"Flabby"

by Kay Heitsch

My husband Bill's Grandma Z was quite a character. Over the years, we grew very close, and I was actually with her when she died.

In Grandma Z's later years, she lived in a nursing home. Her eyesight was almost gone, and she spent most of her day in a wheelchair. For the most part, her mind was sharp until the end of her life at age 101.

We lived out of state for several years and didn't see her all that often. However, when we did, she always brought a smile to my face. Grandma had her way of saying things that would crack me up.

On one of our visits, she leaned forward in her chair and said, "Kay, let me feel your legs." Knowing Grandma, I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. "Are you kidding? What for and why?" was all I could think to say.

Grandma didn't explain but insisted, so I let her feel my legs. After giving each leg a few squeezes, she sat back in her wheelchair. In a very matter-of-fact way, she announced, "Kay, you're getting flabby! You know, I don't tell everybody this." I didn't know quite what to think. Should I be happy she had selected, just me, to tell this to?

If that wasn't bad enough, Grandma went on. Now she wanted to know how much I weighed. I thought I'd just tease her, so I joked that I wasn't about to answer that question.

Grandma was quiet for a moment. Then trying to catch me off guard, she continued, "I weigh 111 right now. Where do you come in around that number?" I laughed and let her know I knew she was trying to trick me into telling her my weight, and it wasn't going to work! I weighed about 103 at the time. Indeed not a heavy duty!

Maybe I should have just ignored Grandma's "flabby" comment, but I didn't. I decided to join a fitness club after we returned home. I went faithfully and had a fun time exercising with the girls. Plus, I made some lifelong friends in the process.

The following summer, we were back at the nursing home visiting Grandma Z. After giving her a hug, I announced, "Hey Grandma, I joined a fitness club! Don't you want to feel my legs?" With a tone only Grandma would use, she gasped, "Heaven's no, why would I?" I laughed and continued, "Well, last time we were here, you wanted to feel my legs, and you actually said, "Kay, you're getting flabby!" after feeling them.

I'll never forget Grandma's response. In a tone of disbelief, she scoffed, "Flabby, flabby?? That word is not even in my vocabulary!"

Bury The Bird

by Kay Heitsch

Has God ever asked you to do something you thought was ridiculous?

Around six months after my son Todd's death, my younger son Brandon (then three) began stuttering. You see, Brandon and I went for a walk each night, and about this time, we saw a dead, decaying bird lying on the side of the road. Brandon referred to the bird as being "dead, just like Todd." He spoke of Todd often, and many people suggested that he needed professional help to deal with Todd's death. I took the problem right to the Lord.

As I prayed about Brandon's problem, it seemed that the Lord was telling me to bury the bird. But I argued against this. After all, I did not wish to have to bury every dead animal we might see; I did not even want to touch this one!

Finally, I gave in. We scooped up the bird in a bucket and brought it home. We dug a hole in the yard, and we talked. I told Brandon to shake the bird and call it; I did the same. I then said to him that only Jesus could wake the little bird. I quoted the Bible and told him that one day Jesus would come back and call with a loud voice, and all who loved Him would come alive again. I said we would see Todd the minute Jesus woke him.

The following day when Brandon woke up, he did not stutter, and he has not stuttered since that date--the six-month anniversary of Todd's death. A miracle? Yes, I believe it was, and even though the idea to bury the bird seemed ridiculous to me, it had been the answer to my prayers.

Lord, help us to do whatever you tell us to do even though it may sound ridiculous to us. Amen 

Miracles Do Happen

by Kay Heitsch

I'd like to share with you a very touching story of a couple I met at the Memory Care Center.

Henry was a one-of-a-kind type of guy. He came to the Memory Care Center 7 days a week from 3-7. Emma, his wife of over 50 years, was a resident there. Emma had suffered a brain aneurism that had left her totally helpless. Emma seldom spoke, and when she did, you really weren't sure what she was trying to say. I'm not even sure she knew Harry when he came to stay with her each day. One day Harry came up to me just beaming! With a big smile on his face, he said, "Emma said, 'Thank you when I put the pillow in her wheelchair. Miracles do happen!"

Yes, miracles do happen, and that day the simple words, "Thank you," were miracle words to Harry.

Thank You Father

by Kay Heitsch

As this is the month of Thanksgiving, I'd like to share a touching story that happened at the Memory Care Center.

Ken, one of our residents, came in with a feeding tube. After some time, the feeding tube was removed, and he was able to eat pureed food. The first day Ken was given his pureed food, Ken dug right in like there was no tomorrow. After he had eaten it all, he began to pray out loud. In a loud voice, Ken prayed, "Our Father who art in heaven, thank you for this delicious food I have just eaten." Ken went on and on praising God for this mashed-up food.

I was moved by Ken's prayer. I know I may have felt like complaining if I had to eat this food, but Ken was thankfully praising God. I realized then that I take so much for granted.

This Thanksgiving season, I pray that I will be thankful for the simple things in life and not take them for granted.