loving others – Page 37 – Grits with Grace

fear, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, Trials

The Last Part–the Best Part

Posted on January 25, 2023January 24, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” John 31:1

Some of you might remember Paul Harvey. He was a radio commentator for many years and was particularly famous for his “rest of the story” stories. He would tell a somewhat familiar tale and then add a surprise ending to it and conclude with, “And now you know the rest of the story.”

You might remember an Old Testament story about Elisha. Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the bad guys and from the servant’s perspective, it wasn’t going to end well. Elisha asked God to open the servant’s eyes so he could see what was going on. God did and the servant saw that the hills were surrounded with heavenly warriors and chariots of fire. Things got better…quick.

So, the bad guys came down upon the city and Elisha prayed that God would smite them with blindness and boom–He did. It sounds almost comical, but Elisha basically tells them, “You guys are lost…let me lead you to where you need to be.” He leads them smack dab into the middle of Samaria…the Israelites’ stronghold. And that’s where the rest of the story gets amazing.

Elisha then prays for the bad guys’ eyes to be opened and just like that—they were. They took one look around and realized they were in very deep weeds. The Israelite king saw an opportunity and said to Elisha, “Can I kill them, can I kill them?” I love this. Elisha said, “No, you can’t kill them…that’s not what you do to people who surrender. What you can do is give them something to eat and drink and let them go.” I’m sure the king’s jaw hit the ground. The “let’s kill them” plan sure sounded better.

Well, he fed them and let them go. Guess what? We’ll let the Bible tell the end of the story. In 2 Kings 6:23 we read, “So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. Then the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.” Did you get that? The bad guys weren’t the bad guys anymore. A little kindness changed the whole story. How about that?

If the king had killed them, there would have been revenge. They would have attacked and then the king would have attacked and on and on it would have gone. But instead, a simple act of kindness broke the domino effect. Instead of war there was relief–and peace. In days when sides are still being chosen and tempers still flare—when hate and division are the new headlines and bylines—when no one trusts anyone—we Christ followers can and should be different. We should be givers more than takers. We should be lovers and not haters. We should be like Jesus.

The Bibles says in John 13:1 “Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” Those “ones” He loved–included the guy who would betray Him to the crucifiers. It included the one who would deny that he even knew Him. How amazing is that? We can’t really do much about how people act, but we can do a lot about how we respond to them. If the dominos are going to be interrupted, it will have to be us. The chain reaction is broken when we act like the One who chose not to retaliate but rather to redeem—to restore.

Some days it seems that a too short fuse has been lit and there is not time or hope to stop the future devastation. Let me challenge us today—during these crazy days that are getting crazier by the minute—to do the crazy thing and love, serve and care for others. Let me challenge us to be like Jesus.

How can we do that? Well, first, as Jesus followers we are God’s kids and that is what He expects us to do. Jesus said we should be peacemakers—whether it is on the street, in the church, or at home. Second—we can trust Him. We can rest in Him because we know the end of the story—and it ends well—and no circumstance, no ploy of Hell can change that. Third—remember, He’s got this—He really does. Whether it is a resurgence of the virus or another revolting piece of news. God is good, God is faithful, and God can be trusted. Sounds like a no brainer to me. Bro. Dewayne

birthday, Family, friends, gratitude, life, loving others, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Our Longest Day

Posted on January 24, 2023January 23, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9

It was a long day. I can’t tell you how many times I have said it. My wife, Judy, often greets me at the end of the workday as I come home. She will say, “How was your day today?” And sometimes I will respond, “It was one long day.” Then there are other times, often on a Friday or Saturday, when the day seems to stretch on forever. I get so much done around the house and yard and at the end, I tell Judy, “What a great long day today.” Often the circumstances of the day seem to dictate how the day will be remembered and perceived.

Perhaps you are familiar with the date, June 6th. No? What if I were to add the year 1944 to the equation? Well, if you have studied your history, you probably made the connection with World War II and you might have even remembered that was the day of the Allied invasion of Normandy, France—the beginning of the end of that great conflict. It was a massive undertaking, and the outcome was never a sure thing. But at the end of the day, and with great cost, the Allies gained a foothold on the European continent. Someone there that day called it, “the longest day.” And it was.

