Guest blog: Show His Love by Gwyn Dooley

 

We are all a vital part
Of our Savior’s loving Heart
Each designed to play a role
In His Kingdom, here below

 

Sent to do the best we can
To show His Love for fellow man
For some of them may never know
That our Father loves them so

 

So let us show them, everyday
In some gentle, loving way
Being patient, kind and good
And loving them as Jesus would

 

by: Gwyn Dooley

Note: I would like to introduce Sherrie Nieves to our menu of guest bloogers. Thank you Sherrie

 

Guest blog: My Angel by Sherrie Nieves

 

 

My Angel

 

You talk with a soft whisper,
so gentle and free.
Your touch is so perfect,
when you lie next to me.
Oh, how I thank God,
that made you to be the perfect angel,
that no man could ever be.

 

By Sherrie Nieves

Originally posted in “The Storm Within”

A Gift From God

Life is often
hard to bear
And trials weigh you
down with care
But God has grace
for those each day
Who trust in Him
And humbly prays
For everyday
holds some sweet treasure
A gift from God
Of goodly measure
A loving word
Or kindly deed
That’s given with love
To fill some need
So lift your hearts
To God, on high
Who knows your need
And hears your cry!
For God is LOVE
And understands
That we are weak
And need His Hand

 

by: Gwyn Dooley

Guest blog: Leaning to Drive by Gwyn Warren

 

 

I could have gotten my driver’s license when I was 16, like all my friends, but Mother put her foot down, “No!” I would learn to drive, just like she did and take the written and driver’s tests, just like she did. (We had a State Patrolman at the time who really loved young people and would see to it they got their driver’s license without passing either test.)

 

 

As a result, I was 21 years old before I finally picked up the nerve to try for my license. I had been using my learner’s permit for six years; now, they wouldn’t renew it again. If I hadn’t learned to drive in six years, they figured I would never learn. Actually, I had been driving, even on long trips; but, when I thought about going for the tests, my palms got all sweaty, and I had trouble breathing. But, if I ever wanted to drive again, I had to go for it.

 

 

The written test was first. I had just about memorized the Driver’s Handbook, so I aced it. The patrolman was very impressed. “Are you ready to go drive, little lady?”

 

 

As I approached the traffic light on the square, the patrolman said, “Doesn’t look like there’s any traffic, so since I am in here with you, you can go ahead and cross against the light.” I declined and he was amazed, telling me that was usually when most people failed their driver’s test.

 

 

I completed the route and got back to the courthouse when he told me to parallel park. I knew there was no way, so I was honest with him. He told me I could pull past the intersection, and back into the last parking space in the first block. If I could do that okay, he would accept it as parallel parking. Thank God for “curb feelers”. (Does anyone remember those?) I executed that maneuver perfectly.

 

 

When we got inside, he had given me a 98 on the driving test. He explained he couldn’t give me 100 since I couldn’t parallel park; so, he knocked off two points because I seemed extremely nervous driving. I could have hugged him right there.

 

 

The block in which I parked had about an 18″ rock wall that ran along the inside of the sidewalk. When I turned right to go back to work, I somehow managed to get up on the sidewalk and scrape that rock wall the full length of mother’s car. I looked at the damage when I got back to work and just knew Mother was never going to let me drive again.

 

 

As soon as I got back into the plant, I went upstairs to the department she supervised and told her what happened. She and the other ladies who worked for her thought it was hilarious, and I was in tears.

 

 

After work, she let me drive out to my grandmother’s. She was not in very good health, so Mother went by every day to check on her before we drove on home. It was dark by the time we left; but, Mother insisted that I drive on home.

 

 

About two miles from home, in a long stretch of road, a cat dashed across in front of the car. I slammed on the brakes. The car spun around twice and we wound up in a ditch on the opposite side of the road heading the wrong way. Mother said, “Kill us if you have to, but, for God’s sake don’t kill that possum.”

 

 

“Possum?’ I questioned. “I thought it was a cat!”

 

 

“Possum or cat, what difference does it make? We could have been just as dead either way.”

 

 

She got the car out of the ditch and drove the rest of the way home. I wish I could say that was the last time I ever did something that stupid, but it wasn’t. I dodged a group of dogs one night, spinning the car around and ending in some man’s yard going the wrong way. Another time I approached a dead end road going too fast and put us in the ditch. She was always as calm as a judge when I did these crazy things.

 

 

I think God gives parents’ nerves of steel when teaching their children to drive. When my daughter was learning to drive, I decided to let her drive on the interstate thinking it would be a lot safer than crooked country roads.

 

 

Once she pulled over to the side of the road to let me drive and I told her she could drive for a while longer because she hadn’t scared me at all. When she got ready to start again, I told her to turn on her left signal, check her rear view mirror to make sure it was clear then pull onto the highway. As she pulled out, I heard the distinct horn of an 18-wheeler and my blood froze.

 

 

“Mom what am I supposed to do?” she cried.

 

 

I answered, “She asked as she pulled in front of a tractor-trailer.” We both then got tickled and I explained that she was supposed to have waited until the rig passed us before pulling out. After that, I was a nervous wreck trying to teach her to drive. In the end, I turned that chore over to my brother-in-law and husband.

 

 

I appreciate now, more than ever, the patience Mother had when I was learning to drive. If she hadn’t taught me, there would have been no one else. She didn’t learn to drive until several years after Daddy died; so, I think she realized how important it was for both her girls to learn to drive.

 

Guest blog: God’s Song by Gwyn Dooley

I heard a sound from Heaven
It rang across the land
And fell upon my thirsty ears
As rain upon the sand

 

I drank in peals of laughter
A joyful tune of love
Sang by a loving Father
Who watches from above

 

“Oh, come to Me, My children
I wait with great delight
For all who trust in Jesus
And long for Heaven’s sight

 

For those who cannot see Me
Yet know that I Am real
I wait with eager longing
For all my sons, revealed”

 

by: Gwyn Dooley