Polka Dots

Spring mornings are a special delight and some include extra surprises! This morning was one such day. As I drove into work there had been rain overnight and there were some misty remnants lingering, yet not enough to qualify as “rain”.

As I began the walk from the parking lot into the building, I was reminded of my first Spring with SummaCare 12 years ago! We were in a different location then and I remember being so amazed by God’s grace in providing the job. Each morning that Spring it was special just to park, enjoy the freshness of the morning and swipe my identification badge for access, a new experience for me!

As I reminisced this morning, and thanked Him for health, a mind, the beauty of budding trees, and Spring freshness, a new surprise awaited me.

As I rounded the corner to the walkway, I noticed the polka dot concrete.  It is just like my Father to add something extra to remind us of His presence and creativity.

The rain had caused the blossoms to fall on the concrete and the moisture painted them like a canvas of white polka dots! I had a custom decorated concrete walkway that far exceeded any man made red carpet at the finest gala. He graced my morning with this reminder of His artistry and gave me the eyes to see; the earth and the skies are His canvas.

Life can be as hard as that concrete some days when we face the challenges before us. But if we can see beyond the problems there are Polka Dots in every hard space that remind us of the Shepherd. We are not alone in the journey when we trust Him, lean into His presence, and seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

Look for the Polka Dots in the kindness of a special friend, the prayers of those who care, His precious Word that comforts, and just the beauty of all He has placed around you. We can thank Him that even in the hardest of places He sends glimpses of grace and reminders of His love.

Daddy's Girls Club

I am starting a club and naming it Daddy’s Girls. Do you remember when we were young and everything seemed to revolve around being in a “club”. Week to week the club may change about as often as we changed our mind about most anything as a young girl. And, whether or not you were in the “club” depended on who was doing the organizing and choosing of members. Being left out was the ultimate punishment a friend may inflict if she was prone to getting revenge for even the most minor of offences.

Well, my club isn’t based on whim or fancy, likes or dislikes. Rather, it is formed by a very unique group of Daddy’s Girls that have been through the valley with their Daddy and can never turn back the hands of time. To be in this club means you have endured, faced life head on, loved lavishly and given unselfishly as Daddy’s Girl.

Most certainly, club members will welcome and embrace one another as those outside the club are unable to do. Their camaraderie will be evident in their understanding of one another, their tears, and their nods of affirmation. It isn’t easy to join Daddy’s Girls. It will cost you dearly, but it is worth every tear.

No one begins life planning to join Daddy’s Girls and the funny thing about it is that you don’t even know the club exists UNTIL you are already a member and meet another member. Suddenly, it is like pinky swear all over again and you could say, “jinx, you owe me a coke” because you keep saying the same things without even trying. 

Members have many things in common that are meaningful and deep but one of the most obvious is that they had a Daddy who loved them dearly, was so proud of them that he could just about pop the buttons on a vest if he wore one, and never tired of telling anyone who would listen about his girls. These Daddys were Mr. Fix It, Santa Claus, and Prince Charming all rolled into one. These Daddys made their little girls dreams come true and even when they really didn’t want to do it, you would never know!

But back to the Club. Sometime along life’s way the Daddy becomes older and the Daddy’s Girls begin to switch places with him and care more for him as he weakens and can do less and less for them. But that never diminishes the pride he feels or the smile he beams at just being with his girls. These are just pop quizzes and midterm exams but then one day the final test for being in the Daddy’s Girls Club comes. Daddy's girls suddenly find themselves wishing it wasn’t so and hoping against hope that something will change. Surely Mr. Fix It, Santa, and Prince Charming all rolled into one will garner the strength, or win the battle just one more time. But this time is different, he is losing, and he won’t stand tall ever again. 

Daddy’s Girls remember the love, the loyalty, and just how proud he was to call them his own. They remember all he taught them and they know what to do because they are Daddy’s Girls. They can’t walk away from the battle, even though he is losing the war. They stay, they love, they speak as he has spoken countless times over the years to them. Daddy’s Girls tell him they are okay, they will be fine,  and he did a good job. They also tell him it’s okay to go and they stay close and wait until the last breath, and the after breath tell them he’s gone. Daddy’s girls love to the end as he always loved them, lavishly, without holding back. It’s the least they could do for one who dried their tears, bandaged their skinned knees, and mended their broken hearts along the path of life.

Daddy’s Girls, the club for those who are given the privilege of choosing to stay by their Daddy’s side until his last breath. They are forever changed and forever blessed to have been Daddy’s Girls right to the end when he had to go, took a piece of their heart with him, and left his legacy of love behind.

·      In Memory of Gregory P. Graham

·      March 1, 2013 - Pam Cornell and Patte Smith joined the Daddy’s Girls Club

Mingled Tears

Tears of joy and tears of sorrow,
Tears of regret and fears for tomorrow,
Every tear that flows is captured above,
And shouts silently as a testament to love.
Hardened hearts feel no pain, nor do they shed a tear,
Their hearts have closed the door to shun the risk of pain.
The hearts of those who dare to love, also dare to cry,
For love and tears flow mingled down and intertwined.
So too, The Savior's love and sorrow flowed mingled down,
For it was His thorns that composed so rich a crown.

In memory of dad whose tears I dried and mingled with mine during his final days of illness.
Gregory P. Graham
1-2-28 to 3-1-13