All of us have “longest days” and yes, I know that the last several years may have seemed like a secession of them. Sometimes those “longest days” cause us to mourn, but sometimes they are a reason to celebrate. For my wife and me, January 24th was one of those. You see, on that day, forty-two years ago this year, our first daughter was born, and it was a long and exciting day.

Late Thursday evening Judy started having some consistent labor pains and when they didn’t stop, we knew it was time to head to the hospital. When we arrived, they decided to keep her, and the journey began in earnest. Judy had decided to have Rebecca without much intervention from medicine, so it was a challenging process. By the way, if it had been me, I would have had every drug available to modern man. We all know if populating the world was left in the hands of men—it would be a very, small world.

At any rate, the hours began to pass. As the clock ticked the seconds, minutes, and hours by, it soon became apparent that this was not going to be a sprint but rather a marathon. All day Friday, I (her faithful husband) stayed by her side, encouraging her each step of the way. Well, okay, maybe there were a couple of exceptions. A friend of mine brought me a huge burger and fries which I dutifully ate while Judy watched—no, make that glared. What was I thinking? Oh, that’s right…I wasn’t.

The hours continued to tick by and soon it was evening and while things were progressing, Rebecca was determined to delay her grand arrival. Finally, at about midnight, Dr. Dickerson, came in to check on Judy and announced it was about time. I had the television on and one of those ultra-low budget Japanese monster movies was on. Before long, the doctor and I were enthralled with the movie. So, while Judy was groaning in labor, the doctor and I watched as Godzilla ate up the known world.

Finally, the movie was over, and Dr. Dickerson announced it was time to head to the delivery room. Coincidence? I was allowed to go in and not much later, Rebecca made her grand appearance. The baby was crying, Judy was more than relieved and crying, and I was more than excited and crying. As it turned out, Judy had endured 23 hours of labor before Rebecca was born. Oh, and when she arrived, she weighed 8 lbs. 15.5 ounces. What a prize!

For years and every once-in-a-while—even today we still talk of our longest day. Well, actually it was Judy’s longest day. For me it was burgers, fries, and a cheesy monster movie. But for both of us it was a day we will never forget—the day God blessed us with our first daughter. And before it was all said and done—He would bless us two more times with two more daughters and later with eight grandchildren. That is incredible. And what’s more incredible? The next day, the pastor asked me to speak on the radio and give my testimony for Baptist Men’s Day. I’m sure that longest day was part of what I said that day and God used that to launch me—us— into the ministry of pastoring.

So, when you have your longest day, keep in mind a couple of thoughts. First, every day is created by the Creator God. His Word says tells us that this day, every day, is a gift that He created just for us. How about that? And if we will allow God to direct our steps in that day, we will not only endure—we can thrive. I know it seems sometimes that the finish line—the prize, is always just out of reach—but it will come if we keep on.

Paul was one of the writers in the New Testament and he knew a whole lot about long days. He may not have known about the labor pains that produce babies, but he did know a lot about the kind of “labor pains” life can sometimes send our way. He said, “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” The bottom-line is don’t give up—don’t quit. And by the way, even if you are not a Jesus follower, that is still good advice. The farmer gets the harvest if he keeps working the field. The good news is that God is just waiting to help you through every day, including your longest day. He is right there and mark it down, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials, wisdom

Me and Fred

Posted on January 20, 2023January 19, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” 2 Peter 2:21

The same kind of different as me. It was 1965…I was about eleven and he was probably 18. I’m not sure how we bumped into one another. As I remember it, I was out in the field that was part of property and he rolled up in his golf cart. Well, hey, that was an ice breaker if there ever was one. He gave me a big smile, a friendly wave and said, “Hi.” I could tell from that first hello that Fred had a speech issue and later it became apparent that he was one of God’s special creations…someone the world would call broken but God would call absolutely perfect.

Despite the age difference and his perfection and my lack of it, we seemed to hit it off. Almost immediately we were off on the first of many rides in his golf cart. He loved it and I loved it and even though it wasn’t meant for off the road…that is exactly where we went. I assume his family bought him the golf cart to help him get around the neighborhood. I believe he lived in a subdivision, a gathering of the nicest homes in the neighborhood, at the end of the road I lived on. I don’t know if he was living there or visiting there but for the time I knew him…we were buds.

