courage – Grits with Grace

gratitude, Integrity, life, Military memories, Scripture, thankful

The Longest Day

Posted on June 6, 2025May 30, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” John 14:26

It was more than the title for a movie. One by one they are slipping away. Who? That generation newsman and author Tom Brokaw called the greatest generation. This generation was born and lived through the Great Depression. Their words and testimonies fill pages and pages of books and blogs. Words like, “we were poor but didn’t know it” or like “we had nothing but each other…and that was more than enough” ring of their wisdom and courage.

But it would seem that living and surviving the great depression was just a warmup for their finest hour…that would begin with the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. That day, the day that President Franklin Roosevelt said, “would live in infamy,” marked the start of our country’s direct involvement in World War II. Before it was all over, almost four years later, America would see 1,076,245 causalities. That number includes 291,557 combat dead, 113,842 who died from other causes and 670,840 wounded.

One Memorial Day I heard a phrase I had heard before but this time it seemed to shout at me. It simply said, “Freedom isn’t free.” As I listened that day, I was freshly amazed at this generation of men and women, 16.7 million of them, who served during World War II. They marched off, self-forgotten, to strange lands and places and many of them would never come home. Like I said, I was amazed.

Today, June 6th, 2025, is the 81th anniversary of what has been called, “The Longest Day.” It was the day that thousands of soldiers, airmen and sailors, with thousands of ships and planes invaded Normandy, France to begin the retaking of Europe from the grip of Nazi Germany and the Axis powers. The courage of those men who stormed those beaches is legendary. Imagine with me small boats, called Higgins boats, riding the waves towards Normandy with shells exploding all around. Imagine with me seeing many, too many, of these boats literally disappearing after taking a direct hit from enemy shells. Imagine knowing that each of these boats carried several dozen men. Sacrifice. Courage. Amazing.

There probably are not words that can describe that day. Films like, “The Longest Day” and “Saving Private Ryan” have tried to tell the story but though their efforts are valiant they always fall short. That day, 6,603 Americans were killed, missing, or wounded. Imagine again, as officers knocked on doors and telegrams arrived, “The Defense Department regrets to inform you…” Freedom truly isn’t free. I know we know but I only hope we won’t forget. Yet in most minds, this observance of “The Longest Day” won’t garner a passing thought.

When the children of Israel of Old Testament fame were crossing over into the Promised Land, they were told to take twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River. The sole purpose of these stones was to remind them of the miracle and the day. That way when years later and their memories were foggy, they had the stones to remind them. I’m not sure what stone of reminder we need but it might be as simple as a visit to the cemetery and taking the time to READ the markers and stones of those who served. It might be as simple as taking your kids with you to show them and teach them about sacrifice and courage. Unfortunately, it may not be taught any place else.

December 7, 1941. June 6, 1944. These are only two dates of many that are worthy of remembrance…but they are a start. Jesus knew we would need help remembering about the things of God. That is why He said, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” And who knows, perhaps that same Holy Spirit will help us remember to be grateful for the sacrifice others have made on our behalf. In fact, I’m sure He will help because that is what He does best…help. Like everything else, I’m sure, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

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

The Owner’s Closet

Posted on July 1, 2024June 30, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24

It’s the one place. My wife Judy is a really smart person and one day she proved that so clearly. The place where we live has a two-bedroom apartment over the garage. Off and on through the years, various members of the tribe stayed there but finally it was just sitting empty. Not only was it not earning its keep…it was costing us. It has its own utilities so every month we wrote checks. And then Judy had a great idea. She researched and found out there was a pretty new company called Airbnb. It helps owners of properties rent them out as a short-term vacation type rental. She wanted to give it a try…and she did.

On a shoestring budget and by watching several YouTube videos she turned that little apartment into a beautiful short-term rental. I told her it wouldn’t work. A couple of businessmen who attend our church told her it wouldn’t work. After all, who comes to Harrisburg…a small town in Southern Illinois. Well, we were all wrong and she was all right. Since 2016 when she opened for business, hundreds have stayed and instead of draining the check book, it now helps supplement our income. Amazing.

People, book the place for a fee and we will give them full access to the property. They get the apartment and trust me…it is very nice. They also get to enjoy our beautiful garden (another Judy thing), the hot tub, and a nice patio area. It is quite the deal if I say so myself. Like I said…Judy had a really good idea. However, there is one place, one small room that the guests don’t have access to…the owner’s closet.

