Had a Thought of Momma

I can remember back when the fast food chain Hardees was running those specials when if you bought a certain meal you received your drink in a real glass. The glass had the cartoon characters, I believe from Warner Brothers. You know the characters I'm talking about like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tazmania Devil, and the others. A new one came out every week. Our cabinets in the trailer we lived in was full of those glasses. Of course you have to understand that when we went, which was normally on Sundays after the church bus dropped Mark (one of my younger brothers) and me off at home, there were at least five to six of us getting glasses.

There was many times when my mom couldn't buy us something, or give us any money, but there was never a time when she failed to feed us. I believe if we ever got to the point where we were hungry and there was no other way, momma would've went into the thickest woods, nastiest pond, or the fastest flowing river to gather food for her children to eat. I know she would've been capable of doing just that.

Momma fed us with more than food, as most moms do, but my mom spooned fed us her love all of her life. She fed us with love, encouragement, correction, and advice. She fed us the difference between right and wrong (not that we always listened, but when we were younger she made sure we listened the second time if you know what I mean) and she fed us the beauty of family. She sometime struggle with that part because we were scattered by age and some by distance, but she still reminded us of the importance of family love. We sometimes fail her and sometimes I believe I hear that little "stsk" noise she made when we did or said something wrong. Age and distance seems to keep the family apart, but momma knows we love one another.

The picture I've shared was taken many years ago. It was one of the few times all of mom's kids were together in one place, probably around Christmas of 1982 or 83. David, Lynn, Owen, me, Mark, J.D., and Lewis. Two of the grandkids are also pictured, possibly David Jr. (David's boy) and Reagan (Lynn's daughter). There were many more grandkids to come.

I believe I hear momma telling us it's time to eat.

Moments

We all face "moments" in life. Decisions we make in these "moments" are how we'll remember those moments.


http://www.godvine.com/92-Year-Old-Man-Shields-Girl-With-His-Body-as-a-Horse-Tramples-Them-4211.html#.Un3NEwfiRzQ.email

Grace

I spent more years living under God's prevenient grace than under God's justifying grace. I'll spend the rest of my life living with God's sanctifying grace.


       Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
       that saved a wretch like me!
       I once was lost, but now am found;
       was blind, but now I see.
                                    John Newton's hymn "Amazing Grace"

God! Are You There?

I'm trying something new. Sharing a link to a sermon I preached recently. I haven't corrected anything on it, so there may be misspelled words and grammar mistakes, but using the old phrase, "you're getting it as is". I pray it'll be a blessing to someone. You can read it, share it, or toss it. The Lord gave it to me and now I'm giving it to you.


https://www.dropbox.com/s/0ujzug6i0uvpn3j/God%20are%20you%20there.docx

Under the Wings

I'm not ashamed to get down and dirty with God, because that's where God found me, and when he found me, he covered me with his wings.

A Rainbow in Every Walk

Ericka's Rainbow

  My youngest daughter Ericka and I went for a walk this afternoon. It was a short walk, just a few blocks down the street to the Post Office and we even took Bud, our dog with us. Bud was excited to get out and enjoy the neighborhood a little, and I enjoyed the opportunity to share the time with Ericka, just walking and talking.

  By the time we got to the Post Office, it had started to sprinkle or drizzle, depending on what part of North Carolina you're from I guess. Anyway, we began to walk a little faster, laughing along the way. Ericka had taken the cap off my head saying she needed it more than I did, and if you know me then you know she's correct. By the time we had arrived back at the house we were a little damp and of course the sun began to shine again.

  She went into the house but I stayed outside and soon spotted it. It, was a b-e-a-u-tiful rainbow. Calling Ericka back outside, we just stood there and stared at it for a little while. I said to Ericka, "See what you get for walking with your dad, a rainbow." She took out her phone and took a picture of it and said "I got it."

  We should find a rainbow in every walk we take with those we love.

In Memory of Off. Donald Ray Tucker

I went fishing yesterday. I use to fish all the time, but for about the past 5-6 years, I haven't done no fishing. I bought my license, got my rods out of the building, cleaned them of spider webs, and made sure they still cast and reeled. But I didn't think of testing the line. That would come back to haunt me.

I even bought a new broken-back minnow lure. Went to local pond and casted about three times and sure enough, a nice little bass grabbed hold and after showing me how pretty he was, he broke my line. A rookie mistake and my fishing getaway was over. Not a problem, I'll just buy myself some new line, re-reel and go back tomorrow I thought.

And that is what I did. I was so excited, I got to the pond and got my stuff from the back seat and pushed the door close, and immediately I had the overwhelming thought go through my head. You may have guessed. I won't hold you in suspense, yes I locked myself out. But I decided I'll fish first, worry later. Didn't catch anything but I still enjoyed the quietness of the location.

I contacted my wife who in turn contacted locksmith and after a little while he showed up and within two minutes my door was opened. The locksmith looked very familiar and I asked his name and as soon as he said his name my heart "felt strangely warm." "I'm Billy Tucker."

Billy is the father of an old friend of mine and a hero to many of us who fought the "War on Drugs" of the late 80s and the 1990s. His son was Donald Ray Tucker who served on the Clinton Police Department and was loaned to another county to work undercover. He was murdered my two dealers while performing his last undercover action of the operation.

Donald was a uniform city officer while I was serving as an uniform deputy. Late at night when things were quite and about all assignments were finished, I would "sneak" back into Clinton and Donald and I would play our version of "hide and seek." We would try to find each other and when we did we would hit our siren to let the other know, "I found you." Just a little fun to pass the time, and it was fun.

I stopped by Donald's grave site over at Bearskin Church about six months ago just to say hey and to let him know I still thought about him. Those days were tough days in the battle against drugs. They were days of dirt and grime against the dirt and grime of society. Knowing someone like Donald who gave it his all because he believed any drugs we got off the street, was drugs that wouldn't end up in a child's hand, made us work harder and stay more determined to succeed. And we did succeed. We succeeded every time we went to work and kept pushing, and when we made it home. We considered an honor to be able to serve the people we served and we treated people with honor, even the bad guys if they showed the same respect. The badge to us was a badge of honor and a privilege to wear, not just a job. We knew we weren't any better than the people we served.

I think a lot of that sort of honor of the badge has disappeared today, but anyone who knew Donald can tell you that he always treated people with dignity, respect, and honor. He didn't deserved to die the way he did, but he died the same way he lived; with honor.

His funeral was held at Sampson Middle School (today its called Sunset School) and his burial was at Bearskin, about 10 miles or so away. When I parked about 1/4 mile away from the grace site that day, the officers directing traffic at the school radioed that cars were still pulling away from the school area. A line of patrol cars with blue lights flashing, 10 miles long. I remember saying "This is for you my friend."

He probably is laughing at me right now for locking my keys in my car this morning knowing that I was going to see his dad because of it. That's ok. One of these days we'll play "hide and seek again".

When you lock your keys in your car, don't sweat about it. When you get it opened you never know what other doors will be opened also.--Bobbyology