When my grandmother turned 100, our family hosted a big birthday celebration for her at the nursing home where she lived. Besides cake and ice cream, she only requested two things: fried chicken livers for everyone at lunch (if they wanted some) and a “whiz-bang” of a gospel singing.
As a Southern Gospel–loving guitar player, I was tasked with leading the music. Just thinking about not messing up Grandmother’s big day gave me an upset stomach—though part of that could have been the chicken livers!
Before the party started, I slipped down to her room. She was sitting on her bed, holding my older brother and two cousins spellbound with a story about her daddy’s first car, a 1918 Ford Model T. Grandmother’s stories were always the best.
After she finished, I stepped closer. “Grandmother, this is David.” (She was legally blind and hard of hearing, so you always had to announce yourself.)
“Oh, Happy Day!” she said. “Are you ready for the singing?”
I stammered something about being nervous. She reached forward, taking both of my hands in hers. “Everything’s gonna be alright,” she said.
Grandmother was right. There were plenty of other musicians and singers in the family to lean on, and I realized I had been taking myself far too seriously. Her “whiz-bang” of a singing went beautifully.
The moral of this little story is clear: the biggest challenges are best faced together. “We” is far more effective than “me”—unless you’re eating chicken livers.
Kind reader, are you facing something alone today that could be lightened by a team effort?
Everything’s gonna be alright.
Help carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (GNT)
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