It's good to know where you came from and it's appropriate to recognize and honor those who helped you get to where you are today.

This would be the day called short week Friday, and it finds itself firmly planted on September 5, 2014. This is our famous Granny Mac's birthday. Yeah. I know. I tend to spend a fair amount of my time writing about folks that we remember in this way. As for Granny Mac, now there's a woman who didn't have to wait to get to heaven to find out if she had impacted for good the lives of many people, because there's a whole bunch of us still around to sing praises to our God for her and her influence on us. She was escorted by the Angels, you know, Lazarus' style, into the presence of her Lord on March 18, 1983, just a few months short of her 80th birthday. I don't know how many different families lived with her and Paw Paw but at one time or another it was most all their kids and grand kids. Granny was frail and she fought a variety of health issues throughout her lifetime. She was a Granny. A legendary cook. Beloved by us all. A faithful mom, wife, and a lady, like the Bible says one should be. She had her faults. She lived through and saw loved ones impacted by WW1, the Great Depression, WW2, Korea, and Vietnam. She had a good dose of old fashioned stubbornness that has shown up in many of us. She loved her Bible and she loved to read inspirational spiritual books. Thinking about her and Paw Paw Mac and all the challenges they faced, and how they were always willing to do anything they could to help their family, well, it makes me wonder if we are even put together the way they were back then. They were something else folks, something else indeed! And, we are all the better for it. Amen.

My stories may seem to be enhanced with most of the flaws taken out. There is some truth to that but I assure you that when I talk about these folks and so many others, there's an overwhelming sense of how they lived and how they made a difference in my life. I was there. I experienced it. And, I do hope that you have been blessed to have these kinds of recollections about how you came to be who you are today. I am aware of many that did not get this type of foundation and they have pretty much been on their own throughout their lifetimes. That saddens me but it also tells me that I am blessed. Being blessed in this way does not mean that our lives were without challenges and heartaches. When I consider some of the personal issues that our family has dealt with over the years, it only causes me to be more thankful to God for His grace, mercy, and in His provision of people who somehow helped me to make my way forward. I'll add one thing. When I think about the many sacrifices, the selfless serving, and the steady faith demonstrated by these folks in the face of great adversities, well, my grandfather's favorite hymn comes to mind: "Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand." That was more than a song to them. It was their way of life.

I've had so many giants in my life and on days like today, thinking about them makes me feel pretty small for not having lived up to their example. But, we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and get out there and see what we can do that will honor our God and fulfill His calling for us to serve others. Meanwhile, another week has come and gone. I have enjoyed our little time of communing each day along with absorbing my fair share of Community. Communing and Community. Not a bad combination if you ask me. You didn't but I know most of you would agree. At least about the coffee. I'm perfectly fine with the jury being out on my chasing subjects up one side and down the other. I hope you recognize that I do try to see things from different points of view but it's obvious that we all have a basic filter that yields our thoughts and opinions. I recommend the filter be based on Godly principles and not necessarily a political philosophy. We can easily get those mixed up. You do know what I mean. Right Vern? Well, think about it, and in the meantime I want to wish you a wonderful Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. If all goes according to plan, I'll try to be broadcasting on this same station come next Monday. May God bless each one. Amen.  ...More later.