You see, in the hallway of the apartment, there is a small walk-in closet that we keep locked. No matter how much they pay, they can’t go in there. They can have everything else…but not that. No, nada, period. Why? Well…there are a couple of reasons, but the main one is that it is filled with owner stuff. It’s the storage closet where extra linens, cleaning supplies, mops, cleaning rags, decorations, things we don’t need and well, just things. If the guests were to see it, they definitely wouldn’t be impressed. They might even say, “How can the rest of the place look so beautiful, and this look so…boring?” And they would be right and that is why it is locked.

Every short-term rental that I have stayed in has an owner’s closet and I am sure none of them look as nice as the rental itself. It’s just the nature of the beast. But what about this? What about our lives? Do you have an owner’s closet in your life that no one, I mean no one, is welcome to open…to enter? Your spouse? Nope. Your children? Nope. Your friends? Nope. Your parents? Nope. God? Not even God. Maybe especially not God. While the truth is all of us have that secret place, we need to know it can be a dangerous thing. When we are tempted to hide things, well, let’s just say bad things can grow in the dark.

Perhaps it is time we have the courage to unlock the door and let a little light in. I know it can be difficult but if the door is locked, we won’t, we can’t change what’s inside. The best place to start is to invite God in. If you are one of His kids, or especially if you aren’t, He won’t be surprised because He already knows everything. In Psalm 139:23-24, a Book in the Jewish and Christian Bible, it says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Now that is just some great advice. Remember this…if bad things grow in the dark…bad things die in the light. If we will just have the courage to unlock the door, open the door, and even flip on the light switch…well, healing can begin, and help will be on the way. Why not take that giant step today? As you reach out with the key and slip it into the lock and turn the knob on the door, just know this. He is there with you, and He will help you all the way. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, Trials

But God

Posted on May 8, 2024May 6, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

I looked at Judy and said, “We shouldn’t be here.” I know when you normally hear those words you are at a movie and a couple of teenagers are standing in a cemetery at midnight with a full moon with a wolf howling and a guy with a chainsaw standing a few feet away. That was not the case.

So, as you well remember, COVID brought us a world of cancellations. Vacation. Cancelled. Conference number one. Cancelled. Conference number two. Cancelled. In an attempt to get some refreshment, I went ahead and registered for conference number three. About ten days before it started, they called and said due to state regulations (North Carolina this time) they were having to dramatically reduce the number of attendees—from 400 to 110. Judy and I didn’t make the cut…by a long shot. We registered in early April, and they were cancelling all the way back to December of 2019.

I had gotten used to the rejection notices by now. Like a struggling actor or writer, it seemed nothing was going my way. So, after my normal foot stomping, “this is crazy” and all-time favorite, “when will it ever be normal” I settled back into life…desperately needing a fresh drink of water from the well. Then it happened.

Less than a week before the conference was to start, I received a phone call on my Dick Tracy Apple watch. I checked the caller ID, and it was the conference center. I ran to the kitchen to get my phone, answered, waiting to see what they wanted. She told me that they had been allowed to open an overflow room and would we be interested in coming? If I could speak ten languages, I would have said yes in all ten.

So, when we arrived at the conference it got interesting. The people in the main auditorium (and there were only 110 of them—normal attendance is 400) had white name tags and the ones in the overflow had tan name tags. We received our tan tags and waited for supper. I noticed that there were not many tan tags. How interesting. When it was time for the conference to start, the white taggers headed to the main room and tan taggers headed upstairs to the overflow area. And that was the turning point.

In this room meant to hold 150 people there were 28 of us. Blue covers draped over the back of 28 chairs showed where we could sit. It turns out we were members of a pretty, small select group. The total attendance was only 138 people and somehow, we were two of them. Keep in mind all those people who made reservations before April were in front of us in line and somehow, someway we were here. That’s when I said to Judy, “We shouldn’t be here.”

The topic for the conference was about rebuilding the church in a post quarantine world. One of the first things he said was that perhaps each of you are here for a specific reason. He then told the story of a young Jewish girl who, against all odds, found herself as queen in a foreign land. A plan had been hatched to kill all the Jews in the land and her uncle was asking her to go the king on the Jews behalf. He said, “Perhaps for such a time as this God has put you here.” For such a time as this. Hmmm.

