Marion McCann – Miss Marion as my daughter Christie called her – was a Brownie den mother when I first met her. She and her husband John spent years caring for their son Jake, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and finally went to be with his Lord. She knows grief and pain firsthand.
She was an opinion columnist for the Ruston Daily Leader for five years. Her articles dealt with the town of Ruston, Louisiana, during her life and reaching back into her mother's childhood.
She became a fulltime "Over the Road" truck driver to help support her family. To this day, she keeps on trucking. She contributed this poignant story for the blog, Do You Know How God Loves You?
Here's the story:
I have a short book wanting to be written about how I deal with grief moment by moment with God. He saves my literal sanity by infusing me without ceasing in one moment so I can make it to the next. He has brought me a long way.
Yesterday cannot be changed and tomorrow may not arrive but to live His will in each moment builds my life into something tolerable, even desirable. He gives me strength to endure and reach out, which I was unable to do for a long time due to losing part of my heart, my Jake. I had nothing more to give. At least, I didn't think I did.
For example: Poteau, Ok, night before last. I was on my way in from the fuel pumps and saw a man sitting by the curb on a duffle bag--he looked worn out...a hitchhiker or someone really down on his luck. I signaled to him to come here.
He arose and left his belongings unguarded and walked over with an inquisitive look on his face. I said, “Go get your stuff and get in here where you can cool off. I am buying you supper.”
A big smile and then he said, “I have not showered in days. You don't want me near you.”
I explained to him, “I get a free shower ticket for buying fuel and you may have the ticket but I am in a hurry so get in here, pick out whatever and however much you want to eat and drink and have leftover for the next meal then go shower, it will be all paid for when I leave.”
He picked out pizza and chicken, a candy bar and a two-liter Mountain Dew. I told the cashier, “This man has had a hard time so until he can find a way to move on, please let him refill his ice cup and use the truckers lounge after I leave.”
I gave him the shower coupon and went to my truck to check my oil and wash the windshield. I noticed he did not go straight to the shower but was sitting on the curb again, well into a piece of his pizza- fingers dripping with strands of cheese--lesson here is don't expect a starving man to jump in the shower before he is fed.
Before I began to try to live each given moment the very best I knew how, I would never have approached a hungry, dirty stranger and been almost bossy in my request to offer help.
His comment keeps ringing in my heart: “You don't have to do this.” (My unvoiced thought: oh, yes, I do.)
What I did say was, “Man-you are my brother in Christ and I don't want my brother out here stranded with nothing to eat and no way to get cleaned up!”
A backward glance was rewarded with a big wave of thanks and goodbye! I believe he will go on to help someone else down the road!
I have a bag full of tales from the road thanks be to God!
There is one that happened on the road to Goliad in Texas. The Mexican man was barefoot and carrying a very tired pet cat named El Gato, Cat in Spanish. His shoes hung from one shoulder by tied together laces...his feet were blistered and bleeding...you can fill in the blanks and believe me to be foolhardy--but the outcome was a good one. (And, I bet you would have done what I did!)
Click here for the Kindle version of Do You Know How God Loves You?
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Guest Blogger: Donna Barton
Donna Barton, author and illustrator of a beautiful children's book about Yahweh, the name of God, will have a book signing July 16, 2011. Donna has contributed a guest blog, in which she tells how she was inspired to write this book:
Searching
Searching, always searching! It seems like that is the story of my life. And as I get older the searching consumes my day. I search for answers. What should I believe? Which religion is closest to what God desires for me? How do I meet the needs of my family? Now I search for my glasses,which are on top of my head, my wallet, which is in the refrigerator crisper (true story).
You get the idea. It was during one of my searches for deeper meaning in my life that I took a Bible study called the Names of God. It was there I learned the proper name of God – Yahweh. Because the name of God was taken so seriously, the Jewish people would not say the name aloud so we are not really sure how to pronounce it.
The Jewish tradition maintains that God's name is spoken as a breath; inhale "Yah".the first breath of a newborn as it emerges from the womb. Exhale "Weh". The last breath a person takes before his eyes are glazed over by the final enemy Christ will crush- death. I sat there, I consciously breathed His name in an attitude of prayer and my life was changed.
I went home and wrote a children's prayer book called Yahweh. As inspiration for the illustrations of children and animals in an attitude of prayer, I used Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD." The children in the book are doing the things kids do with their breath. They are blowing bubbles, scattering dandelion puffs, blowing up balloons, flutes, and gasps of excitement when they see a ladybug or a hummingbird.
