What I Got

           This morning the preacher asked anyone who had not won someone to Christ to raise their hand. As I ran through my mind, I thought of one of the twins, so I didn't raise mine. But just because I was there for it doesn't mean I was the one who led her to it in that moment. Then, it must still be a no. And that's how it's been for me my whole life. No denying that I'm a seed sewer. It's what I 'got.' 

     . . .  just like the seeds I have planted in the egg cartons in the kitchen. When I learned Michael and Melody would get married this summer, I automatically thought of growing flowers for the wedding. We'll, of course, do the rehearsal dinner, but I was thinking of what all ways we could help otherwise. We don't have much money. But what I 'got' is opportunity, time, and resources. 

      And time, it's a-fleeting. This week alone, Melody Ann has come from Georgia and spent the night before her final orthopedist appointment for the catastrophic knee injury she suffered as the goalie of the soccer team for the university she and Michael both played ball for. The prior night Miranda brought a prospective mate for us to "assess," and believe you me, I did. I had a ready list of questions. But as we've learned, watching the life of a person is all anyone really can do. Monday, we held Guinevere's 4th birthday party here. The add-on dining room with the 14-person table Mike built for me is always the go-to for special occasions. This isn't even our house. But thankfully, it's what we 'got.'

     . . .  just like the guest bedroom we have, since Macklynn moved out. Four people have used it in the last seven days. The twins spent the night Thursday so we could get up with Mike to see the lunar eclipse. Then, Macklynn himself arrived from Raleigh Friday morning, somehow squeezing in a fishing trip with Mike, an excursion to the creek with his nieces and a nephew, and an impromptu concert in the yard with Madalynn before spending the night that evening. I'm so glad we 'got' room for all these things.

      Something else we've gotten is another diagnosis for Madalynn, Musculoskeletal Amplified Pain, yet another debilitating disorder. As we were arriving for the Rheumatology appointment, we managed a ride from the parking deck on a golf cart. I quickly recognized what the other passengers were talking with the driver about, so I chimed in. Turns out we live with ten minutes or fifteen minutes of each other. 

     The lady's eye patch made it obvious why she was there, but Madalynn's conditions do not. When I explained to her, the lady, Donna, promptly stopped in front of the elevators, took Madalynn's hand, and prayed for her. And that's what we 'got.' And I'll take it every time . . . even the diagnoses because when she gets better, we will have names to say what all she was healed from. 

     Time, I try to spend as much with Mike as I can. It's always good for him when somebody needs something fixed or fed, like I went along for and even drove a tractor for the first time during, while Dr. Miller was out of town, but when Mike isn't feeling good (that's an understatement), as much as I avoid TV usually, I try and join him in whatever he's watching. Lots of that is politics, and, truth be known, I would understand little about it if not for him. 

     Then, of course, in February along with celebrating four of our kids' birthdays within eight days of each other, there were the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500, the America vs. Canada hockey match, oh, and Valentine's, when what I 'got' was a thorough surprise. Funny, normally holidays and events don't mean that much to me. But the fellowship that goes with them 'gets' me every time. 

     How can I not be happy with this life I'm given to live before God, the way we all have been . . .  either grasping for more things or content and prospering with what we 'got'?