Friends

by Kay Heitsch

You never know what you do or say that can change a person's life forever.

I'll never forget two teenagers, Evy and Susan, who came to our home often after Todd died. I don't think they ever realized what an impact they had on my life. Todd had been good friends with both of these girls. In fact, Evy and Susan had been with him the night before he died.

Evy and Susan were best friends, and they usually came over to our house together. They even rode their bikes over to the house when the weather was nice. I was always delighted to see them when they'd stop in. We'd sit down at the table in the kitchen and talk. We talked about Todd and other things that were going on in their lives and mine. Shannon would walk in, and we'd invite her to sit with us. Most times, she declined, but she was welcomed. Brandon was around 3 when they started to come over. Quite honestly, I think Brandon had a crush on these two pretty girls.

One day, Susan and Evy brought over a tape they had made me of a song called Friends by Michael W Smith. I was moved by this song even though I wasn't a Christian at the time. For one thing, I was surprised that Christian music was anything other than some kind of choir music or hymns. I could relate to this music, and I loved this song.

Evy and Susan were just themselves. They showed me love and acceptance. I started to see that they were Christians, but somehow they were unlike other Christians I had encountered in the past. I felt comfortable and accepted for who I was around them.

It's hard to explain, but I can now say that these two girls were a big part of my spiritual journey. I doubt that they even realized how much they impacted my life by allowing God to show me His love through them.

SMILES

  by Kay Heitsch

"Boy, these people in the truck stops are really nice and friendly," I announced to my husband, Bill.

I was kinda apprehensive about stopping in some of these places, but I was pleasantly surprised to feel so comfortable. Yes, I was seeing some men with tattoos all over their faces. I'll admit a face covered with tattoos was something I hadn't seen before. Plus, I was meeting some ladies of the evening. But each person I met was a pleasant surprise.

Bill looked over at me and grinned. "Do you know why these people are friendly with you?" "No, I thought they were friendly with everyone," I answered. Bill went on, "These people are friendly with you because you look them right in their eyes and smile. Most people look down at the ground and try not to make eye contact."

Really? I actually didn't even realize I was smiling and making eye contact with everyone I was near.

Over the years, I've thought about this. I've noticed how people smile at me when I smile first. My smiles are free, but they may mean a lot to someone who needs one.

I'm Still Here

by Kay Heitsch

My husband, Bill's Grandma Z, was in a nursing home. Whenever our daughter, Shannon, came to Michigan, she would drive over and visit her.

After one of her visits, Shannon came home and told me Grandma Z had said something extraordinary. Grandma had told Shannon that she thought she would be dying soon. This really wasn't much of a surprise as Grandma was in her late 90's at the time. She actually died at 101. However, what Grandma Z. said next was a surprise. Grandma told Shannon that when she did die, she wanted to take ME with her. Shannon wasn't sure what to think of this statement.

I gave Grandma Z's statement some thought and I kind of understood where she was coming from. Grandma Z. was a "religious" person. Her salvation was based on good works. According to Grandma's religion, obeying the 10 Commandments and especially the 4th seemed to be the way into Heaven. Grandma's faith didn't teach that when she died, she was going to Heaven right away. She believed that she would "sleep" in the grave when she died until the Lord came back to get her. Then if she had actually kept all the 10 Commandments, she would go to Heaven and be judged.

I don't think like Grandma and told her so. My belief is that Jesus paid it all. I also believed that our bodies will stay in the grave until Jesus comes back, but I am not just a body. I am also a spirit, and my soul and spirit leave the body when I die and go to heaven with the Lord. I knew my way to heaven, and it was a free gift Jesus bought for me on the cross.

I was with Grandma Z when she died. My husband Bill was also in the room. I looked over at Bill and whispered, "Well, Grandma is gone, but I'm still here." I have to believe Grandma Z trusted in Jesus to show her the way home because I'm still here.

