Oh man did I have a problem yesterday. It was one of those spur of the moment things, and it took me longer than it should have to “Break-Thought.” I can’t even remember all of the songs that instantly charged through my head. It was like a medley of every awesome woman song that had ever been written. Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison came to mind and then there was, “There she was just a walking down the street singing do wa diddy diddy dum didy do.” My mind was ablaze with guilty passion as I tried in vain to rid it of the fantasies bounding around inside. (Hum…I may have just opened myself up to some empty headed jokes there.) As I tried to change where my mind was going I was stricken with the words of one final song; “My blood runs cold my memory has just been sold, my angel is a centerfold, my angel is a centerfold”

NOT!!!

Here is what really happened. I was standing in Chick-fil-A waiting on a customer to come pick up an order I had put together. I really enjoy doing this because I like to watch people. I like to see the way they look as they get out of their car, or walk into the restaurant. I enjoy observing how they interact as a family, or as co-workers. So, a new economy car pulled into a parking spot just across the drive through lane, and very close to the door. The driver’s side door opened and out stepped a woman with one prominent object that instantly drew my attention. A freshly lit cigarette dangling from her puckered up wrinkly lips. Yup, that was the first thing I noticed. She was a middle aged woman who was not winning the battle against the ravages of smoking.  Literally my first thought was, wow isn’t that sexy? 

Friends, let me be honestly brutal, or brutally honest with you now. There is nothing sexy about a cigarette dangling from the lips of woman. I have heard men, and even teen age boys, say they like it when a woman smokes because that most likely means they will do “other” things as well.  Since I have chapped some you already I may as well continue with my tirade. We, people, have a tendency of thinking things always happen to other people. This may come as a surprise to you, but you is other people, so having said that I will continue with my brutality. If you smoke you increase your chances of lung disease, cancer, emphysema, heart disease, heart attack, etc. Let’s get away from the health risk and consider something else. If you smoke your skin will lose its elasticity, your hair will not have its normal shine, your lips will wrinkle and so will your eyes. Don’t fool yourself into thinking no one has to know you smoke because if you smoke, you stink, your hair stinks, your cloths stink, your car stinks, your house stinks, and your breath stinks.

I’ll come down from my soap box now, my tirade is over. I just need to quietly finish up my feeling on this matter so let me tell you a true story. Every month in Avid Golfer Magazine, a local publication featuring golf in the Metro Plex, there is a cart girl of the month section. A few years back the cart girl of the month was a young lady who worked at the golf course I played regularly. It had some nice pictures of the young lady along with a short question and answer interview. One of the questions was; What is the biggest tip you have ever received? She had given some dollar amount as her answer, but I hope by now she realizes I gave her the biggest tip she ever received. After the magazine came out I congratulated her on the honor and the feature, and then said, “This is none of my business, and please forgive me if I am out of line, but please stop smoking.” She took my comment well, and said “I know I need to but….”

The young lady left the club shortly after that exchange, so I have no idea whether she still smokes or not. I hope she doesn’t, but let me pass along the same advice to you. If you smoke, quit now, if you don’t smoke, don’t start.

Till next time,

Grump

My newest main man has the most amazing smile you have ever seen in your life. When he smiles his eyes become sparkly, and his mouth turns into the reason for global warming. I mean he doesn’t just turn up the corners of his lips a little; no he opens wide with a delight that warms the heart and soul of those who witness his joy. To see his smile is to feel the weight of the world go away if only for a moment.

I am also taken by his passion. Whatever he does, he does with commitment. He is either involved or he is gone. He sets a goal and will not stop trying to reach that goal. My man has more energy than a NASA rocket, always going from one task to the next at full speed. Even though he is goal orientated he also likes his play time. He is a rough sort of man preferring rough and tumble games, and doesn’t have the patience for sitting and listening. A video may distract him for a moment, but he is soon on the move again.  

There is one other thing that I admire about my newest main man. He knows where his comfort can be found. He knows where to go when he needs love, or protection. He knows who cares for him and comforts him. There are many people in his life who would die for him, but there is one above all others who he goes to in his time of need. His mother.  His mother is his comfort, his rock, his protection.

Do you have someone to go to in times of trouble? Where do you turn for protection, comfort, and care? Jesus says come to Me, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:27-29. In a prior post I mentioned a song written by Jennifer Nettles of the Country Duo Sugarland. The name of the song is Fall Into Me, and the words that some up the song are; “I want to be the one you reach for first.” I think those are the words God would use today in offering Himself to you and me.

My newest main man is Ranger Lee Johnston, aka, Ranger Roo. He’s my grandson. He’s eleven months old, and he knows who to turn too in times of distress. I have fifty-three years on the Roo, and I wish I was mature enough to turn to in my Rock and Salvation every time I was in need.

Till next time,

Grump

I know I have talked about my impatience before, but I need a reminder to trust in God’s timing from time to time, and I received that reminder this morning as I read a blog posted by my daughter-in-law, Amber. http://ambsmith.blogspot.com  Her post is a birthday letter to her one year old daughter, Milla, and in that post she writes about how she and Josh had prayed for her. You see their prayer had been for God to bless them with another child, and He did when He knew the time was right.

Here is my version of the events leading to the birth of Miss “Chilla” Milla. About two years after Major arrived on the scene Josh and Amber thought it was time to have another baby. They began praying that God would bless them with another child, and it seemed that maybe it just wasn’t God’s will that they have another baby. I remember driving to Nashville with Josh for a funeral, and discussing how we knew what God’s will is. My question is when do we accept that maybe His will is not our will? At this point the kids were having some procedures done to aid in a resulting pregnancy, so I was truly asking in my own mind if we sometimes go out of our way to make sure God gives us what He know we either don’t need, or don’t need right now.

Over the course of the next three years Amber became pregnant a number of times, but each pregnancy ended prematurely. However, the kids continued to pray, and three years later God blessed them with Milla Josephine Smith. In her birthday letter to Milla, Amber tells her that Josephine means “God will add” and that is exactly what He did. God added Milla to our lives. He added joy to our lives. He added a blessing to our lives.

Here is the point I need to remember. God sent Milla when it was time for Milla. I guess we could drive ourselves crazy thinking about it, but if another pregnancy had worked we wouldn’t have Milla. She would have never existed. To be sure, we have loved and cherished the child just as we love Milla, but we would have never known the beautiful Miss Milla.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5(NIV)

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. I Peter 4:10(NIV)

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10(NIV)

I believe God has a purpose for Milla’s life. I believe He has a plan for her that only she can do. In fact, I believe all of us were created with a gift and a purpose, and if we are willing to give God control, that purpose, and that gift will be used when the time is right.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31(KJV)

Till next time,

Grump