My Father's Love

The day I was allowed to go home from the Hospital, after my birth, was one my Father would never forget!  Later, when I was older, he would tell me the story of what happened when I was only two days old.

Giving birth to me, and to my little sister was hard for my Mother.  After my birth, she was not able to walk up the many stair steps to our little home, they had to get an ambulance to take us there.  My Mother would have to be on a stretcher.

The nurse placed me in a little cradle inside the back of the ambulance, next to my Mama, since she wanted me to stay close by. My Daddy had walked to the hospital, so he rode in the front with the driver of the ambulance, as we started toward home.

When we arrived home, the driver and my Daddy came around to the back, and the driver opened the big door so they could get us out.  As the door was opened, my Daddy saw my cradle turning over, and I was rolling out.  I was about to hit the cement curb.  My Father went down on his knees to catch his firstborn child and caught me in his arms, before I was severly injured or killed.  My small body was uninjuried.  My life had been saved.

Later when I was older, Daddy told me he sat down on the cement and held me tight, protecting me, and thanking God, not even thinking about his knees, which were both bruised and bloody. He told me the one in charge that day was our Heavenly Father.  And that things had happened very quickly, he had no time to think, just to act.

GOD knew I was going to be saved by my Daddy.  He knew that my parents would take me to Church, and HE knew that I would ask HIM into my heart at a the tender age of nine years old, when I joined Apple Valley Baptist Church, the Church where I remain a member.

Please follow me as I continue telling of my love of GOD, and family. Come, walk down the road of memories with this G.R.I.T.S--as I remain just that,  a girl raised in the south, and in the Church.

My Christmas Present Arrives

When you are two years old, I don't know if you are supposed to remember what happened......especially when you are growing old as I am now.  But, I can remember an early Christmas present that I got when I was just a little over two years old.

My Daddy and Mother took me to a cousin's home to stay while they were going to see if they could find Santa Claus and talk with him.  I was excited about Christmas coming soon and I did not want to cry when they left me.   I was going to be a big girl and stay the night.  Daddy told me he would let me know if they found  Santa or my "gift."

I can remember having a bad cold, and the cousin was going to give me my medicine.  I told her I took two spoons  full, but she insisted one would be enough.  I took it ...cause I wanted to jump on her bed, I new the quicker I swallowed that stuff,  I could start my jumping!  And, I did start, but it didn't last long....she stopped me!  "We don't jump on our beds" she said.  I knew Mama and Daddy wouldn't let me jump, but I thought I would get away with it at someone else's house.

I just was not ready to go to bed, but she insisted I must be tucked in and close my eyes. I thought I could say my "bedtime Prayer" when my Mama and Daddy got back,  but she made me go ahead and say it.   I was not  going to sleep! I was determined to stay awake until my they returned.  Of course was my last thought before sleep got me!

Sometime during the night, my Daddy came in,  and I stood right up on the bed and asked..."Did you find Santa?"  He had the biggest smile on his face, and said,   "WE found him and he sent us all a Christmas present."  Oh boy, I wanted my present now!  I didn't want to wait, but I did'nt see a present!

Where is my Mama...was a question I was about to ask when my Daddy took me off the bed, and sat down, with me on his knee.  He said, "your Mama is down at the big Hospital at the end of the main street."  Then with a BIG smile on his face he said, "You have a little baby sister, and today is also my Birthday."

"Our present is a Little Sister, and she is a gift that came on MY BIRTHDAY too!  Today is December 16th.   And, Santa said to tell you Christmas will be here before you know it."

I knew my Daddy was very happy about my early Christmas present, and his Birthday present, cause he smiled and smiled.   " WHAT are You going to say?" he asked me.  I looked up at him with my big green eyes and said,  "Cousin Agnes only gave me one spoon full of medicine, can I play with my early Christmas present now, and can I jump on this bed?" 

I remember Daddy laughing and giving me a big hug, and kiss. "I'll tell her two spoons full of medicine is right, and you will be able to play with our early Christmas present soon, and NO you can not jump on her bed, let's just get you back to in there all tucked in and snuggly again.  "It is December 16th, your Baby Sister's birthday, and MY birthday, Christmas will be here in just a few more days, it will be JESUS' Birthday and you will have your presents to play with.  Then, you can play all day long.''

As my Daddy held me tight, and sung a Christmas song, I began to drift away.....I did get my medicine, and he got a Birthday present, but he'd told me I would have presents on Jesus' Birthday....I knew Jesus would let me play with all the presents, all day long.

My Daddy said as I closed my eyes..."the present we got tonight is like you, a little girl that will grow up with you and both of you can play all you want!  But, right now you are going to have to go to sleep, have sweet dreams, and NO jumping on the BED!"  He once again, gave me a big hug and kiss..." 

I fell asleep listening to my Daddy, and my Cousin Agnes talking....she has a head full of black hair...big brown eyes, is what I thought he said.....but I was so sleepy...and that could not be right, cause I didn't have much hair yet, and I was a big girl, two years old! 

I knew my Daddy was happy, and my Mama was with my new baby sister, and I was content for now, sleep once again came to me....and I WOULD....jump on that bed tomorrow!  

*Follow me along life's path as we continue the story of a GIRL Raised in the South, and life seem simple.*