Friday, October 8, 2010
Time to check in again, and update you on what's going on in my life. This is not a brag sheet, its a report best I can recall of some important recent events. Lets start with a hour ago, or two.
A young guy pulled to the curb across the street from my back yard, and as he hit the curb too hard, he put a hole in the sidewall of his tire, it went down immediately. He and a friend were headed to play soccer in the park, and when they came back, I offered to pump up the tire if they needed some air. He said, no thanks, I have a spare to put on.
After much struggling, he was able to get the spare released (it was secured, under the trunk of his SUV) and he was trying to get the wheel bolts loose. I could see he was having a hard time of it, so I gave Donna the phone to talk with Lou & I went across the street to see if I could help. I've changed many tires in my lifetime, so this would be one more. I tried to break the nuts loose but they had been put on with a airtool & wouldn't budge.
However, God gave me an idea, and I would hold up on one end of the 4 spoke lug wrench, and he would stand on the other end & we were able to break all 7 nuts loose. My good deed for the day.
Lets back up to Thursday, we had Grace here & she and I went to the playground to give Grandma a break. Grace & Donna had already baked two batches of cookies, had painted numerous pictures with water color paint & Grandma needed a break. We went to the merry go round first, and then to the swings. She hadn't swung too long, till a lady came towards us with a baby carriage with twins in it. So, Grace wanted to see the babies, and we went over towards the lady & she saw us coming, so came towards us. The babies were twin boys, "Jack & Webb" about 5 months old, and cute as could be. We did not ask her what her name was however.
Back to the swing, and pretty soon a cute chubby little girl got in the swing next to ours & her dad started pushing her. Grace was soon singing the "alphabet song" and the little girl (2 to 3 years old) joined in the singing. That dad, just beamed when his little girl joined in. Pretty soon Grace asked him his name, which was Butch.
Lets back up a little farther to Thursday morning, I was just finishing my walk around the park when I came to a lady with her dog & school age boy. I had talked with her before, and knew her name was Rachel (the red head) and soon learned her son's name was Adam. I commented that was man's first name & the mother said she was working off some of his energy before he went to school.
WHY all this you are now asking. A few weeks back one of our visiting pastors, spoke on 1st Peter 4: vs 10 & 11. In it Peter says "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God" There is more to this 11th verse, but vs 10 and the first part of 11 spoke to me. The Holy Spirit told me, I should be more bold in greeting others I met every day in the park, and I've done so. I try to encourage others by my greeting. I pray that I've been able to.
The week after I had that sermon, I was concerned as I had not seen Terry & Shirley, who had been frequent walkers in the park, and who we had befriended. Knowing where they lived, I stopped by to see if they were okay, and got no answer at the door. So, I came home and wrote a short note stating I hoped they were okay, and that I had not seen them lately. A few days later we got a phone call from Terry & then later from Shirley letting us know they were okay, but their routine had changed.
That same week, I observed a man in a wheel chair and another person who pushed it, sitting on a bench near the tennis court. I knew that I should have spoken to them weeks earlier, but had not done so, but God prompted me to go speak to them. I found out the old gent was a Army cook, in the service about the same time as me. So, I conversed for a time, and then came home.
Then there was the lady with her little boy, who was riding on a bike looking thing, which had no peddles, learned his name was Henry and he was about 4 years old. Blonde as could be, just like his mother. Now, I couldn't remember anyone naming their child Henry, till later on, I recalled that I have a neighbor two houses from me and his name is Henry, and across the alley from him is another Henry.
Heard enough, well there's a lot more of people that I see regularly in the park, Julius who is very interested in my PORTLAND BEAVER, bobblehead doll, and my Portland Beaver old scorecards, etc. And, if I am out between 6:00 and 7:00 I usually see Tom who lives over on N. Fowler and repairs clocks & watches, who is out walking his 14 year old dog. Then there is Steve who pastors a church not far from our house, that I greet often, even gave him a ride to the church the other day, and got to know him a bit better.
I noticed the brakes making a bit too much noise one day this week, so took the car to Don Lee's for his mechanic to check the disc front brakes. They needed replacing, and I asked him when I could bring it back for the necessary repair, and he said, how about right now. So, I left it and walked home. It was ready just before 5:00 that night, and to show my appreciation for his quick work, I took 3 jars of jam that I had helped make this summer to him. Know he has kids, and most kids like jam, and who provides the berries, God does.
Now, I have a big red thing at the top of this blog that says ERROr, so I am closing.
cheers, Gpa
