Laced With Grace

This is a story about my mother.

My mom lives in a smallish size town, in western Colorado. Grand Junction is a quaint place, hailed as the gateway to the Great Rocky Mountains. She has lived alone from more than 25 years and now resides in an adorable townhome she purchased about three or four years back which is located a half a block away from my sister.

Last week on Valentine’s Day she decided to pick up a last minute gift for a friend, a box of candy from the town’s famous candy maker, Enstroms, who is famous for their toffee and a few other delectable’s.

Mom went into the store and ambled around taking in the crowded counters decorated with hearts and every manner of sweet treats. She brushed by the patrons who were crowding close to the clerks as they worked quickly to fills orders.

Approaching a counter to purchase her gift, she lined up behind two teenage boys. My mom guessed the taller one to be about 19 years old and the shorter one around, 17. The boys were talking with the clerk when all of sudden, the clerk looked at my mom and stepped from behind the counter. My mom watched a tad bit confused but then the clerk said to her as she motioned with her hand in the boys general direction, “Look at what these boys are buying for their mother for Valentine’s Day.”

The boys stepped back a little from the counter, with a sheepish smile on their rugged face, and low and behold my mom spied the most beautifully displayed box of chocolate covered strawberries.

“Lynn, these strawberries were the size of baseballs and they were beautiful. I looked at the box of chocolate berries then up at the boys faces and I stared at these two teenagers. I couldn’t believe these kids were buying such an expensive and exquisite gift for their mother. It was wonderful,” mother told me on the phone later.

My mom said she smiled at the boys and mumbled something to the affect, “You are some very special boys and your mom is a very lucky mom.” Then my mom turned to the taller boy who was smiling from ear-to-ear, “Will you give me a hug?” she asked.

He immediately bent down to my mom’s small stature and hugged her. My mom whispered in his ear, “Thank you. I lost my son two years ago and your hug is a special kindness.” He squeezed her tighter.

My mom made her purchase, said goodbye to the boys and the store clerk and headed on her way. In the parking lot she heard, “Ma’am, Ma’am, wait just a minute.”

The younger boy was running after her. Breathless he said, “Ma’am, we want you to have these.” He held out the box of beautifully decorated chocolate covered strawberries he and his brother had purchased for their mother.

“Oh, no son. I can’t take these. They are for your mother.”

“Ma’ma, our Mom will get her own box.”

Hugs again.

My mother said to me over the phone later, “Lynn is was if God knew I needed that so badly and He blessed me with two strangers, –teenage boys. I don’t know their names and I will likely never see them again but I will never forget their kindness to an old woman they didn’t know.”

—–

Sometimes I think teenagers get such a bum rap. But, I hope this story inspires you to see some kid today with eyes of hope. There are some amazing kids in our world doing amazing things.

Also, this story has inspired me to think about the elderly and people who are alone in our world. God loves them and grieves over their loneliness. So today, reach out to your grandma or grandpa. Send them a card or call. If you don’t have grandparents, then an elderly parent or an elderly neighbor. I live right next door to a woman who lives alone, Mary. Today, I am baking a coffee cake and cutting a flower from my garden and taking it to her just because that is what Jesus would do.

Tell me about what the Lord is asking you to do to make someone feel loved by Him. Be blessed, Lynn

PS. After I hung up the phone with my mother. I walked into the family room where my daughter was on the couch. I repeated the story to her about the boys, grandma and the chocolate. My daughter smiled, just delighted with the story and said, “Mom, do you think we can call grandma and see if she can find these boys? Do you think one of them would marry me?” *grin*

All is right with the world!

Find me daily at

Girls I have to tell you…the tears come. Without warning or reason.

On Monday a while back, we had errands to run when I got home from work.  We went to Lowe’s, then Walmart, then filled up the truck with fuel, then ran to a “fast food” place.  I ordered light…but still.   It was what it was.

THEN while driving the very short distance back home, I teared up.  Reason? Who knows.  There doesn’t have to be a reason.  It happens.

I sucked it up and squelched it back as best I could…no since in worrying Jeff.  Men, including mine, do not like tears.  Tears might require them to “fix” something…this something can’t be fixed.  Some men instinctively know to either “hold you close” or “run” for their lives.  Some don’t have a clue.

I think, judging from the past 27 years, Jeff would feel bad for not knowing what to do…but he wouldn’t run.

One morning later in that same week as I was driving to work, I felt the Lord say, “embrace” the tears.  Share them with Me.

Instinctively I do talk to the Lord when tears gather, although it may not always sound like a prayer…and I don’t think it has to be a prayer.  It can be a discussion.  Just make sure you give Him time and space to discuss back to you.  Tune your ears heavenward.

Take a few deep breaths.  When I take my deep breath, I say either out loud –or to myself, “thank you Jesus”.

There are those times when the tears have a bit of an angry sting in them.  From my own experience….it’s best to let God deal with those as well.    He knows what is best for me.  Always.

When the tears come to my eyes, I sometimes find myself pulling out old garbage that I have horded up—held onto—and sometimes it has even started to decay.  Most of the time I allow the LORD to deal with the stuff, but I will be honest–there are times that it’s just too much.  I stuff it back down with a very Scarlett O’Hara attitude of– “I’ll think about that tomorrow!”

That is not the right way.  I know that very well.

^{Psalm 61:1-2} Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (NIV)

There’s an old song that says, “Tears are a language, God  understands”—and I believe only He truly understands these hormonal tears of mine.

Often you’ve wondered why tears come into your eyes
and burdens seem to be much more than you can stand.
But God is standing near, he sees your falling tears,
tears are a language God understands.

So, embrace your Father, He will embrace your tears and wipe them dry.

Trusting Him to fix me,

Angie

(I think the lyrics are written by the Booth Brothers)

This past month I had the opportunity to chat with Carol Moxley, bass-player of the Texas-based worship band “Church Chix”. Carol was one of the first bloggers I met when I started blogging almost 5 years ago – so there is a special bond . Find out at the end of the interview how you can get a copy of the CD (not available for sale (yet) at regular retail locations)…

1. Carol, I know you have been playing bass for a very long time. How long have you been playing together as a group known as “Church Chix“?

Iris, we’re humbled by your interest in Church Chix and we thank you for this opportunity to share our ministry with your readers here at Laced With Grace.

About six years ago, Toni and I played our guitars for our church’s women’s retreat. At that time we shared a common dream of a ladies’ praise/worship band that would be available to women’s ministries in need of music for retreats and other events. We didn’t know it at the time, but two other women musicians at our church also shared a similar dream with each other. We later found out a singer at our church also had the same calling on her heart and her college roommate (a violinist from another church) was looking for a praise team with which to use her musicianship. Later, we came across a female drummer from a nearby town with the same calling. The story of how it all came together is one of those things that is so bizarre and unexpected you know only God could have managed to make it happen. And he did! Rebecca and I are the only original members remaining – Toni joined a little later, the others after that – but looking back, we see how and why he lead the various members in and out of the group along the way. He is sovereign!

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