under my armpit and began some vigorous strokes!   Said broom handle slipped out of armpit and whacked me in the jaw! Not to be deterred from my mission, I lay my cane across the white wicker rocking chair and steadied myself with the broom handle, placing all my weight over to the right leg, leaving the wretched left knee dangling precariously, knowing that I could put pressure on it but really not wanting too, due to it's sudden action of buckling when I least expect it.  Mission accomplished, maybe not so fastidiously, but accomplished!

 And why pray tell, do I share this with you?  Three neighbors were in their yards, doing what I suppose are the things you do in the fall to get ready for winter, two of which never looked up, one giving me a quick wave before ducking his head back to the business at hand.  14 years of living side by side with these neighbors and not one knew that I had knee surgery.  How sad is that!?  I'm not pointing fingers, I'm just stating a sad, sad fact that during all those years, we did not develop even the slightest of relationships so that we would know when another is in need.  The quick waves as we leave our driveways, the brief exchange of pleasantries on the front lawn once or twice during the summer months leave no room for developing any kind of relationship with our neighbors.

My mind does a free fall back many, many years when we knew almost too much about our
neighbors!  We watched each others kids, we sent hot dishes over if sickness came, we shared secrets,
we helped.  Yes, helped.  How many Saturday mornings if the guys were out doing something in the yard or garage, did one or several of the neighbor guys show up and eventually help finish up a job which would otherwise have taken hours.   How often did my wonderful gal neighbors pop in to help me paint, show me how to sew something when I was stuck, sit down with a cup of tea and listen to each others problems, or just enjoy some warm summer sunshine on the front porch steps?  When did this exchange of neighborliness die out?   Oh, I know there are still those neighborhoods that make it a practice to enjoy each other's company, and that makes me smile, for it brings back that warm  feeling of remembering, being part of something, feeling safe and valued, just simply enjoying life.  But I fear those are the exception to the rule of present day neighbors. 

Yesterdays were slower paced, most mom's didn't work, we jointly watched the neighborhood. There were no computers, Ipods, IPhones,  texting, 100's of TV channels.  Most kids picked a sport or two with very little practices thrown in, no hectic racing from one thing to another, more family time and always time to see if there was one simple act we could do for our neighbor in time of need.  I guess I'd call it 'priorities.'   When we've reached the point where sports, self-interest, down right fatigue come between our committment to attending worship, or youth activities at church, well, it's time to stop the madness.  Even God rested on the seventh day!  Well, I didn't mean to get on a tangent here and include society as a whole.....but to simply remind myself how important it is to slow down, know thy neighbor and never be too busy or preoccupied with self to render 'one simple act' that may cause another some relief, heck maybe even bring a smile!  My daughters showed those simple acts in so many ways,...ways that required no words....just acts of simple love. 

This 'knee thing' brought many well wishes, cards, phone calls, inquiries if they could help with anything,....all nice, all well meaning, but you know what brought tears to my eyes?  A knock on the door, a smiling face and a bag with homemade soup and bread.  No 'pre-plans',  no 'what can I do for you', just a simple act of kindness and a genuine word...."I just wanted to share my soup with you."

The Lord is Near..

I woke up this morning wondering if I had just dreamed yesterday.  Rising from my pillow I gasped at the aching in my head, no doubt the after effects of the dye from the the CT.  Ok, God....what's going on here?  Is it lesson time again?  Or is Satan shooting his darts at me just for grins?!!  Either way, I'm crying 'uncle!'  Not really I guess, for God's lessons are always bringing me to a better place, and as far as Satan goes, well, I'll never give in to his silly games! 

Not so very long ago I was marveling at how smoothly my life seemed to be going....big mistake!  Although I thank my Lord every day for my blessings, health, and all He has provided, perhaps I became a little superficial about it...I just don't know.  Knee problems have given me untold pain the past 3 months, now resulting in upcoming surgery, large basal cell removed with 35 stitches a few weeks back,  dissolving teeth under a very expensive bridge will need to be replaced with implants costing thousands, time for a follow up appointment for my glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration and to boot, I woke up yesterday morning with the worst pain in my lower left abdomen!  A day spent under IV pain meds, Cat Scan and waiting for the results.  Five hours into it, they came and when the  doctor pulled up her chair to 'go over' some things, I knew I was in trouble!  My eyes shot over to daughter Denise, as if she could take some of the fear away from me....her eyes were as full of fear as mine.

Large mass on the right side of uterus with enlarged uterus and untold 'little things' going on in there!  Little cysts on the kidneys, possible fibroids behind the uterus pushing it forward (no wonder I have a protruding belly!...good excuse anyhow!)  She was very emphatic about scheduling with an OB first thing next week, followed by an oncologist.  Ok, Lord....I'm listening!  I'm reaching out my hand and trusting You will take it and guide me through this process, whatever it turns out to be. 

Life isn't always easy is it?  We take it as it comes, sometimes for granted, sometimes questioning, other times praising Him for undeserved mercy and grace,....that's just the way life is.  We walk those hills and valleys, we suffer great losses and our sorrow seems endless, we may even feel as if we're loosing our way in times of distress, the test seemingly more than we can endure.  He knows,...He's waiting,...He never lets go, for great is His love and His faithfulness is forever with us.

Today I have no idea what the future will bring, but I know who holds the future.  I'm fearful right now because aren't we always afraid of the unknown?  The Psalms have given me comfort today....Blessed is he whose help is God,...whose hope is in the Lord.....The Lord is near to all who call upon Him...He hears their cries.   Ps. 146:2 rings true to me as I face an unknown path.."I will praise the Lord all my life, I will sing praise to my God as long as I live."