I honestly feel that for some reason God has allowed me that opportunity to help lead our church in the coming days. The speaker made it clear that any thought that things are going to be the same was just not true. It was going to be different and challenging. It was also exciting. All of that has caused me to revisit the sovereignty of God. I mean, I just believe that God is in charge. Not circumstances, not government, not me. That means that He does have a plan that He is working out. The only question is are we going to trust Him and be a part of His plan or are we going to write our own. Spoiler alert. That never goes well.

Things did return to a new normal with groups gathering and recently we made the trip over to North Carolina again. It was then and is still a wonderful place to receive encouragement and a fresh wind from God.

For us, it is a good memory and reminder that whether in your every day, walk around life, or a business, or a church, if you are a Jesus follower, are you willing to let the Whisperer whisper and share with you, His plan? I hope I will have the wisdom and courage to do so. It will mean stepping out of my “I’ve done it this way for 40 years” comfort zone and perhaps, just perhaps, do something different…perhaps radically different. Who knows, maybe we, with Him, can change our world.

So, we shouldn’t be here, but I sure am going to be listening for the Whisperer to speak to my heart. I know it will be right. I know it will be challenging. I know it will be exciting. I know somewhere along the way He is going to say, “Rest in Me. I’ve got this.” He does. Bro. Dewayne

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

Ride a Cock Horse

Posted on March 6, 2024February 29, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

I was chosen to ride a horse. When I was in the third grade, our school was going to put on a musical. Back in those days, being a part of something like a school musical was cool. Today, in most circumstances, mention a musical to most boys and all you can see is the dust from their feet as they run away. But this was a different time and being chosen wasn’t only cool…it was an honor.

I think the show was a variety thing and two other boys and I were going to sing a song about riding a “cock horse” to “Banbury Cross” to “see a fine lady” who rode a white horse. She wore rings on her fingers and bells on her toes and she had music wherever she went. Well, anyway it was something like that. Our costume consisted of the three of us wearing white shirts with white pants. They made us a hat like the one’s the soldiers wore in “The Nutcracker” and a white cardboard horse that we slipped over our heads and around our waists, so it appeared we were riding it.

An important part of the costume was the shoes. According to the director, we were to wear white buckskin shoes…and that was the problem. I had a white shirt, and a pair of white pants was easy enough to come by, but buckskin white shoes, no way. It is safe to say that no one who lived at 6008 Carlton Road ever owned or wore white buckskin shoes. I also think it is safe to say they were out of our price range. The best Momma and Daddy could do was a pair of white canvas tennis shoes. I was mortified. I knew, and I was right, that the other two boys would have on white buckskin shoes, and I would be the only one who didn’t, and I was embarrassed.

As always, I should have known that Momma and Daddy had done the best they could do and that should have been enough but from my small world perspective it wasn’t. I’m sure there was a fair amount of pouting and applying an unfair guilt trip on my parents. I’m sure they felt bad, and I am sure it was my fault. The truth is…I was being very selfish. Something like selfishness is easy to see in the rearview mirror when enough time and distance has passed. And I’m sure that was not the only instance.

Well, the show must go on…and it did and guess what? Not one person said anything about my white canvas tennis shoes. Nope…we sang and danced our little cock horses across the stage, and everyone clapped. Of course, looking back, I shouldn’t have worried about the shoes but rather about the whole idea of prancing around a stage with a cardboard horse around my waist. Perhaps part of the humor in all of this is I still remember a lot of the words and the tune to my “Cock Horse” song.

I’m not sure when but somewhere along the journey I realized that what I thought was a big deal was not. And, trust me, that was not the only time. I’ve learned that we humans tend to make mountains out of molehills. And I’ve also learned that too often it revolves around relationships. Too often relationships with family and friends are scarred or shattered over the smallest of things. And, sadly and ironically, sometimes people don’t even remember what the deal was. Walls were built and no one knows why, and no one has the courage to tear them down.

Got any walls in your life? Still mad about something as silly as buckskin shoes? If so, why not let today be the day when the walls come down? Why not let today be the day when that relationship is restored? Why not be the one to take the first “whack at the wall?” As a pastor, I do a lot of funerals and sadly, there are often walls in the families and just like that…it is too late to fix it.