Wow, He Really Was Special

by Kay Heitsch

It was Christmas Eve. The house was decorated, and the gifts were wrapped. Now we were all hustling around getting ready to go to the Christmas Eve service at church. The TV was on when I heard the news reporter announce that Dr. Norman V. Peale had died. I stopped and stared at the TV. I knew Dr. Peale was in his 90's and had lived a long time, but I was still feeling sad to hear the news.

Our 4-year-old son, Brandon, was also in the room and heard the Nightly News. Much to my astonishment, his little face lit up when he listened to the same news and said, "Wow, Dr. Peale really was special! God called him home for Christmas!"

I Feel Good

by Kay Heitsch

Isn't it odd how we take good health for granted until we get sick?

Most people know I'm usually on the go and feel really good, but this last week on Thursday, I came down with a cold and nasty cough. I was almost ticked off that I got sick as I feel like I take pretty good care of myself. I exercise, drink a lot of water, and get sleep. But lo and behold, I got sick.

I was down, and I mean down. I started to take some cold meds, and I'm sure that was the main reason I felt so tired. I would get out of bed and lie right back down on the couch.

Well, praise the Lord, here it is Tuesday, and I almost feel like myself again. I didn't know how bad I felt until I see how good I feel today. I was actually happy to clean the house, do the laundry, and strip the bed. I was even dancing to the song "Old Time Rock and Roll" last night on The Voice.

Sometimes I think it takes something to put us down to show us how good we actually have it.

Thank you, Lord. I'm feeling better!

Empty Inside

by Kay Heitsch

Have you ever felt empty inside, like there was a hole in your soul? For most of my adult life, I did. It didn't matter what I'd do or what new thing I'd try after the newness wore off and the excitement was gone; I still felt like something was missing. I can't say I had this feeling constantly, but it would come often enough for me to know that there was something that just was not right. I'd often think, "Is this all there is?"

Even though I didn't really care much about reading, I decided to find something to help if I went to the library. After looking around, I found myself in the Psychology section. Much to my surprise, I did find some books that looked interesting. I checked out several and began reading. Some of the books were superficial. I needed help, not a bunch of blah, blah, blah. But a few of the others seemed to be on to something.

I wasn't, and I'm still not a "religious" person. I didn't want anything that had to do with "religion." However, a few of these books that seemed to help had some Bible verses in them. I was intrigued and checked out more books by this author, Dr. Norman V Peale. I liked the idea that he was a "doctor." I figured I could skip over these Bible verses and just type out the tips in the book. This was something 'new,' and I liked that plus, for some reason, I was somehow drawn to these types of books.

I continued reading for several years. I got a kick at how my life was changing for the better by putting these "tips" into practice. I could see that these "tips" were actually things from the Bible, but I ignored that part. I felt happier and got a kick out of people saying I was their favorite custom in stores I shopped in. However, I still had a vague feeling I was missing something and felt empty inside from time to time.

For the most part, my life was good. I had to deal with typical situations in life, like the death of my parents for one. I'm an only child, so I had no one else to grieve with. But I seemed to be able to deal with those deaths on my own. However, when our oldest son, Todd, was suddenly killed in a car accident, now that was a different story. I found out I was shaken to my very core, and I needed more help than my own.

One day I came to the end of my "self-help." I somehow knew I needed much more than my own self will deal with my son's death. I knelt down and asked the Lord to help me. I don't remember what I said, but it was something along the line of giving myself to God and asking him to use me to bring something positive out of Todd's death.

In an instant, I felt a fantastic feeling of liquid LOVE filling me. Over time I started to notice that the 'empty feeling' I had was completely gone. I had finally found what I was looking for all those years. Was it "religion?" No! It was a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The hole in my soul was filled, I was no longer empty inside, and my life has never been the same.

The Prayer

 by Kay Heitsch

When I heard that our 4-year-old grandson Eli would be spending the night with his other grandma, I was excited. I sent her a text right away and told her I had taught Eli a good night prayer.

A few weeks later, our daughter sent me a text asking me if I could babysit. I thought this was a perfect opportunity to find out if Eli had said his prayer for his Grandma M.

