All night on a sidewalk and #15

As a mother, when your child/and or children ask you to do something, generally you try to make it happen. So when my youngest asked if I could get a book signed by Tim Tebow, I said, "Yes!". That turned into the little boys getting one, too. I was happy to do it. After all, when your son, who is in the desert asks for one "small" thing, you will do whatever it takes to make it happen.

Plans were made, times were set and we were off. My man decided at the last minute to go with me in this midnight adventure, so we left home at 12:00am and set off for O Town. When we arrived, the line had wrapped around the building and down the sidewalk. So I took up my position as #250 waiting for the arrival and the most coveted signing. The man stayed in the car while I layed myself out on the sidewalk. He had made the trip to Walgreens and brought me back a small beach chair, Diet Coke and general snacking items. I was happy and thankful he had come.

Sometime in the quiet of the dawn, I began to second guess my decision when my legs weren't working too well. But, onward I went, all for the sake of the boys. It was a quiet line. I learned that people who follow Tebow are generally nice people. I made friends with most of the ones around me and we had grand conversation.

At 9am they began to move the line so people could go into the store, get a wristband and COME BACK! After my wristband was securely attached and my position to come back was solidified, I needed coffee. We went to IHOP and drank lots of the stuff.  Making this the shortened version, I got back in line at 10:30am. The signing was supposed to start at 2. So, I waited. The desert boy had messaged several times checking my line status. He was in this as much as I was.

Finally, the time came, we moved to the door and the line began to move. It took almost two hours for me to get in the door only to find out there was another line. It was ok..I was in, and #15 was in sight. We were given very specific instructions as far as picture taking was concerned. By this time, the energy was building in the room and the closer my cohorts and I got, the more excited we were. 

When my time came, I was ready. The Sgt. was on the phone so he could listen to everything that was said. I had my speech planned out. I had already snapped all the pictures they were going to let me take. Then, there I was, in front of this player we had watched from high school, to UF and now the NFL. Now, need you think otherwise, I'm not really concerned with watching football. I don't care....but when my children and Treasures do, then it's a different story. So I came to the table with the two books.  He shook my hand and while he was signing the first one, I explained, in lightening speed about my two little "Tebow fans" who play football because of his influence. He said to tell them, "Play hard and always play for God". I was immediatly trying to commit that to memory when he moved on to the second book. I quickly began the story of my son in the desert and that he had asked specifically for this. I then mentioned that he was listening on the phone and to my amazement he picked up the phone, asked his name and began a conversation. In that moment, I was stunned at the "realness" of this player. He took the time to speak to a soldier and it was amazing.

That one act of kindness, that one small conversation, that one indication of what Tim Tebow's heart is like made me thankful. Thankful that I spent the night on the sidewalk, went without coffee for several hours, scraped my finger with blood dripping down it, stood for the last four hours without much sleep and was able to make one much loved Sgt and two little boys happy.

There is no end to a Mother's or a Nan's love.

Faith It

My Mom taught me many things. She taught me to ride a bike. She taught me how to wash dishes and clean up the kitchen. She tried to teach me how to act like a lady and have some manners. That was a lesson that is sometime questionable in its learning.  She taught me to study and to always be learning. She taught me how to have fun and do things on the spur of the moment.

Those things are needful and helpful, but she taught me more in what she didn't say. She taught me to love God more than anything or anyone else. She taught me that helping people should be second nature. I learned going on visitation with her...not necessarily because I wanted to, but she made me....that people will never know about Jesus if someone doesn't tell them. She lived out the fact that family is valuable and needful. I learned from first-hand experience that discipline really does work. 

The last things I learned from my mom came in the time of great struggle and sickness in her life. 

"The journey" she called it. She would often sing "My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow." She was in her own wilderness suffering the last few years of  her life. Pain and anguish gripped her most of the time. But never did I hear her cry out against God. She clung to Him like a swimmer in the middle of the ocean with nothing else around. She cried out TO Him for guidance and comfort. She praised Him to other people for His goodness to her. I saw her comfort other people when they came to visit her. People were drawn to her....mostly they were drawn to the Spirit of God in her. She lived her life in such a way that others would know Him. She wasn't perfect. But she knew where her hope was. 

Mom had this written in her Bible.  

1. Look at the trial

2. Look at what the Word says

3. Faith it

Under that she had these words written---"Accept God's control. Accept God's care."

She looked at the trial she was enduring. She looked at it in light of what the Word said. And she lived her life to the final moment "faithing it".  

May I be so faithful.