No matter how you feel, what you think, or what others may say, life will go on. As Little Orphan Annie so sweetly sang: "the sun will come out tomorrow." Some days will be rough and you might feel like you are carrying too much of the load with little help from others. But your day will come, you'll see! I think it is important to have this kind of attitude, and if you don't keep this sort of mind set I fear that the small stuff, the big stuff, or just all the stuff will get you down. Sit down, take a load off, blow out a sigh of anguish, spill your guts to your best friend or the closest person to you, cry till you laugh or laugh till you cry. Then put both feet on the floor and go back at it! It's the only way!
I haven't shared a story in a long, long time, so today I feel compelled to share a little story that a former pastor shared with a congregation several years ago. His name was David Fambrough, and I believe that he is now living and working in Clarksville, Tennessee. Regardless, Reverend Fambrough is an awesome person and an extremely compelling speaker. He shared this story with so and now I will share it with you.
In a small town where everyone knew one another there was a sweet little old lady that had lived her entire life in the town. No one could remember a time that she spoke ill of someone else. She was the first person to share a laugh and give a smile. She always knew the right things to say to make you feel uplifted and nice…she was a fine lady. One day the town drunk passed away and although he was sort of a nuisance, he was liked. While the towns people began to gather for his funeral they all wanted to be close by when the sweet little lady came through the church to pay her last respects. After all, this would be the perfect opportunity to hear her say something snide. Just before the funeral hour the sweet little old lady strolled into the church. Her tiny black hat shaded her face as she nodded to those she passed silently all down the aisle leading up to the casket. Near the casket the Reverend stood greeting guests. A few women that were friends of hers emerged from their pews when she passed and began to closely follow her. When she reached the casket she looked down on the old drunk with a tear in her eye and gracefully moved on to shake hands with the Reverend. By this time even the Reverend was thinking this might be the moment that she would break her streak. As the Reverend took her frail hand she looked up and him and said with a smile: "He sure was a good whistler!" Then she strolled to the back of the church and took a seat for the service.
I am not sure if that little lady ever really existed as this story was told. Who knows? She might have been a collection of nice ladies that Rev. Fambrough had served over the years. Or it could have been just a good story to give the example of having something nice to say on any occasion. Regardless, the story is there and it proves its own importance. The importance of giving people the benefit of the doubt, the importance of not knocking someone else down to make yourself feel a little better, and just the importance of being in someone's corner even though everyone else may have given up on them. I love that little old lady, and I have known many like her. They represent the people that get what they should out of life, the folks that stick to the sunny side…I'm with them. It is certainly not ever the easiest way, but it is always the most rewarding.
Have a good weekend friends!
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