Happy Birthday to our Jimmy!

The photo was taken in December 2018.

Happy Birthday to our middle son, Jimmy, on this Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Today marks the 51st year of his sojourn here on the planet. We thank God for Jimmy and the children God has given to him, Jimmy Jr., the twins, Alesha and Amanda, and the youngest, Alexander Benjamin. Jimmy has been disabled for a number of years, however, he is able to work some. He currently sells firearms at Academy two days per week. We pray for God's provision in his life and into the lives of his children. Happy Birthday and may God bless! Amen. Our love, mom, and dad.

Mr. Bentley and I do some fair amount of walking. In the afternoons we see the kids practicing on the baseball diamond near our home. One day this week, we saw a fellow with his twin sons getting in some practice before the rest of the team showed up. The dad was very clear on his expectations. He was teaching them technique. How to field a ground ball or judge a fly ball. And, how to get the ball and get it out of your glove and throw it accurately. These boys were maybe 8 or 9 years old. When they failed to follow his instructions, they had to come and sit on the bench for a time out. This got me to thinking. I played baseball for maybe 5 years as a kid growing up. I don't have any idea how I got started or who gave me any instruction. I'm sure the little league coaches did, and, I do remember playing catch with some fellows around the house. I didn't have a dad to show me, but, I somehow became pretty good playing Little League and then Dixie League as a teen. My last year, I made the all-star team for our Parish and played in the exhibition game in Alexandria, Louisiana. I know someone must have gotten me out to the ballpark when I started out, but, I am pretty fuzzy on those details. Maybe I was hit by too many pitches. Wait a minute. When I pitched I was the wild one. I could throw the ball hard but I didn't always know where it might land.

Songs come and go. I heard this one again the other day. It blew up the charts a couple of years ago, but, as I think about the world and all the needs, the lyrics always speak to me:

Chain Breaker
Zach Williams

If you’ve been walking the same old road for miles and miles
If you’ve been hearing the same old voice tell the same old lies
If you’re trying to fill the same old holes inside
There’s a better life
There’s a better life

If you’ve got pain
He’s a pain taker
If you feel lost
He’s a way maker
If you need freedom or saving
He’s a prison-shaking Savior
If you’ve got chains
He’s a chain breaker

We’ve all searched for the light of day in the dead of night
We’ve all found ourselves worn out from the same old fight
We’ve all run to things we know just ain’t right
And there’s a better life
There’s a better life

If you’ve got pain
He’s a pain taker
If you feel lost
He’s a way maker
If you need freedom or saving
He’s a prison-shaking Savior
If you’ve got chains
He’s a chain breaker

Amen and Amen. ....More later.