Anne Davis, who works with children with cancer and is a genuine American patriot, corresponds with me. She wrote:
“I loved this. I retrieved a memory from the one about someone looks just like you! (I had written as a teenager in a pickup going camping on a lake of seeing another boy standing by the roadside who looked just like me.) Years ago when I was working in downtown Atlanta, for Griffin Bell, Carter’s Attorney General, my mom and I had a regular date on Wednesdays for lunch. As a matter of fact, we met every Wednesday for 30 years. Only when one of us was ill did we miss it and that was extremely rare!
At that time, I had heard about someone who worked in downtown Atlanta who looked just like me. Many people I knew had seen her, gone up to her and had spoken to her, etc. When my mom arrived at the restaurant, she told me she had met this girl, and had spoken with her, because she saw “me” from across the street and thought I just had not heard her and she chased “me” down. I never met her, but I know she existed.
Also, people who know me and my life story know that, as an adult, I have had a pretty scary and sad life. But, I heard someone say, a few years ago (a famous person), ‘Even if I wake up in a bad or sad mood, I CHOOSE to be happy!’ That is my mantra and I live it. My sadness is my secret life, but it is real and there. I just try to keep it locked up!
I also believe that no matter how bad you have it, someone has it so much worse, so thank your blessings. One of the things that keeps me in line is working with Camp Sunshine (camp for children with cancer). This will be my 25th year as a counselor. These children are my real heroes and we lose probably 30 a year (if not more), some teenagers, little kids, or babies. It makes you humble that your children and grandchildren are well and happy. You think about how so many of these children (and I have been to lot of funerals in the past 25 years) will never be able to drive a car, have a first date or a first kiss, and so many “first” that young people look forward to.
Nope, you won’t hear me gripe! I try to make people laugh – I try to kid and tease folks, because I love them and care for them and want to give them at least one smile for the day! It’s a tough world, but you have to put on your body armor and get out there amongst them! Hope you are enjoying our newly found spring!
Every morning, when I am saying my prayers, I ask God to bless my family, friends, etc., but I also ask Him to bless the people who, at one time or another, came into my life, albeit briefly, maybe for just a minute or so, who gave me a smile, a hug, or a kind word, when I needed it. I ask Him if He can help me be that kind of person, to go up to a stranger and give them a compliment, or help with their bags; just anything.
I think we all need to pass God’s blessings on to everyone we can. I remember once awhile back, when I was in the doctor’s office, an elderly lady was on a walker, leaving. I noticed her shoe was untied and asked her to wait. I got on the floor and tied her shoe. She was so sweet, but I was the one who thanked God for giving me that opportunity to serve Him. These are the kind of things I want to pay back to others.”