There are a lot of things that I have forgotten about that summer and early fall but there is one thing I remember—Fred loved baseball. I’m pretty sure the team didn’t matter as long as it was baseball. He would carry around a portable transistor (that’s a throwback for my older readers) and we would listen to the games together. It was September and time for the World Series, and we would sit in his golf cart like it was a front row seat right there in the stadium. Even now that memory makes me smile. In our simple world…all was well.

I think I began to learn something that summer and that lesson was about us—all of us. In the world today we seem to search for things that cause us to focus on what divides us…what makes us different instead of what can draw us together. I know it made no sense for Fred and I to be friends but his ultra-cool golf cart and his kind and outgoing personality overcame whatever differences there were. He was the same kind of different as me. That sentence is the title of a book and movie about two men who came from totally, and I mean totally, different backgrounds and yet managed to forge a friendship that would last for the rest of their lives.

You see, the truth is we can overcome our differences. Our decision to allow skin color, language, social and economic differences, religion, or politics to divide us is a choice not a destiny. This is especially true for Jesus’ people. As followers we are choosing to align ourselves with Him and love others…regardless. Really. It is true. It is in the Book…all over the Book and when decide to let the Book, and the Jesus of the Book, call the shots…well it is a game changer.

I’m thankful for that summer of 1965. If you know anything about that decade you know it was more than turbulent. People were wondering if we as a nation would survive. Well, by the grace of God, we did. And guess what? We can survive this mess today but if we do it will also be by the grace of God and Jesus people who decide to act like Jesus. Peter, the guy in the Bible who fell flat on his face and denied Jesus said, “For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” In other words, we are called to be like Him. No matter how difficult that might sound to you, don’t forget that today and always—He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, Scripture, Southern born, thankful

Daddy’s Babies

Posted on January 19, 2023January 16, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.” 1 John 4:11

Daddy had eight children and a whole lot of babies. I was always amazed that Daddy and Momma had eight children. I’m not sure they ever figured out what was going on, but I sure am glad it took them as long as it did! If they had stopped a little sooner, well, I wouldn’t have made the cut. In the Taylor tribe we all know they were striving for perfection, and it just took a while—you know the whole saving the best for last thing. Honestly, and not kidding, maybe too they knew that the things that really matter in life can’t be found in a store. Maybe they realized that family, and lots of it, was better than fancy houses and nice cars.

Well, like I said, my Daddy had lots of other babies besides the ones he and Momma gave names too. You see, my Daddy loved flowers. He loved his amaryllises, and he loved his bromeliads. The first he would carefully cultivate and sometimes even guard. I remember he had a beautiful all white one that someone actually dug up and stole from our yard. He was not happy. The bromeliads were placed under the large oak trees we had and needed just a little care…until the weather changed. Since it was north Florida, it didn’t happen often but sometimes the temperature would drop near freezing and when it did, the call always rang out, “Dewayne, you need to bring in the bromeliads”. That meant carrying each pot into the breezeway or garage to protect them from the cold. They were scratchy and heavy but all that didn’t matter. He had to protect the babies.

His most favorite babies also needed the most care. They lived in the backyard in a large diamond shaped garden. It was his prized rose garden. I can’t remember exactly how many lived there but it was probably a couple dozen or more. These did have names and three that stick out in my memory are Mr. Lincoln, Peace, and Tropicana. I do remember that across the backyard these needy, sticky, bushes rewarded him and us with beautiful blooms throughout the growing season. But…they were needy.

Daddy would come home from work about four, have a cup of coffee with Momma in the backyard under the tree and then see what the babies needed. Sometimes, often actually, there was pruning to do. I know regular flowering bushes get “deadheaded” but that was much too common for Daddy’s babies…they were always pruned. They also frequently needed to be sprayed with an insecticide. It seemed bugs liked his roses as much as he did. Then, about once a month they needed to be fertilized. He would go from bush to bush, adding a small cup of granular fertilizer and then work it into the soil and pine straw that nestled at the base of every bush.

