She's Alive

There’s a picture circulating on Facebook with an older woman sitting in a lounge chair with a drink in her hand.  The caption says ‘Some days I look back on my life and I’m impressed I’m still alive’.

I represent that…a lot.  

And that old saying ‘fools rush in where angels fear to tread’?  Yeah, that one too.

I was told once the expression on my face while I sing catches people’s attention.  I can’t help it.  Example:  Amazing Grace is an awesome song but when I start verse three (through many dangers, toils and snares) the smile starts and keeps getting bigger.  If I don’t watch it, I’ll be laughing out loud.  Why?  I’m remembering some of the dumb things I’ve done and how God kept me through them.  

I wasn’t considered wild.  Matter of fact, some would have said I was fairly dull as a youth.  But, there are some who know better (no comments).  I tended to wade into situations where I might not have known everything that was going on.  There were several impulsive side trips on my way home that resulted in 13 point U-turns (in a small car) or coming home wet because I decided to go swimming.

I didn’t think a thing about taking my nieces and nephews to the lake alone.  I would have four kids on a raft in deep water.  I can hear the gasps.  I babysat five kids (18 months to 5; two families) and would drive uptown to the five and dime or walk to the country store about half a mile away.  Me and five little kids.

One time I topped a hill (flying) and two cars were in the middle of the road; the men talking.  Thank God there was an oilfield lease with gravel right there.  I jerked it hard to the left; the car spun around and started to roll.  I was tilted over Gwen’s (friend) head staring that gravel in the face.  I just said ‘Jesus’ and the car settled back down upright.  It blew out a tire and knocked the front out of alignment.  We were late but we made it to church.

One summer, I help my brother-in-law pulp wood.  We were working on a huge tree that was in a gulley and leaning towards the neighbors.  Larry got the cable up as high as he could and started cutting.  I was working the winch from inside the truck staying on the gas and brake to keep the cable tight and bring the tree our direction.  The truck was standing straight up on its back wheels by the time the tree came down (yes, on our side).  We called it a day after that.

‘Some days I look back on my life and I’m impressed I’m still alive’ is not just a saying to me.  I really represent that…a lot.