The Silver Lining

I recently visited some friends who just bought a really old, run-down house that they are renovating. The work they’re doing is fabulous – the home will soon be restored into a lovely ante-bellum townhouse. But when they purchased the house, it had some crumbled walls, years of accumulated dust, antiquated kitchen and bathrooms – and it was floor-to-ceiling full of “stuff.” Old furniture, glassware, dishes, boxes and boxes of things wrapped in scraps of newspaper – just “stuff.” As they’ve sorted through the odds and ends of the old house, however, they’ve discovered some items that were quite valuable. An old Confederate bill. An antique mahogany chest. Some exquisite dishes and glassware. They’ve been able to find things of value in those boxes. In the past few weeks, my family’s been sorting through things that belonged to my Grandmother. It’s been bittersweet fun – and I’ve carted home a few things that some folks might have rolled their eyes at. But you know, it’s valu...

Another year winds to a close, a new one awaits. I can’t say I’m sorry that 2008 is ending. For me, it’s been a bittersweet year, full of emotional ups and downs. I had the chance to return to Ghana this summer, for the first time in 3 years. And I was able to share Ghana with someone who loved me enough to go with me, my husband David. That was a wonderful “high spot” in the year for me. At the other end of the spectrum, I lost my grandmother Eula Belle. She was a guiding force in my whole life, one who always encouraged and supported me, one who always managed to make me laugh. I’ll miss her for the rest of my life. There have been other events of the year. Some have made me laugh, some have encouraged me. Some have left deep gashes, wounding the soul, leaving rough scars. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about the gashes and scars, that I don’t pray for the situations and people. But as I grow older, I realize that sometimes God uses the worst pains in our...

I went inside a jail for the first time in my life this week. No, I wasn’t arrested! I went with a group from the Fairfield Ministerial Association to the Fairfield County Detention Center in Winnsboro, SC, to help with their annual Christmas party for the inmates. I’ve read stories about people in jail, and they always make a reference to the clanging noise made by the doors as they slam shut. I guess that’s why I seemed to hear every door as it slammed shut. Only it really wasn’t a “clang” as much as it was a slam. And there was always a “click” prior to the door opening or shutting, because it had to be opened from the central office, by computer. We were led to a small room, where the party would take place. The building was constructed of cinderblock, with hard tile floors. Everything was painted a bland off-white. A couple of other ladies were busy setting up the food tables with big trays of fried chicken, devilled eggs, fresh veggies with dip, little smokies, and cheese. There ...

Sometimes I get a blessing from the most unexpected conversation, or at a most unconventional time. We bought a new Christmas tree. I’ve decorated a teensy 4-ft. tall prelit tree for several years, but this year it just wouldn’t light up, and the needles fell off if you looked at it hard. So David & I went to town to get a new tree. After shopping around, we chose one that would fit in his house, since I’ll be moving there soon. The one we selected is 9 feet tall and slim – just right for the living room. So I hauled out a boxful of decorations that I’ve collected over the past 5 years or so. Some are gifts I’ve received from former students – like a set of six sparkly red apples. There are the dozen or so sand dollars I found when I went to the Bahamas; I coated them with crystal sparkles and strung a blue ribbon on them. Silver & gold balls, a couple of peacocks, a ceramic plumeria flower from our wedding trip to Hawaii, a South Carolina ornament with the palmetto & moon ...

I lost my grandmother this week. To say that the week's been difficult would be a major understatement. She was an incredible lady, and a major influence on my life. My mom asked me to give her eulogy. It was about the hardest thing I've ever done...but Belle was worth it! I share my words here in hopes that it can give you a snapshot of my grandmother, Eula Belle Faulkner Caudle. This is a season of Thanksgiving, and I speak for our whole family when I say that we are most thankful to all of you for your kindness and support at this time. We appreciate the cards, the calls, the visits, the food, and most of all the prayers that you all have raised on our behalf as Belle passed from this world to her Eternal Life with the Lord. You’ve helped, more than you know. And I want to take a moment right now to especially give thanks to Betty Stegall and Judy Evans. You ladies made it possible for Belle to stay at her own home, eat at her own table, and sleep in her own bed right up to ...

My mom & dad bought the platform rocker in the late 1950's. The green upholstery had golden threads running through it -- it made a lovely addition to our living room! Such a comfortable rocker -- just right for the "new baby" (me, and then in 1961, my sister Becky!). I recall sitting in my daddy's lap in that chair as he taught me how to write my ABC's. I was about 4 years old, and thought writing and reading was about the coolest thing EVER I could learn to do! I had no idea what doors those two skills would open for me as life went on! The green rocker endured, outlasting a couple of different sofas. The fabric began to look a little worn around the arms, so my mom ordered a slip cover for it out of the Sears catalog. Tiny corkscrew pins came with the cover, and my mom showed me how to secure them, as we put the cover on The Chair. Ahhh, good as new, almost! And life went on around the rocking chair in the living room. During my teen years, The Chair was wh...

I had one of the craziest days EVER this past Wednesday! I still have to smile as I think back to the "quirks" that popped up in my day. :) David & I were to attend the Annual Conference of The Missionary Church International in Columbia, SC. This is the organization that covers our ministry -- www.tmciworld.com -- and I was excited about going to the conference for the first time. The conference started Wednesday at 4 pm and lasted until late Friday night. I took Thursday & Friday off from work, and left a little early on Wednesday so I could reach the conference that evening. I'd be a little bit late, I reasoned, but I didnt think I'd miss much other than registration. Dinner was supposed to be served around 5, then the opening session at 7. I organized everything so I could drive straight to Columbia from school. I just completed the paperwork for getting my teachers licensure in SC; the last hurdle for that was for me to be fingerprinted. I decide...