All that was pretty much left to the expert eye and care of my Daddy but there was one thing that often fell to me. I would come home from school and soon Momma would say, “Dewayne, Daddy wants you to water the rosebushes before he gets home.” Now I need to be honest and say that is not something I wanted to hear or do. The water hose needed to be placed at the base of each bush and the water slowly, and I do mean slowly, allowed to seep into the dirt. It easily took an hour and a half to complete the task and whining or not…I did it. One, Daddy said to do it and that was probably the biggest motivation but there was another. I was helping take care of something he loved and that was important too.

Well, eventually, I grew up and moved away, Daddy went to be with Jesus, Momma sold the house, and a lot of the babies were left behind. I’m sure some were taken and moved but others were just gone…all but the memories of a man who loved his babies and loved his kids. Looking back, I appreciate now those hours moving the hose from bush to bush. Looking back, I realize it wasn’t about watering bushes…it was about honoring him and pleasing him. It was about loving what he loved.

Did you know that is a lot of what serving God is all about? You see, God loves this old, broken world…always has and I always will. He loves each of His “babies” and longs for them to come into relationship with Him by faith in His Son, Jesus. He has even asked us to “water the garden” by sharing that good news with those around us who don’t know Him yet. I know it can sometimes be scary or maybe inconvenient. It might even be we figure some of them just aren’t worthy of His love and forgiveness. Well, the truth is that would be all of us because we are all broken and messed up but that never stopped God from caring and loving us. And because He loved us…we should love others.

In His Book, John wrote and said, “Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.” So today, why not look for a way to “water” someone’s life with a little love, a little grace, and a little kindness. That would make Him smile. And He is just waiting to help you. Daddy showed me how to water his babies and our Dearest Daddy will do the same. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, Integrity, life, loving others, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Trials

Get a Job

Posted on January 18, 2023January 17, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Genesis 2:15

It was time to go to work. It may sound out of date…and maybe it is but I was counting the days till I turned 15. Not because I was eligible for a learner’s permit, not because I was on the edge of moving on to high school but because, wait for it, I could get a work permit. You see in Florida when you turned 15 you could get your social security number and get a work permit and…work. I was ready and I had an in.

Sue Lovell was a neighbor who lived catty-corner from us at 6008 Carlton Road. She lived in one of the nicer homes in the sub-division that had surrounded us, and we lived in our “used to be” army barracks. I can remember Sue well. She was a little different but at the same time very kind. Well, she worked at this small restaurant called the Village Oven and she offered to try and get me a job if I wanted. Well, I wanted and next thing I knew I was hired.

My job was not working on a computer or running a business and making life changing decisions. No, I started by serving people…sorta. Looking back, it probably was a little challenging especially for someone just getting their feet wet in the working world. First, I was the busboy which meant it was my responsibility to clear all the tables. As soon as someone left, I rushed out and cleaned the table. Second, I was the dishwasher which meant I scraped the plates and then loaded and ran the commercial dishwasher that was tucked out front under the counter. Of course, I also unloaded the dishwasher and made sure there was a constant supply of plates, bowls, glasses, and silverware. But wait there is more.

I was also head of the cleaning crew—which consisted of—me. After our customers left, I was to mop the restaurant floor and clean the bathrooms. Looking back, it seems that besides the cooking and waiting, I had my hands in just about everything. There was always plenty to do…time passed quickly, and it taught me responsibility. I was beginning to get the feel of helping and serving others. The best part of the job, of course, was getting paid. My hours varied from a few to a lot, and I made a whopping, jaw dropping seventy-five cents an hour. Since this was about 1969, I suppose that was a fair wage and that seventy-five cents went a long way.

I can remember my largest paycheck was around $23. It must have been during the summer, and I worked somewhere over 30 hours. I always felt a little rich when I got my check, but that week—I felt more than pretty rich—I felt like Mr. Rockefeller. There is a certain pride in a job done well and getting paid “certificates of appreciation” as Rabbi Daniel Lapin calls them. Most of us call them dollars and they did make me feel appreciated. I can’t remember exactly how long I worked at the Village Oven but I worked long enough to appreciate the value of bringing home a paycheck. I worked long enough to spread my wings a little and fly the friendly skies of growing up.

I’m grateful to Sue Lovell for helping me get the job and I am grateful that my Momma and Daddy drove me the six or seven miles to work and picked me up…sometimes late at night. I know now that often it is the small things that people do that should and do get stuck in our memories. It is also the small things that can make a big difference later on. My first job taught me about serving others, commitment, responsibilities, respect for my bosses, and teamwork at an early age. I can’t measure the entire value of that work experience, but I know I sure learned a lot about how the adult working world operated.