Eli looked so sweet and innocent when I asked him about the prayer. I wasn't expecting his answer when he whispered, "No, I didn't want to show off."

What Is That Smell?

by Kay Heitsch

Oh my, what is that smell? I know when you workout at a gym, you might expect this to be an issue, but quite honestly, it really isn't at Planet Fitness. When people noticed a young guy having a real hygiene problem, it wasn't funny. As I talked to one of the other guys at the gym, he mentioned that this person may have a money problem and really couldn't afford to buy hygiene items. Wow, I hadn't thought of that.

The next day as I was doing my quiet time with the Lord, I opened the Bible to, "Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it." Proverbs 3:27 TEV. I thought, "This is no accident. I turned here today." I somehow knew I was supposed to help supply some hygiene items for this young man.

The next day I went to the store and bought several hygiene things and some nutrition bars. I put them in a red gym-type bag I had brought from home and took them to the gym.

I really didn't know Tom* the guy with the hygiene problem, very well, but I could tell by talking to him a few times that he was a Christian. He seemed to have a basic child-like manner about him, and I smiled over some of the conversations we'd had. Tom expressed in our discussions that Jesus was his friend.

I'll admit I was a little apprehensive about how I would give this bag to Tom. I talked to a friend at the gym about my apprehensions, and he asked me if I would like him to come with me to give Tom the bag. I thanked him, and we walked over to the treadmill. When Tom saw us, I said, "Hi Tom, you know how you told me that Jesus is your friend? Well, Jesus is my friend too, and He wanted me to give you this bag." I told him I'd put the bag on a shelf behind him, and when he was finished, he could put it in his locker.

Later in the afternoon, I was walking by Tom, and he said, "Thanks, I really appreciate what you did."

I'm thankful that I was made aware that not having the money to buy hygiene items for a month maybe the problem Tom was having. Planet Fitness does have showers, so I also supplied a towel. I am also thankful the Lord directed me to Proverbs 3:27 because that day, I could do good for someone in need.

Now, if he uses these hygiene items, we will be grateful.

He'd Seen Better Days

by Kay Heitsch

It was a cold, rainy day when my Aunt Carmel (80+) walked into Panera Bread. As she sat down to eat, Aunt Carmel noticed a man walk into the restaurant. He looked like he had seen better days. Because it was raining, he was soaked, and to make matters worse, he wasn't wearing a coat.

She watched him as he dug through the pocket of his pants for some money. He pulled out some change. A little bit of change may buy a cup of hot coffee, but Aunt Carmel sensed he needed more than coffee.

My Aunt Carmel is a kind, loving person, and she didn't want to embarrass this man, so she discreetly walked over and slipped him a few dollars, and walked back to her seat.

As she was eating her meal, she noticed a couple nice looking younger guys at a table close to her. When they had finished eating, they got up and headed for the door. As they walked past this cold, wet man, one of the young men took off his own coat and put it around him.

Aunt Carmel had no idea that what she witnessed that day would bring joy to her heart and tears to her eyes years later.

Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. Proverbs 3:27 TEV

Give Your Feelings A Kick In The Can!

by Kay Heitsch

Last night I had to give my feelings a kick in the can! I received a phone call that was upsetting. I'll admit I was ticked off hearing about what someone had said to someone I love. Bill had sent me a text while I was on the phone, so before I thought, I told him what had been said, and now Bill was angry too.

Before I knew it, I thought of calling a few other people to let them know what was going on. Thank God it was late because I had enough sense not to call and get several different people upset.

I'd heard Joyce that morning on her TV program, Enjoying Everyday Life," say this line, "Give your feelings a kick in the can!" regarding not being controlled by how you feel. I knew I needed to put this into practice now. I asked the Lord to please help me!

As I got into bed, I thought of the text, "Don't let the sun go down on your anger." Ephesians 4:26 I knew I had to put this situation in the Lord's hands by faith and let it go.

Giving my feelings a 'kick in the can' wasn't easy, but I can say I slept very well last night, and I plan to enjoy this day not filled with anger.