I am always intrigued when I read the book to children. Their little faces are rapt as they learn to praise God every moment with their breath. My heart was warmed one day as I saw a little one tug on mommy's skirt and say, "Mommy, I know God's name! With closed eyes, she breathed "Yah...Weh."
That is my purpose, for myself and for them. I want all of us to be aware of Him in every moment of our life and praise Him with every breath. The book, YAHWEH is a reality now. The book signing will be July 16, 2011 between 4 and 6 PM at 2715 James Louis Drive, Amarillo, TX 79110. Everyone who is interested is invited. Just come and eat cookies!
Click here for the Kindle version of Do You Know How God Loves You?
Searching
Searching, always searching! It seems like that is the story of my life. And as I get older the searching consumes my day. I search for answers. What should I believe? Which religion is closest to what God desires for me? How do I meet the needs of my family? Now I search for my glasses,which are on top of my head, my wallet, which is in the refrigerator crisper (true story).
You get the idea. It was during one of my searches for deeper meaning in my life that I took a Bible study called the Names of God. It was there I learned the proper name of God – Yahweh. Because the name of God was taken so seriously, the Jewish people would not say the name aloud so we are not really sure how to pronounce it.
The Jewish tradition maintains that God's name is spoken as a breath; inhale "Yah".the first breath of a newborn as it emerges from the womb. Exhale "Weh". The last breath a person takes before his eyes are glazed over by the final enemy Christ will crush- death. I sat there, I consciously breathed His name in an attitude of prayer and my life was changed.
I went home and wrote a children's prayer book called Yahweh. As inspiration for the illustrations of children and animals in an attitude of prayer, I used Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD." The children in the book are doing the things kids do with their breath. They are blowing bubbles, scattering dandelion puffs, blowing up balloons, flutes, and gasps of excitement when they see a ladybug or a hummingbird.
I am always intrigued when I read the book to children. Their little faces are rapt as they learn to praise God every moment with their breath. My heart was warmed one day as I saw a little one tug on mommy's skirt and say, "Mommy, I know God's name! With closed eyes, she breathed "Yah...Weh."
That is my purpose, for myself and for them. I want all of us to be aware of Him in every moment of our life and praise Him with every breath. The book, YAHWEH is a reality now. The book signing will be July 16, 2011 between 4 and 6 PM at 2715 James Louis Drive, Amarillo, TX 79110. Everyone who is interested is invited. Just come and eat cookies!
Click here for the Kindle version of Do You Know How God Loves You?
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Happy Anniversary of the Birth of Our Great Nation
We are to honor our nation with obedience and prayer, though we must never commit sin in response to an edict.
God requires us to honor and obey those who are in positions of authority over us. These rulers have a special obligation to perform their tasks well. They will be required to answer to God. If they fail to rule fairly, they will suffer His consequences.
Elohim -- the all powerful King, our Father-God, His perfectly loving and holy Son, the always tender and always powerful Holy Spirit...one God in three persons – created everything. Whatever nations that exist on this earth have their rulers, governments, and economies with His permission. He knows all our problems and is managing all of what goes on according to His master plan.
Even though we often fail to understand, He works whatever happens for good to and for all of us who love Him and are called from the foundation of the world according to His intentions and purposes. Nothing exists without His permission. No government rules Him, and no ruler can maintain his position except through God’s authority. (Romans 8:28)
Click here for the Kindle version of Do You Know How God Loves You?
God requires us to honor and obey those who are in positions of authority over us. These rulers have a special obligation to perform their tasks well. They will be required to answer to God. If they fail to rule fairly, they will suffer His consequences.
Elohim -- the all powerful King, our Father-God, His perfectly loving and holy Son, the always tender and always powerful Holy Spirit...one God in three persons – created everything. Whatever nations that exist on this earth have their rulers, governments, and economies with His permission. He knows all our problems and is managing all of what goes on according to His master plan.
Even though we often fail to understand, He works whatever happens for good to and for all of us who love Him and are called from the foundation of the world according to His intentions and purposes. Nothing exists without His permission. No government rules Him, and no ruler can maintain his position except through God’s authority. (Romans 8:28)
Click here for the Kindle version of Do You Know How God Loves You?
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