God gave us work even before sin came along. He knew the value of a man, woman or young adult getting their hands dirty. He knew the value of working and making a difference and while it may seem hard at the time, the benefits can last a lifetime. Genesis, the first book in the Bible, says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” The God who made us knows what is best for us. I’ve heard it said that we should bloom where we are planted, and I think that means caring for the garden around us too. If you find yourself a little overwhelmed with this work thing or any other thing, just ask God and He will lend a hand…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, friends, gratitude, life, love, loving others, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Trials

Family Working Together

Posted on January 16, 2023January 15, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

How delightfully good when brothers live together in harmony!” Psalm 133:1

I’m not sure how it happened…but it did. I’ve said it several times, but we were not the richest family on the block…at least if the measurement was money in the bank. I’m still amazed how my Daddy and Momma pulled off raising us and providing so richly for us. And I mean that. While we weren’t rich in terms of money, we were blessed with a good, solid, salt of the earth family. And we were blessed with two parents who were creative enough to make it all work. And that is the keystone word…work.

Daddy was the kind of Daddy who got up and went to work…every day. He would carpool out to Jacksonville Naval Air Station, put in a solid eight hours in a jet engine shop that didn’t have the luxury of air conditioning. Keep in mind this is in North Florida…home of humidity and sweat. After work, he would often come and work some more. Daddy was a worker. Momma was too. She kept the Taylor ship shipshape…washing clothes, cleaning the house, cooking, and doing about a thousand other jobs. While she was mainly a homemaker, she did occasionally take on outside work to help the budget. Sometimes that was a traditional job—and sometimes it wasn’t. This time it wasn’t.

I suppose she read it in the paper or heard it on the radio or saw it on television. However, it happened, I just remember, it did. The phone company was looking for people who would deliver phone books (remember them?) to all the people who had phones—and that was just about everyone. So, Momma signed us up—notice that us—and we soon found ourselves in the delivery business. You need to know that not only did everyone have a phone and therefore they needed a phone book…there were a WHOLE lot of someone’s. Oh, and when you have a big city with a lot of someone’s, you have a very fat, very heavy, phone book.

So, on day one of the big adventure, we went to the pick-up place and picked up a zillion phone books. Our vehicle at that time wasn’t a pickup truck or even a station wagon. Our car was six or seven year old Plymouth four-door sedan and we stuffed that poor car to the gills with phone books. The trunk was full, the back seat was full, the floorboard was full and even the front was full. To this day I can remember that Plymouth squatting down in the back till it almost dragged the road. So, with Momma at the wheel and us three little ones wedged in somewhere, we started delivering books. Momma would start down a street, and we would jump out (or maybe fall out) of the car, grab an arm full of books and start dropping them at people’s homes. Again, most people had a phone, but I am sure that some people who didn’t still got a book. We soon figured out the sooner the books were gone, the sooner we could go home. And sooner was definitely better than later.

It was crazy hard work and as best as I can remember the money went to help the family. It was family helping family and that was a good thing. It seems we did this more than one time but maybe not. But what I do know is I treasure that special memory that I have of Momma and us working together—adventuring together. I am sure we looked like Ma Kettle and her kids but who cared? I know we didn’t. Sadly, stories like this one are slow disappearing. Families working together and working it out together are giving way to lives too busy to be families. It has been said that the family that prays together, stays together. I also think it can be said that the family that works together, strains together, pulls together, “adventures” together…stays together too.

Way back in the book of Psalms, the Bible says, “How delightfully good when brothers live together in harmony!” I know that is speaking about people in general, but isn’t that what families are…ordinary people doing life together? I hope this encourages us in this busy world to be family and do life together…whether it is work or play…or worship. And speaking of worship, there’s no better place to be family than at church. And when you get there, listen carefully and you will hear His encouraging voice saying, “Don’t worry…I’ve got this.”

Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, Scripture

Excuse Me, Sir

Posted on January 13, 2023January 12, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Philippians 2:4

I never was tall. All my life I have been on the short side. Now to be clear that isn’t always bad. The basement at 217 where my wife Judy and I live is not tall either. I have watched many a repairman bump their head on the various pipes that hang down. Most, though not all, I am able to cruise beneath…sometimes by a little and sometimes by a little more…but rarely is there a bump. Being on the not tall side does have its advantages.

With that said, I am sometimes just a little jealous of those taller than me. When I stand next to someone in a photograph I always wince if my partner is, oh, about six foot or so. When this happens, I struggle and strain to reach my full height of just under five foot eight…attempting to close the gap as much as I can. I’ve been known to stand on a rock or curb to help compensate. Works every time.

Now there is a circumstance that all we height challenged, males or females, wrestle with. When I go into an auditorium or movie theater, either solo or with Judy, we look for a seat that has a good view of whatever it is we are there to see—whether it is a screen or a speaker. We make sure no one is in front of us and then we began to pray. You might think that a strange time to have a prayer meeting but trust me it is quite appropriate. You see, we are praying that the Jolly Green Giant has decided not to attend the event that night. We are also praying that if he does, he will not sit in front of us. This prayer is rarely answered.

We will be chatting and praying and out of the corner of our eye, we catch a glimpse of the Jolly Green Giant and sure enough he chooses the row and seat in front of us. Dang. At that point, unless we grow or he slouches in his seat, it is game over. Our choice is to move to another seat or begin exercising our neck muscles to see if we can see around our Ho, Ho, Ho friend. It can be frustrating. It can be infuriating. It should be neither. I mean we aren’t talking about the end of the world. Or are we?

You see, I am certain that Jolly didn’t plan to be a wall that night. I am sure he didn’t scan the room and carefully choose a seat in front of us. It wasn’t his fault, and it shouldn’t have messed with our evening. The problem was my reaction, or overreaction. The bottom line is to do what you can, when you can, and work around the rest. Of course, I suppose you could pack pillows to sit on but that too might be an overreaction.

Before we close, a word for my Jolly Green friends. You can probably help by scanning the rows to make sure you are not blocking someone’s view. Often, by moving a seat or two, you can help the person behind you. Why not give it a try? Of course, by now you are probably thinking there has to be just a bit more to this story than not being able to see…and there is. The big truth is all of us, short or tall, wide, or thin, should always be alert to be considerate of those around us. We all have the right to side or stand where we want to but when we choose to think of others, well, everything is just better. Of course, this works in many ways, helping someone whose arms are full of groceries, giving up a close parking spot or even putting your grocery cart in the buggy corral. Once we start looking, there are so many ways we can be a blessing to others.

Paul, the guy who wrote a bunch of the New Testament, had this in mind when he said, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” That is something each one of us can do every day. Take a moment and look around for ways that you can make the person in front of you, beside you or around you, feel important. Let them know that they do matter. You just might make their day…or their night at the movies…a little better. Need some guidance? Just ask the Father and He will be glad to help. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, heaven, life, loving others, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel

Ready…..or Not

Posted on January 12, 2023January 11, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.”

2 Timothy 4:2

Do you think they would mind,” she asked? It was over a year ago but even now I savor the moment. It was very early in the morning on our last day at Key Colony. I awoke from a good night’s sleep (I mean we were on vacation), made a cup of coffee, and headed down to the beach. Sunrise was a good hour away, but the water and the air were both calm. The only sound was the gentle lap of the waves against the sandy shore. This is my time of the day. God is in the labor room delivering another day for us to enjoy…and I love it.

After a while, the sky slowly turned gray, and you could see the beginning of the sunrise. It was going to be a good one. About that time, my wife Judy wandered out and sat down with me. Just when you think something couldn’t get better…it does. Judy seems to make anything better. We chatted and sipped coffee enjoying the creation process. After another few minutes, the sun peeked over the horizon and another day was born. Good job, Father, and thank you. Now that it was daylight, you could see that the water was not only calm…it was crystal clear. It was then that Karen walked up.

We had talked with Karen and her boyfriend the night before. We talked about life, faith, and God. It was an opportunity for me to share some about how much God loved us. Gary had a large tattoo on his left arm that said, “Faith.” That gave an opportunity to talk about not only faith, but where that faith should be directed. I shared it wasn’t enough just to have faith…you had to direct that faith in the right direction…right toward God.