Peter, one of the guys that followed Jesus, wrote in the Bible, “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” He knew that love makes a great sledgehammer for tearing down walls. God knew that too because He loved us even though we weren’t close to being worthy. It takes courage to take the first whack. God willingly took the first swing to bring us home and it involved a Roman cross and His Son. Need a little help swinging that hammer? Not a problem…just ask because, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

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

Precious Memories

Posted on June 28, 2023June 27, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him.” 1 John 5:14

It’s a song we often sing at funerals…but it’s also a good song to live by. The other day I was sitting around talking with some friends and we began sharing about some of our experiences. Before long we discovered that our friend had been in the military and spent some time in Germany…just like my wife and I. Before long, our sentences were punctuated with, “I remember…” and the room swelled with great times and great memories. I know from where I sit there are some incredible times where God just blessed. One of those times was my vision trip to work on the islands of Lake Victoria in Uganda.

This would be one mission trip that I would be taking all by myself. There was not a team and Judy was unable to go. It was me and God and I discovered that was good combination…a great combination. I remember (there’s our word) that I had asked the church family to really pray for me while I was gone. In fact, I gave them three specific things to pray for. First, I asked them to pray for my time in the boat. Because we were ministering on the islands, we would spend several hours a day in a small (about 25 feet) open boat. We would be cruising Lake Victoria, the second largest lake in the world. In fact, it was like a small sea. I sometimes have a tendency for motion sickness. Normally that is limited to going “round and round.” However, when it comes to waves and boats it can be “game on.”

My second prayer request was for an effective interpreter. When you speak with an interpreter, you say a few sentences then you pause, and he interprets what you said. Well, during my previous trips to another part of Uganda when I was teaching and preaching, my interpreter was very good. It was almost like he was an extension of me. I knew having a good interpreter would greatly impact the effectiveness of the trip. So I asked for prayer that God would send just the right man.

Finally, I asked my friends and family to pray that I wouldn’t wimp out. Now hang on–I’m not a newbie in the world of mission trips, but it was my first solo journey. There is a time to whine and a time not to whine. Is that in the book of Ecclesiastes? The bottom line is the time on any mission trip is too valuable to be a whiner. So, I needed to be flexible and remember this whole deal wasn’t about me but Him and them. There is saying for people who go on mission trips. It says, “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not break.” Amen, Lord, Amen.

So, for those of you who wonder if God answers prayer, the answer is, “He does.” When we pray for His will to be done and His purpose to be accomplished, hang on because those are prayers He loves to answer. To be direct and to the point—God answered the prayers of His kids clearly and specifically. First—no motion sickness. The lake was not calm–in fact one day we had whitecaps. Still—without a pill or a patch—I was totally free from motion sickness. That interpreter? God answered that prayer with a local pastor who was better than any other person I have worked with. He was so animated and led of the Lord—totally awesome. Last, wimping out? Well, those of you who know me best would probably have said, “Who is this guy?” One time when it was 10:00 pm and our supper had still not yet appeared, I almost whined but was able to stifle it. God was just incredibly good, and I came home with a full heart and a vision of how we could begin a ministry to the people who lived on the islands of Lake Victoria.

It is important to remember that God is not a genie with a magic lamp. God is not Santa Claus waiting to receive our wish list. God is not a vending machine where we put our quarter in and get what we want. God is God. And when we pray for His will to be done…amazing things can and do happen. John, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, said, “And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him.” That is not a statute of limitations but rather an invitation to join God in His work. Let’s join God in a conversation…not just when you are in trouble…but rather every day. You will find that He is waiting and willing to have a chat with you. Oh, and don’t be surprised, when He responds, “Don’t worry, I’ve got that.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, Trials

Big Truths from a Hard Story

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

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31

Well, not all stories end well…and this one didn’t. Friday morning Judy left for Oklahoma to visit Sarah, Blake and the boys. Saturday morning, I got up early as usual, had some time with God and then went for my morning exercise. When I came back, by our backdoor, was a little baby squirrel. Now I don’t know a thing about baby squirrels, so I can’t tell you how old he was. I can tell you that something just didn’t seem right. He had all of his fur but you could tell he was not very strong and oddly, his head seemed just too big for his tiny body.

