Quote from Forum Archives on March 9, 2007, 8:59 am

Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

"SHMILY"

 

 

My grandparents were married for over half a century, and played their own special game from the time they had met each other. The goal of their game was to write the word "shmily" in a surprise place for the other to find. They took turns leaving "shmily" around the house, and as soon as one of them discovered it, it was their turn to hide it once more.

 

They dragged "shmily" with their fingers through the sugar and flour containers to await whoever was preparing the next meal. They smeared it in the dew on the windows overlooking the patio where my grandma always fed us warm, homemade pudding with blue food coloring. "Shmily" was written in the steam left on the mirror after a hot shower, where it would reappear bath after bath. At one point, my grandmother even unrolled an entire roll of toilet paper to leave "shmily" on the very last sheet.

 

There was no end to the places "shmily" would pop up. Little notes with "shmily" scribbled hurriedly were found on dashboards and car seats, or taped to steering wheels. The notes were stuffed inside shoes and left under pillows. "Shmily" was written in the dust upon the mantel and traced in the ashes of the fireplace. This mysterious word was as much a part of my grandparents' house as the furniture.

 

It took me a long time before I was able to fully appreciate my grandparents' game. Skepticism has kept me from believing in true love-one that is pure and enduring. However, I never doubted my grandparents' relationship. They had love down pat. It was more than their flirtatious little games; it was a way of life. Their relationship was based on a devotion and passionate affection which not everyone is lucky experience.

 

Grandma and Grandpa held hands every chance they could. They stole kisses as they bumped into each other in their tiny kitchen. They finished each other's sentences and shared the daily crossword puzzle and word jumble. My grandma whispered to me about how cute my grandpa was, how handsome and old he had grown to be. She claimed that she really knew "how to pick 'em." Before every meal they bowed their heads and gave thanks, marveling at their blessings: a wonderful family, good fortune, and each other.

 

But there was a dark cloud in my grandparents' life: my grandmother had breast cancer. The disease had first appeared ten years earlier. As always, Grandpa was with her every step of the way. He comforted her in their yellow room, painted that way so that she could always be surrounded by sunshine, even when she was too sick to go outside.

 

Now the cancer was again attacking her body. With the help of a cane and my grandfather's steady hand, they went to church every morning. But my grandmother grew steadily weaker until, finally, she could not leave the house anymore. For a while, Grandpa would go to church alone, praying to God to watch over his wife. Then one day, what we all dreaded finally happened. Grandma was gone.

 

"Shmily." It was scrawled in yellow on the pink ribbons of my grandmother's funeral bouquet. As the crowd thinned and the last mourners turned to leave, my aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members came forward and gathered around Grandma one last time. Grandpa stepped up to my grandmother's casket and, taking a shaky breath, he began to sing to her. Through his tears and grief, the song came, a deep and throaty lullaby.

 

Shaking with my own sorrow, I will never forget that moment. For I knew that, although I couldn't begin to fathom the depth of their love, I had been privileged to witness its unmatched beauty.

 

S-h-m-i-l-y: See How Much I Love You.

 

Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for letting me see.

 

"The Golden Rules for Living"

 

 

If you open it, close it.

 

If you turn it on, turn it off.

 

If you unlock it, lock it up.

 

If you break it, admit it.

 

If you can't fix it, call in someone who can.

 

If you borrow it, return it.

 

If you value it, take care of it.

If you make a mess, clean it up.

 

If you move it, put it back.

 

If it belongs to someone else and you want to use it,
get permission.

 

If you don't know how to operate it,
leave it alone.

 

If it's none of your business,
don't ask questions.

 

It it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

If it will brighthen someone's day,
say it.

 

If it will tarnish someone's reputation,
keep it to yourself.

"THE TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2007"

 

 

1. The Bible will still have the answers.

 

2. Prayer will still work.

 

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

 

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

 

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

 

6. There will still be singing of praise.

 

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

 

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

 

9. Jesus will still love you.

 

10. Jesus will still save the lost.

 

God whispers in your soul and speaks to your mind. Sometimes when you don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at you.  It's your choice:  Listen to the whisper, or wait for the brick.

                                                                                    

Have a Blessed Weekend

Dave and Barbara

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