When Karen walked up that morning, I noticed that she was carrying two small containers. I could tell that something was on her mind and that is when she asked the question. She asked, “Do you think they would mind if I poured my son’s and husband’s ashes in the water?” I quickly assured her that I was sure they would not. It turned out that her son had tragically died of an opioid overdose at the age of 22. I didn’t get the details of her husband’s death but since she was in her early fifties, I assumed he too died young. Then, it was my turn to ask a question. I asked, “Would you like me to say a prayer?” And, without hesitation, she answered yes.

Judy asked if Karen would like to have a picture taken and she agreed to that too. All three of us walked down into the water and slowly Karen opened the containers and poured the ashes into the water. As they touched the water, it turned to a color very similar to wet cement but then just as quickly the color disappeared. She said a few words, speaking to the souls she could no longer hold. And then, I asked God for His peace to be on Karen. I thanked Him for His love…even in hard times like this. With an amen we were done. Almost.

Judy and I both gave Karen a hug…that was the only way we knew we could tell her we cared, and that God cared too. As we left the water, Karen headed to Dunkin’ Donuts for a cup of coffee and Judy and I returned to our chairs by the beach. We knew that we had kept a divine appointment. I wish I could write and share how Karen and Gary both placed their faith in Jesus but that wasn’t the case…at least not that day. But I do know we scattered seed in their lives. I know we left fingerprints on their lives and heart and who knows what God will do with that.

When I woke up that morning, I didn’t know I was going to preside over a funeral standing in the Florida Straits. Judy didn’t know she was going to act as a memory maker for Karen…but our Dearest Daddy did. He knew…just as He always does. We just need to be ready whenever He opens a door or a window and then simply walk where He leads.

Paul, the one who wrote a chunk of the New Testament, told a young preacher named Timothy one day, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.” When he said to preach…trust me, it was more than standing on a stage on any given Sunday…and it wasn’t just for preachers and teachers. It was for all of us Jesus followers and it is for all places…planned…or not. I learned a long time ago that the best sermons are often not preached on Sunday…rather, they are lived out over the course of the other six days. So, let’s be ready to be used. It may be at the store, on the job or at the ballfields. Just remember this. When the time comes, He will be there to help and you can rest assured, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, friends, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful

Snippet

Posted on January 5, 2023January 4, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to Me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” Matthew 19:14

It’s tucked away in the memories of my mind…a snippet in a sea of remembrances. I’ve said it so many times by now that some might say it is overkill, but the bottom line is my Daddy and Momma went so far to make special days…special. The king of the hill, of course, was Christmas but they also tried to make each birthday special. They couldn’t afford it but somehow, they did it. And one of those sacrifices is the center of the snippet.

It was probably 1959. I was about five years old growing up in a world so different from today you would think that we moved to a different planet. It was a dozen days past Christmas, and it was my birthday. I’m sure there was cake, I’m sure there was a family celebration but what I remember most is the present. I’m not sure how you decide what to get a five-year-old, but Daddy and Momma sure knocked it out of the park that year.

Since there were no K-Marts or Walmart’s, I can only imagine that Daddy and Momma went down to the local Western Auto to shop. If you don’t remember they were a neighborhood store that was part appliance store, part general store and part household store. They also had a selection of toys…especially at Christmas and maybe that is why they had what I got. That year my parents bought me an ice cream truck.

Well, it really wasn’t a truck, and it really didn’t hold ice cream, but it was something special. It had three wheels, like a trike, but behind the seat it had large metal box with decals that said, “ice cream.” The handlebars had those plastic streamers on each end, the front wheel had a fender and of course, it had a bell. I can remember driving and peddling down the road in front of our house. There was little traffic so there was also little danger of getting run over.

For some reason I can remember about a quarter of mile down the road a man was building a small box house. He was singlehandedly taking on this project, and I decided to peddle down there, and he was working away. I “pulled up” and asked if he would like an ice cream and the reason I remember him, his house and that day was that rather than brush me off…he played along and if I remember correctly, almost every day I would peddle down the road to see my new customer and friend. The ice cream was pretend, but his kindness was not. Looking back at this snippet of a memory, it still makes me smile.