He was in the grass, but not far from the flower bed which is next to our backdoor. He seemed to be eating grass but I suspect he was actually getting the water off the dew-soaked grass. He was moving pretty good but again, strangely, I’m not sure where he came from since there was not a squirrel nest to be seen. I went on into the house and when I came back out, he scurried into the flower bed. I put out some bird food for him to eat. I knew he would like that because all of his big brothers do their best to empty our bird feeders.

Well, he made himself at home. He was definitely eating some of the bird food and I believe he had some water. He soon made himself a place to sleep there in the flower bed. I was hoping, just hoping that my little friend was a big enough fighter to pull this thing off. I would check on him each day and give him food and water. I was doing everything I could for him. But today, when I came home from work, well he had died. I wasn’t surprised because I really think something was wrong—something more than food or water could fix—something more than ending up at the wrong place at the wrong time. So, I wasn’t surprised, but I was genuinely sad. I wanted him to live, and I wanted to be his hero—his savior. Neither happened.

Now I’m not sharing this so we can all have a Debbie downer day…not at all. I’m learning that so many things have a story and can teach us big truths. I think this is one of those times. The first thing that came to mind was that sometimes we can do everything right—everything—and still not get the result that we want. We can be the best husband, the best wife, the best parent, the best employee or the best owner and sometimes the story just doesn’t end well. It doesn’t mean we failed. It doesn’t mean we were somehow to blame. Sometimes, it is just part of this thing called life. And while the story doesn’t always end well—we never have to face that difficult ending alone. Our Dearest Daddy is always there. The Whisperer is always close by and whispers the assurance of His love and His compassion. No matter what—Jesus will still be there.

The other big truth from this is that God really does care about the smallest things. If I told you that God knew today that this little creation died, would you believe me? If I told you that even the smallest detail of your life never passes Him unnoticed, would you believe it? If I told you He never grows weary of our worries and fears and unsettled hearts, would you have the courage to believe? Well, you can, because Jesus said that not even a sparrow can fall to the earth unnoticed by the Father. He even went on to say that if that is true, how much more do you think He cares about you? How. Much. More?

I know and you know that these are just puzzling times. Everything seems so uncertain. It seems as if we spend our days walking on quicksand—our feet unsteadily walking on shifting ground. But don’t be shaken. The God of the universe who cares when a little squirrel dies cares infinitely more about you. Jesus knows and feels your hurts and pains…and He cares.

So, all you tendered hearted readers, please forgive me for sharing a hard story. I hope, though, that the big truths made it worth the read. Why not take a moment and sit with the One who loves you so? Why not get close enough to hear His whispers of love and assurance? I hope you will because when our hearts are heavy and a little frightened—we need to know that He’s got this. And He does. Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, prayer, Scripture, thankful, Trials

The Owner’s Closet

Posted on July 1, 2022June 30, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24

It’s the one place. My wife Judy is a really smart person and one day she proved that so clearly. The place where we live has a two-bedroom apartment over the garage. Off and on through the years, various members of the tribe have stayed there but finally it was just sitting empty. Not only was it not earning its keep…it was costing us. It has its own utilities so every month we wrote a check. And then Judy had a great idea. She researched and found out there was a pretty new company called Airbnb. It helps owners of properties rent them out as a short-term vacation type rental. She wanted to give it a try…and she did.

People, book the place for a fee and we give them full access to the property. They get the apartment, and trust me…it is very nice. They also get to enjoy our beautiful garden (another Judy thing), the hot tub, and a nice patio area. It is quite the deal if I say so myself. Like I said…Judy had a really good idea. However, there is one place, one small room that the guests don’t have access to…the owner’s closet.

You see, in the hallway of the apartment, there is a small walk-in closet that we keep locked. No matter how much they pay, they can’t go in there. They can have everything else…but not that. No, nada, period. Why? Well…there are a couple of reasons but the main one is that it is filled with owner stuff. It’s the storage closet where extra linens, cleaning supplies, mops, cleaning rags, decorations, things we don’t need and well, just things. If the guests were to see it, they definitely wouldn’t be impressed. They might even say, “How can the rest of the place look so beautiful, and this look so…boring?” And they would be right and that is why it is locked.

Perhaps it is time we have the courage to unlock the door and let a little light in. I know it can be difficult but as long as the door is locked, we won’t, we can’t change what’s inside. The best place to start is to invite God in. If you are one of His kids, or especially if you aren’t, He won’t be surprised because He already knows everything. In Psalm 139:23-24, a Book in the Jewish and Christian Bible, it says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”