The Ripple Effect 





The boys didn’t intend for it to happen.  They just wanted to joy ride for a while.  After all, their dad hadn’t forbidden them to take the car out.  No matter that they were underage and didn’t have driver’s licenses.  Thirty, 40, 50 mph.  They chose back roads.  Not much traffic.  Less chance for getting caught.  Fifty-five, 65, 75 mph. 

The couple and their 11 year old son headed to celebrate the results of the test.  After chemotherapy and radiation, the breast cancer was in remission.  A pleasant dinner out was in store.  Eighty, 85, 90 mph. 

The boys, laughing at their speed, missed the stop sign.  Their dad’s car had airbags which enabled them to walk away unharmed when they crashed into the side of the family’s car.  The mother was killed instantly.  The son was is intensive care for days and the hospital for weeks. 

A sad story?  Of course. Unfortunately, a true one that happened to a woman I knew.  The boys’ choice to sin rippled in the effect it had on others.  Just like the ripples caused when a stone in throne into the water sin has consequences that spread out to impact others in unforeseen ways.  Maybe a better analogy is that sin is like an earthquake that occurs under the ocean causing a tsunami which surges out in all directions impacting land and lives miles away.

All choices have consequences which ripple through the lives of those we touch, on to touch those whom we do not know. The ripples can be devastating, or they can be profoundly profitable.

The woman was a fervent believer in Christ. She raised her children in the Lord, teaching them His Word.  One of her daughters had a son whom she also raised in the Lord.  A sickly child who grew to be a sickly adult.  He became a pastor.  Although his church has no longer exists the ripples of his, his grandmother’s and his mother’s faith are still evident on the pond of human experience.  Do you remember Lois, Eunice and Timothy?

The ripple effect.  We may not commit sins that take life or cause great bodily injury.  We may not work for the Lord as pastors or in any way that the world, or even other Christians, see as great or effective.  Each choice we make, whether in word or deed, ripples through the lives of others.  We may never see or know whether our ripples gently rock another toward Christ or savagely crash their life away from Christ, but we do have the choice of remembering that we cause the ripples or tsunamis that travel out away from us in all directions. 

Change as the Season Does

Its funny how at Labor Day time the weather just changes. Every year whether the summer has been hot, mild, rainy, sunny, you supply the adjective, during the first week of September the weather will suddenly change to fall.

Autumn is my favorite time of year. I hate what comes after, the dreaded ‘W’ word. But fall is simply wonderful. The nights are cool, the AC is off, sleep is a dream.  I get back into my jeans, sweatshirts, etc. Although I no longer have children at home I can identify with the mothers who cheer at the thought of school starting.

The air has a different quality that is marvelous. Illinois summers mean humidity. At the turn of the calendar to September the humidity switch is turned off and even if the days are in the high 80’s they are pleasant rather than a sauna.

I change also. I turn to other interests. Gardening, other than the basics, leaves my mind. This year, since I retired from my volunteer job at church, I have the time to sew which, for a number of years, I haven’t had the time to do.

I’ve been a quilter for many years but my focus this year has turned to garments. I have a ten month old granddaughter, the cutest ever. I found several cute dress patterns online.  I cut fabric I had on hand and the pieces are now in the wash getting ready for cutting out. In the washer,also, is some fabric for a jumper for me. I can’t wait for them to dry so I can go into the studio, fancy word for basement, and begin the process of creating with fabric.

Fall, change of weather, change of season, change of interests. What a wonderful time of the year.

Coming Home

This coming Saturday we are celebrating two birthdays. My mother-in-law's and her sister's. They will be 90 and 100, respectively. They are the last two living of six children born to John and Dollie Walters. We are commemorating the event with an open house at a small church nearby. In rural areas most churches are small.

There will be a number of the descendants of the siblings coming home to the area for, most likely, the last time. It has been fascinating to observe the interest that is being taken by relatives who have only corresponded by letter or Christmas card.

One nephew is doing all the flower arranging. We have sent one of each color of napkin so he will be able to plan. Others plan to bring photos of the brother and sisters who have passed away. All the siblings raised their families within a twenty mile, as the crow flies, radius and so knew each other and spent time together. My husband is the youngest of the generation.

So often families only get together for maybe a wedding but more often a funeral. This celebration has given the far flung children, grandchildren, great and great great grandchildren (maybe even three greats) an opportunity to come home for a time of joy rather than sorrow with these two wonderful women.

My little bit for you is to realize that it is more important to gather to celebrate while the people are still here to share the time with you. They won't care if you come to their funeral. Come home now. Take the time. Leave the baggage at the foot of the cross and simply enjoy the blessing that they are their for you to come home to.

The Begining

Okay, so why does the web need another blog? Don't ask me. I really don't know. However,  I'm a non-published writer working on my 1st and 2nd and 3rd novels. I have read in other blogs and forums that if you want to have a base of people who might purchase your books or a publisher who would want it you have to have a presence on the web. So my first step is blogging. So here I am blogging. It is a little beyond me as to why people would be interested in what I have to say about real things so I can sell them fiction. But far be it from me not to do what I'm told. You may chuckle, twitter, laugh out loud or shake your head in disbelief at that one.

I plan to post once a week. Many may deal with faith issues as I am a total believer in Jesus Christ as my savior and Messiah. If you don't like that please don't feel like you have to make comments. Just don't read my blog.

I hope those of you who read this find some things to think about, maybe try out or just find enjoyment. I hope I can think of enough things to write about that you might find interesting.

So I'll write, you can read and let me know what you think.