The Help, The Blessing....

Pearl....Annie Pearl Harris. She is the one who hugged me, she is the one who taught me how to make a bed, even it was with a switch in her hand! Pearl could make an apple pie like nobody's business. I have tried and tried to duplicate it...tried to get her recipe but there was no recipe, just a hand full of this, a pinch of that...and magic was created! The magic was in her hands of love. I really don't know where I would be today if she had not been such a large part of my life. She gave me something my mother couldn't...real affection that came through her discipline, her hugs, her apple pies and all the time she spent with me. I can remember the time my friend came over and talked me into pouring finger nail polish all over the mattress! Yep, my butt was sore for a few days!!! And Pearl taught me a lesson I never forgot...don't follow bad decisions...do what is right. She taught me much about life...and boy did she love her Cincinnati Reds!! She would watch her baseball and iron at the same time. She was spirited! And she loved some nasty Falstaff Beer! But drank it with control...something I had never seen before. 

Today...she passed away. Today....she was on my mind. Several months ago, I felt an urging to see her, but I didn't act upon it. No regrets...can't go there, it would be too painful. Life is so short...life gets too busy and time slips away. I know this all too well, but how easy it is to fall back into that trap. I can trust that Pearl knew how much she meant to me as I have told her so many times. But I wish I could've had one more of her great hugs and hear her say my name like nobody else could. 

So tonight, my heart is sad....and very thankful for the blessing He brought in my life through my Pearl...He truly does give us food at the proper time. 

The LORD upholds all who fall 

   and lifts up all who are bowed down. 

The eyes of all look to you, 

   and you give them their food at the proper time. 

You open your hand 

   and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

Psalm 145:14-16 (NIV)