My Paisley Chair

A story I heard as a child has to be set up with just a little history. So, here goes.

My Pawpaw Keith was a WWI Army veteran. I never heard him mention anything about that season of his life, but I do have the love letters he wrote to Mawmaw while in France. They are quite amazing!

As a veteran my granddad received healthcare benefits from the Veteran’s Administration. In the early 1960s treatment at the V.A. was quick and possibly even cutting edge. Procedures that may not have been available elsewhere were administered to our veterans. Pacemakers were relatively new and my grandfather was one of the first recipients.   

At that time pacemakers were about the size of a snuff can and weighed a bit over a pound, they were implanted outside the ribcage, just under the skin, with wires running to the heart. Even through a button-up shirt you could clearly see the outline of the machine responsible for regulating Pawpaw’s heart beats.

Tha-Thump… Click

Needless to say, there have been many advances since the 1960s, I doubt you can see and hear the advanced tech nowadays. I remember the slight clicking sound of the electric charge as it sparked the next heartbeat. I routinely fell asleep in church on his lap, ear to his chest, breathing in rhythm to the mesmerizing sound “Tha-thump..Click – Tha-thump..Click”.

Life got frantic the morning Mom got the call “Snootie (that’s what he called my mom) my wires have come aloose!” Pawpaw was rapidly declining. His heart had slowed to almost a full stop, however, his stomach as beating a steady 72 bpm. Mom got to his house as the ambulance arrived and followed by car to the Veteran’s Hospital in Dallas.  

As the story goes, Pawpaw was able to look out the back window to see Mom following along. He told the EMT, “See those eyeglasses in the middle of the freeway? Snootie’s gonna hit ‘em!” Sure enough, like clockwork – Mom ran smack over the glasses. Though there was no one else on the road and several lanes of freeway to choose from… the glasses were destroyed.

The tip not taught in Driver’s Ed, yet emphasized by my granddad is this: Don’t look at the “thing” in the road – pothole, turtle, squirrel, or whatever … or you WILL hit it. Quickly notice it, then keep your eyes centered on your lane. Focus on where you are going and where you need to be.

“Snootie, you looked at the glasses!”

As the back of the ambulance opened and he met my mother’s worried gaze “Snootie, you looked at the glasses” was all he could manage to say.

Looking back upon a childhood memory and legendary story, I can’t help but think, in his own way, Pawpaw was encouraging mom not to focus on the steady beat of his stomach, but rather look toward the One who answers prayer.

I see no need to elaborate on what brought this story to mind. I will just ponder how to apply my sweet grandfather’s wisdom. Suffice it to say, I’ve been focused on an obstacle and need to take my eyes off the problem and redirect my attention to the solution.

I can hear Pawpaw sweetly say, “ “Precious, you are looking at the glasses.”

Is It Any Wonder?

No! It is no wonder at all that scripture tells us to “Look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). To keep my eyes on the prize for the upward call of Christ takes diligent effort on my part. It is so easy to get distracted and stare at a problem! It is not so easy to forget those things that are in my past and persevere in pressing forward.

I hope I can remember not to stare at the glasses, but rather just notice where they are and remain focused on where I am going. Psalm 121 encourages me to “lift up my eyes to the hills (or heavens) – that is where my help comes from… My help comes from the Lord. He will not allow my foot to be moved, and He who keeps me will not slumber or sleep. The Lord is my keeper!”

Prayer:

Sweet Jesus,

Distractions abound! Help me stay focused on what really matters – You! Let me only glance, instead of stare, at trials or temptations and keep looking forward toward heaven.

You are my Shepherd and I am well taken care of!

AMEN

What does the Bible say? (scriptures referenced)

Heb 12:1-2 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Phil 3:13-14 “but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 121 “I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help.
My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.”

Until next time…

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