(Call Out) What You Can Do

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Harvesting Fruit

Emily blessed us long before we even knew of her and before either of us knew the blessing was happening.

Emily is Tori’s Mom and Tori is one of the best people I ever worked with - back when I was working.

She is one of a few people with whom I feel 100% safe to delegate work. I guess that says a little about me, but it says a lot about Tori. Most of the time she did the work very well. And, when she couldn’t, she always told me before it was too late to do something about it. And she always has a very bright, positive, “can do” spirit that comes straight from God.

Tori has helped us since Marcy’s diagnosis, even though she has had some life changes of her own. She has followed her husband’s career progression and has moved at least twice – out of state, not just across town. And she has had children. She adopted Ruben and Cate when they thought they couldn’t get pregnant, then along came Elle.

Tori told Emily, her Mom in Waverly, TN, about our situation. We knew Tori must have come from good stock, but didn’t know how good until we started hearing from Emily. She wrote lovely cards and emails and she planted a flower at www.FlowersForMarcy.com, even though she laughs about her computer skills, or lack thereof.

We got to meet Emily this week when she brought dinner for us. But she didn’t just bring dinner. She brought five meals for our freezer, for nights when the dinner calendar is empty. She also brought a designer purse (at least Darcy thinks it’s a designer purse) for Darcy, and thank you cards and a roll of stamps for me.

And Emily is just as bright, positive, and full of God as Tori. It is so good to see that that kind of spark doesn’t diminish with a few years.

There are two old sayings: 1. Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, only God can count the apples in a seed; and 2. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Blessings multiply when God can count the tree, the apple, and the seed as His.

If you know someone in need, tell others about their situation. If you can’t help right now, maybe a relative or someone else you know can. Even if there is no food involved, you can share the fruit of the spirit.

Every Day Is Precious is a column to remind us to treat everyone we see today as if it could be the last time we see them. It is written by Rob Payne, whose wife, Marcy, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in August of 2000. Now 44 years old, she has gone from winning 5 and 10K races to being quadriplegic and on a ventilator at home. For a collection of these columns in book form, more ways to help others, more about Marcy, or to receive email updates on her condition, visit www.EveryDayIsPrecious.com. Readers may contribute to her care by sending donations to Every Day Is Precious, 2051 Harvington Drive, Franklin, TN, 37069.

If you have helped someone without being asked, or know of someone who has, share it with others. Send to rob@everydayisprecious.com or to Every Day Is Precious, 2051 Harvington Drive, Franklin, TN. 37069.