Diagrams And a Song

I have spent the last two hours working on English diagrams. They are mind-numbingly tedious. You would not believe how many ways you can phrase a sentence that gives it a different diagram each time. I don't remember the task being this tough in Mrs. Moore's 7th grade English class, but I guess everything gets harder the second you enter into college. Sadly, there are many things that I still take for granted to be easy. Scratch one, I guess.

Here's another story from my Sunday School teacher I wanted to share:


A Hurricane Story...

I just returned from New Jersey. While en route there, I was stuck in traffic on Interstate 81, just below the Virginia state line, (Bristol,Tennessee), due to a traffic accident with a fatality involved. This accident involved a tanker truck hauling a hazardous material load that developed a leak, which meant that we weren't going anywhere for several hours.

After being told by the Tennessee state troopers that we would be sitting still until the clean up was completed, I set my brakes on the truck and got our to stretch my legs. Other truck drivers did the same, and at one point there were 5 of us standing there by my truck, complaining.

Sitting right beside me in the left lane, were two elderly people in a Silverado pick up truck, which was loaded quite well. The man, (Joe), lowered his window and asked what was going on regarding the traffic situation. Soon we were all talking with this couple. I mentioned that if I had known about this, I would have bought something to drink (water), for I was becoming thirsty. The lady (Anna), said that they had plenty of water,and sodas in the cooler in the bed of the truck, and offered everyone present something. While she was back there, she said that she had plenty of tuna salad made up, and asked if we would be interested in a sandwich. After some urging from Joe, we agreed to a sandwich. While Anna was making the sandwiches on the tailgate of the truck, she was singing like a songbird. To be close to 70 (I guess), she had a remarkable voice.

When she finished making the sandwiches, and putting everything up, Joe raised the tailgate of the truck to close it. I noticed a Mississippi license plate on it. I inquired as to what part of Mississippi they were from. Joe said Biloxi. Knowing that Biloxi had been ravaged also by hurricane Katrina, I asked if they sustained any damage. Joe said that they lost everything but what they had on and what was in the pickup. All of us drivers tried unsuccessfully to pay them for their drinks and the sandwiches. They would have nothing to do with it.

Joe said that their son was living around Harrisonburg, Virginia and that they were going there. He was in the real estate business and that there was a home that became open, and that they were going to start all over there. Starting over at their age would not be easy.

I will soon be 48 years old, and I have say that I have never eaten a tuna sandwich with side orders of reality and humility.

These people lost everything except the pictures, important documents,and some clothes. Joe had managed to get their antique heirloom grandfathers clock into the bed of the truck and Anna got her china and silverware, but that was all. These wonderful people lost practically everything they owned and still would not accept any money for their food and drinks. Joe said that "it was better to give than it is to receive."

They sought refuge behind a block wall that he had built years ago, and they watched their belongings and their home disappear in the winds of Hurricane Katrina. Joe said that during all this he had one hand holding onto Anna and the other holding on to God. Their truck and themselves came out of Katrina unscathed.

As I stated before, Anna was singing a song while making the sandwiches.The song is titled, "I know who holds tomorrow," an old gospel song. She knew every word, and was quite a gifted singer! Have youever heard it? The chorus of this song is, " Many things, about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand."


Wow. Stories like these just knock the breath out of my lungs. This is the real, genuine love of Jesus in action. Out of the worst circumstances, God used two elderly people to spread His love. Two people who lost all of their belongings to Katrina's wind and floods. Two people faced with the prospect of starting over again from scratch at such a fragile age. All they had were each other and a pickup of tuna salad and water. And yet they offered what they had, and God blessed it like He did the little boy's loaves of bread and fish when Jesus fed 5,000 people. God's love is deep and wide enough to fill all of our hearts until they're overflowing. Incredible.

When you look at something like this, you're struck by how much this couple stands out from the pack. All things considered, you would think if anyone had a right to complain, it'd be them! They were the ones who had lost the most. Yet it was the truck drivers on the interstate who were complaining. All because they were stuck in traffic. I'm not in a position to judge them, but think about that for a minute. It's easy to dwell on minor annoyances like traffic jams, homework, faulty air conditioning and things like that. We only complain about them because we're blessed with such luxuries in the first place. But what about when luxury is swept away? How do we react when everything we've worked for, everything we've built up, everything we've earned in life is washed away from us? Joe and Anna found a way to show love with what little they did have, and even sang praise to God as they did! I'm sorry to say I don't have that attitude most of the time. But I should. Paul sums it up in Philippians 4:12-13:

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Here's the full lyrics of the gospel song Anna sang. It's absolutely beautiful :)


I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
by Ira Stanphill

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,
For it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Ev'ry step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb;
Ev'ry burden's getting lighter;
Ev'ry cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eyes,
At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.


Go out and hold someone's hand today. Even if you can't make tuna salad, you can show the love of Christ by being someone's sunshine on a cloudy day. :)

Song of the Day: Ira Stanphill - "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow"

Verse of the Day: "He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." - Proverbs 14:31