MY Grandmommy!

Kelly's grandmother is named Pauline Williams. She goes by several names, however, including Mom, Mrs. Pauline, and Aunt Polly; but she was introduced to me at the age of 91 as simply “Grandmommy.” Kelly and I had been “seriously dating” for some time, and I was invited to Hiram, Georgia, to spend the weekend and get to know the family. The first time I ever met Grandmommy, she hugged my neck and said, “Don't they have any pretty girls where you're from?” It was like I'd known her all my life, and so began a wonderful relationship.

Grandmommy and I get along for several reasons, but I think the primary reason is because I like to talk and Grandmommy loves a good story. She has been a tremendous encouragement to me during the writing of this book. She is a saintly woman of God who loves Jepordy, great-grandchildren, and chocolate.

One day, the family was sitting around chatting and the subject of re-incarnation came up. Grandmommy said, “You know I don't believe in that stuff, but if I did I think I'd probably come back as a wolf.” Well you can imagine the chuckles that insued. “Why do you think you'd come back as a wolf?” someone asked. “Well, I guess, it's 'cause I'm so mean” Grandmommy replied.

She then went on to recount for us a story from her childhood. She said that when she was a little girl in school, one of her classmates was from “the wrong side of the tracks.” Grandmommy said they would throw rocks at the girl and tease her about her father making moonshine. “I don't know if that was true about her Daddy, but that was the story anyway.” You could tell in Grandmommy's voice that there was a twinge of guilt about how she had treated another human being even after eighty plus years.

Trying to lighten the mood a bit, Cousin Jo-Jo said, “Pauline, you know how Justin tells stories, he'll probably be telling that about you.” Grandmommy simply smiled and said, “Well, maybe so, but I'm gonna die and go to Heaven before he does, and I'll tell God it ain't true!”

So much to learn, from that story in particular, and from Grandmommy in general. I'm sure that the teasing carried about by Grandmommy and her posse was part of harmless child's play, but again, you could tell it bothered her just a bit. Why? Because Grandmommy knows what I'm trying to learn and put into practice; everyone is made in the image of God and because of that they all have dignity. Picture the lowest, low-life, scum sucking, varmit of a human being you can think of, and they are still closer to God than anything else on the planet because they are made in His image. I dare say that the biggest regret most of us will have when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ is the way we have treated His children.

Grandmommy is ninety-six at this writing. She has already begun dropping hints that she might not be around much longer. She doesn't say it with any hint of sadness, though. But that's what happens when you have an intimacy with the One you know you'll spend eternity with. Jesus says in John 14:2-3, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Let That Pony Run!

Let That Pony Run

          Dad and I like to watch horse racing.  The problem is, we don’t know anything about it.  We love horses, but as far as knowing anything about breeding or the business of racing, we are pretty delinquent.  We just like to, as Dad says, “Watch the ponies run.”  Growing up, I remember watching the Triple Crown every year, but one year stands out above all the others.

          The year was 1989.  Every year Dad and I would choose a horse to pull for during the race or races, based on some very shallow indicators like name or color.  Very rarely did we know anything of bloodlines, earnings or how they finished in recent races, enough to make educated decisions.  Before the Kentucky Derby I chose a big Chestnut colored horse named “Easy Goer.”  This was my pick for a few simple reasons.  First, because of his color, he stood out against the usual back drop of all the other bay colored Thoroughbred horses.  Secondly, his trainer was named Shug McGaughey.  “Shug” just happens to be the nick-name that my Dad has called me since birth.  It also didn’t hurt that the betters had made Easy Goer the favorite to win the Derby.  Dad chose to root for a speedy black colt named “Sunday Silence.”  This horse may have subconsciously been attractive to Dad because of his fondness for Sunday afternoon ciestas. 

          I don’t remember very much about the Kentucky Derby itself, just that Sunday Silence, Dad’s horse, won, and my horse, Easy Goer, came in second.  The other thing I remember is that I was excited about the rematch in the Preakness a few weeks later.  And, man, what a rematch it was!  It was the stuff of legends.  No Hollywood director, no matter how creative or talented, could have made the clash of these two titans appear any more dramatic.  Sunday Silence broke to the front of the pack early with the pacesetters, while Easy Goer got off to a sluggish start.  But when Easy started to make his move, it looked like the other horses were standing still.  When he passed the frontrunners, including Sunday Silence, it looked like the race would be a blowout, and he would leave them all in the dust.

          Sundays are special, though, and on this particular Saturday, this particular Sunday was very special.  Sunday Silence jockey asked for more and his horse responded.  As Easy Goer and Sunday Silence started down the home stretch with ¼ mile to go, the 90,000 + in attendance knew they were witnessing something for the ages.  “Down the stretch they come!  Sunday Silence on the outside.  Easy Goer on the inside.  Stride for stride, neck and neck, nose to nose.”  And after a photo finish and a stewards review that seemed to last forever….it was Sunday Silence, Dad’s horse, who won by a nose.

          In my heart I still think Easy won, and three weeks later he did in fact win the Belmont, the last leg of the Triple Crown, by eight lengths, but that’s beside the point.  (These two  had a fourth  rondexvous in the Breeders Cup, in which Sunday Silence won by a neck, but that’s also beside the point.)  The point is this was a moment that will ever be etched in my mind.  A moment that Dad and I shared.  Ever since then, if I am unable to watch the Triple Crown with my Dad, I call him and we watch it together over the phone.  More often than not these days it seems we’re pulling for the SAME horse, for we’d both like to see someone win the Triple Crown.

          Though the Bible doesn’t talk much about horse racing, Brother Paul does talk about racing in general.  Here’s one of my favorite passages from Hebrews 12: 1-3, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

          A few things to consider from these verses…..

First, the part about “ throwing off everything that hinders” reminds me of another horse race.  It’s the one at the end of “The Black Stallion” movie.  You know the one about the little boy, and the big horse.  In the big race they’ve dressed the boy up in so much garb so that the spectators won’t realize he’s just a kid.  Midway through, he just throws off his helmet and goggles he’s been told to wear so that he can ride the Black as they’ve done so many times before.  God help us to cast off those things that hinder our relationship with Him and keep us from running the race set before us.

Second, let’s talk about this part about “fixing our eyes on Jesus”.  Did you know that many race horses wear blinders on their bridle that allows them to only look forward?  That way they are not distracted by the crowd or other horses or anything else.  They just run! 

          Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

          Look full in His wonderful face,

          And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

          In the light of His glory and grace.

Keeps everything in perspective, doesn’t it?