Hanging over the fireplace in my wife’s “keeping room” is a quote by Maya Angelou. Something she said says so much. She said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” And that is the very reason I remember this man taking time from building a house to talk and befriend a five-year-old boy. I don’t remember his name, but I do remember his heart.

What about you? What about us? I wonder will we take the time to be kind…to treat someone with an extra measure of kindness and implant a “snippet” in their hearts? In those days when I was five, kids were supposed to be more seen than heard. There seemed to be the adult world and the kid’s world and while there weren’t walls there were boundaries and this kind man chose to move beyond the boundary. He made me feel…important. He made me feel like I mattered. Perhaps today, we should try to do the same. Today, perhaps we should choose to be like…Jesus.

Jesus was famous for seeing the invisible people and touching the untouchable. He even said one time, “Let the little children come to Me.” He would have said to that little five-year-old boy with an ice cream truck, “Let Dewayne come to me.” And I want you to know that no matter how invisible you feel, no matter how insignificant…you are not either to Jesus! Tattoo that on your hearts…you matter, and you matter a lot to Him. So, if life seems overwhelming, or maybe underwhelming, just remember you’ve got a friend in Jesus. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, Scripture, travel

She Just Wasn’t Herself

Posted on January 3, 2023January 2, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16

She just wasn’t herself. A year ago, we were in Panama City Beach on Florida’s Gulf coast for several days. We were blessed to have a condo right on the beach and five stories up. The sights and sounds of the Gulf were just amazing. We have been here many times over the years, but this year was a little different. You see, I was raised over on the East Coast of Florida where the Atlantic Ocean lives. There the water is grey and is in constant motion from the waves as they make their way to shore. Usually, the Gulf is just different. Here the water usually has just a slight chop and it is not uncommon for it to be a bluish-green color. In a word…it is beautiful. All of that is especially true in the winter months. While the water is too cold for me, I never grow tired of its beauty. But this year…well, it was different.

From the get-go, the water was much more boisterous. The waves were constant and large…especially for the Gulf. The sounds of water tumbling toward the shore filled the air. The red flag flapping on the pole said, “Stay out of the water” but not many needed a flag…especially not today. Today the turbulent water said it all—stay clear…stay on shore. And while the air temperature was a pleasant 72 degrees, the grey clouds, matching the color of the water, echoed that message. The bottom line was the Gulf just wasn’t herself. The old girl was stirred up about something. What, I didn’t know, but she wasn’t herself.

The strange thing is that even though she was not herself, even though she was something totally different, the beauty was still there. There was something about the waves and the grey water that was still beautiful. Perhaps it was the power and majesty of nature and knowing that it was all there by Divine design. Perhaps it was knowing that sometime in the future I would be back…and so would she. I knew that those three or four days didn’t dictate her permanent nature…it was just a moment in time.

At that moment, it occurred to me that what is true with the Gulf is true with us. You see, we all have our days. We all have times when we are just not ourselves and instead of calm and peaceful, instead of a thing of beauty, we act the opposite—turbulent and troubled—more “beastful” than beautiful. And, like the Gulf, we and perhaps not even they, can explain why they are struggling that day, week, month or perhaps year. And probably, most likely, you don’t need to tell them…they know it. You are on the shore looking in, but they are in the midst of the waves…struggling. And hopefully, soon the time will pass, and the calm and color will return to their lives.

What do you do when you bump into someone who is acting like the turbulent Gulf? I think we should do what God does for us…extend a little grace. Grace is defined as unmerited favor and that is what He extends to us and encourages us to extend to them. Grace receivers should always be grace extenders. I like the way John, the one in the Bible, puts it. He says, “For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Jesus, so full of grace, went about splashing grace on everyone He met—including us. And it just seems right that we should do the same. First, understanding God’s gracefulness to us, be full and then splash it on everyone we bump into—especially the ones who need it the most.

Well, we eventually had to head home. We left the Gulf and according to the forecast she would be turbulent for a few more days…but not forever. Calmer days were ahead for her and for me and for you. And that person that is struggling right now, go ahead and splash a little grace on them. It just might be the thing that brings a return of calm and beauty to their lives. And whether you find yourself in the turbulence or on the shore looking on, remember this. No matter if you need grace or need to extend some, He will be there. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne