He always knew what to do, he always had an answer. Where was he now! I felt the tears start to stream down my face so I grabbed my purse and keys and headed to my car. Where was I going? I didn't know but I was headed there fast. Tears kept falling and I began praying for direction...not for where I was headed at the moment but in my life! Where am I going? Why do I have to wade through all of this paperwork with all of its rules and regulations and Can't Dos?
My common sense took me to a few places that needed my attention. The bank, the post office and then my stomach growled making me even more aware of the humanness of my sorry situation. I spotted Panda Express so I flipped on my blinker and pulled into a parking spot with a least some partial shade to keep the car a bit cooler on this unusually hot June day.
I walked inside and after staring at the order board for a few minutes before I realized I wasn't concentrating, I just quickly ordered the first thing and then nodded when she asked if I wanted chopsticks. She smiled with what could only be classified as a "sympathetic smile" and handed me the chopsticks and a fortune cookie.
Funny how you are forced to eat more slowly when you use chopsticks. "Hmmm....I don't ever remember not knowing how to eat with chopsticks." I muse. My Dad, who had been a soldier in Japan in WWII taught us how to use them when I was too young to know that everyone else didn't also learn to eat two ways..the fork way or the chopsticks way.
Dad...Oh how I loved him. I lost him too. Many years ago. I was only 28 the day he died. He too, like Dale, always had answers for me. So did my Grandfathers and Grandmothers and Mother and Aunts and oh dear they are all GONE!
Tears burned my eyes and I stuck my chopsticks back into the food that I couldn't eat now. I spied the fortune cookie sitting there waiting patiently for me so I smirked and whispered "Oh sure, why not" it will probably tell me I have a "cheery nature and make people happy". Ha Ha. I wrestled it out of it's plastic covering and cracked it open. It read simply and reassuringly.....
"You are guided by silent love"
I felt a warmth pass over my body and my troubled mind that seemed to melt my fears and it gave strength to my human weakness. I knew this was true. I have felt all of their love silently all these years since they have been gone, guiding me, walking beside me. I have a whole army of loved ones guiding me on with unmistakable love and concern. I can still remember the stories they told on earth, when I could actually hear them and I remember the love they expressed when they actually held me in a hug.
And suddenly a story that Dad used to tell jostled its way to the forefront of my mind. I gathered my things and dumped my leftover food into the trash and walked to the car, grateful for the shady parking decision I had made earlier, I slipped inside and sat. Allowing the story he told so many years ago to play again in my mind.
His Army unit was marching, ever so quietly, single file in a low swampy area that snaked in and out of the secluded areas with thick foliage on a humid day under the scorching sun on the island of Okinawa. They were on the move to a safe location while trying to avoid enemy fire. The areas that could provide shade were infested with mosquitoes. The going was rough and their nerves were frazzled. But they followed their Sargent who was getting guidance on his walkie-talkie.
Two of the soldiers near Dad started mumbling and complaining. They could see that if they all just went up on the ridge they could get to where they needed to be in half the time.
"No!" my Dad and several of the other soldiers whispered. "Follow the command!"
But still the two soldiers murmured about the heat and the mosquitoes and the stupidity of what they were being told to do when it was obvious there was a better way. "Sarge knows more than you do!" Dad heard a soldier caution them in a low voice.
And on they marched slopping through the mud and silence. Suddenly the two soldiers darted away from the ranks and up the hill and stood silhouetted on the ridge.
...Two shots from enemy fire.
...Two soldiers dropped lifelessly to the ground.
The remaining soldiers hurried their steps following their leader and they all made it to safety, exhausted but glad they had obeyed the command.
Then Dad would tell us that it is important to realize that there are times in life when to follow the commands and rules of those who have a better knowledge of what is best for us will get us safely through our trials. Even the trial of life itself.
So I drove back home. I pulled out my lengthy "To-Do" list and tackled them one by one, crossing all of the t's and dotting all of the i's. Turns out I knew where everything was and I was able to find all of the answers. With the silent guidance of love from my angels on the other side of the veil I found the strength and clarity of thought to do it along with the reminder that I will benefit from following the rules, even those that seem a bit stupid from my limited point of view.
Awhile ago I began sculpting a WWII soldier in memory of my Dad and his dedicated service to a war that threatened the safety and freedom of his family. I thought I'd share it with you here.
Now let's get started on writing your Autobiography!!
EVERYONE HAS A STORY - Writing Assignment #1
Last week I mentioned how I can assist you in writing your autobiography by giving you assignments in each Sunday's blog and within 52 weeks you'll have your history written...to date. First of all, it's important to note that the ancestors that I love the most are the ones who left their stories in a form written by their own hand. First hand accounts through the ages that have inspired me and tied me to them.
I have had several groups where Brothers and Sisters join and write their assignment each week and share it via Email with each other. It has proven to be a fun experience seeing each other's take on life in the same household. Remarkably different! Cousins joining together to share their assignments has been another experience that has been sheer delight. I even heard of a psychologist who used it for his patients who figured out why they are the way they are through doing the assignments. That was kind of cool to hear! And then there was the Quilting Group who watched for the assignments each week and a Book Club and oh yes that Purple Hat Ladies Club! So whatever it takes...just do it and have fun doing it.
ASSIGNMENT
#1 – GETTING TO KNOW YOU
I'm so glad you'll be joining
us! The first assignment is different from the ones to follow; it's more
of a state-the-facts kind of thing. But I have found in all my genealogy
hunts that when I can finally read (in First person) someone saying their exact
name, birth date and birthplace and parentage and children...well I could just
kiss them!! And then the stories that follow that information become even
more interesting.
Also, what I suggested to our
classes (but please do whatever is best for you) is that you get a 3 ring
binder and give it a title...like My Personal History or the History
of..... And then each week print out a hard copy, punch it and put it
right in the binder. It's a great idea to save it to your computer too but
when it comes right down to it....paper is the thing that lasts (the format
never changes or becomes obsolete and upgrades don't happen!)
Decide how you want it to look right
from the start and set up your document (i.e. font, spacing, margins
etc.) - so that each week you follow the same basic format and
then each page will look the same when it is in your book. Also, please
note that the assignments DO NOT always go chronologically. I found
that mixing it up a bit kept it more interesting. So don't number the
pages.
So like I say...this one is
different from the assignments to come but kind of fun too. It gives
important genealogical information and fascinating facts about you...the main
character of your story!
Part 1
Your Full Given Name
Do you know the reason you were
given this name? (Named after, etc.)
Your Date of Birth:
Your Place of Birth:
The Places You Have Lived: (Dates
here are great if you can)
Your Mother's Full Name:
Her Birth Date and Place:
Her Death Date and Place of Burial:
Your Father's Full Name:
His Birth Date and Place:
His Death Date and Place of Burial:
The Names of Your Brothers and
Sisters:
Continued next page -
The Date and Place of your Marriage:
The Full Given Name of Your Spouse:
His Birth Date and Place of Birth:
His Parent's Names:
The Full Given Names of Your Children:
Part 2
Complete this however you'd
like. In story form, a straight list, or wax poetic. You could also
include photos and recipes if you'd like.
These are little facts that I would
have loved to have known about our own Grandma but alas, we only really
know that her favorite flower was the white rose, or do I just assume that
since Grandpa planted the white rose bush for her so he could pick a bouquet
for her each Anniversary. Maybe she liked lilacs best but again that's an
assumption because she had those big bushes by the house! Oh, wouldn't it
be nice to really know fun little things like that? Here's your chance to
make your own personal favorites be a part of your history.
What is Your Favorite:
(Feel free to change the order)
Sport:
Flower:
Meal: (you can include recipes here)
Dessert: (you can include recipes
here)
Vacation Spot:
Leisure Activity:
Restaurant:
Book(s):
Author(s):
Color:
Scripture Verse:
Scripture Hero:
Latter-Day Hero:
Do you remember one "Birthday
Wish" you made when blowing out the candles as a child?
Have Fun! Check in next Sunday for Assignment # 2 - it's a more creative writing one!
No comments:
Post a Comment