Steel Magnolias

Good Morning!

My daughter Heather often refers to her grandmother and great aunt as “Steel Magnolias”. Mom and Aunt Bette do have a lot in common with the characters portrayed in the movie … having lived with difficulty and having living through difficulty. And they have endured all with grace and hope. Aunt Bette is one of the few people I know that send Easter cards … not just Christmas cards. And their grace is evident to many.

Norma, Sarabeth, Jamie and I went “across the mountain” to visit Mom Sunday. We had not had the opportunity to be with her during Christmas so we took Sunday as a good day to enjoy a visit. We decided to eat at the Brothers Restaurant just outside of Young Harris Georgia. Well, while we were waiting, a couple entered the restaurant and began to greet Mom enthusiastically. It turns out they were some florists who serviced the Hayesville area … and who Mother had befriended. They were soon joined by Mom’s banker and her husband … all who fawned over Mother. Mom has lived in Hayesville since 1988 … seems like a long time but in a small town, not as long as one would think. But Mom has endeared herself to many in that community. I believe my Mother and my Aunt Bette are testimonies to their Mother … and to the Lord to whom all are / were devoted.

Matthew 7:16a (King James Version)
16Ye shall know them by their fruits.

When I think of Grandma Ward, Aunt Jane, Aunt Bette, and Mother, I think about all the positives they made in the lives around them. And they did so in spite of some pretty big hardships in their lives. They each approach life with a positive trust in God … and that makes a difference.

So … make a difference today. I know you can.

Agape’


Mr. Jim