Miss Myrtle

   After a long and difficult week I sit down (for only a moment) to reflect on the past few days. Its not like anything tragic happened or any crisis enfolded. Just for several days in a row things didn’t happen the way I hoped and things I hoped to happen just didn’t. For more time then I wish, I was surrounded by regret and frustration. I am not one to wallow in self-pity and too much time there drives me crazy. I give myself the same self-talk I give everyone else when they are feeling down. I remind myself of all the ways I am blessed, I remind myself that I have a God who loves me, I remind myself that because I have a warm place to sleep and a car to drive I am among the most wealthy in the world. It’s the speech I always give and I wonder if it bugs anyone else as much as it bugs me.  I feel guilt over feeling bad which really only makes me feel worse. It almost feels like a sin to feel bad, be joyful always, right? As I am processing these feelings (ha, only a parent of a special needs child uses the word processing) I am reminded of a sweet little lady named Myrtle. She was a resident in a nursing home where I used to volunteer. Sometimes on Sundays she would play the piano and I would sing (if you could call it that). Myrtle was always cheerful and happy. She greeted new residents and new every person (nurse, nurse’s aid, family member, volunteer and resident) by name. She saved her mid-day “snack” (little packages of oreo’s and vanilla cookies) for any smaller visitor she might pass by. She was in a wheelchair and could not longer live alone. She seemed to never have a bad day. One day I asked her “Myrtle, how do you do it, how can you always smile, aren’t you ever sad?” She smiled, her soft and gentle smile and told me “my sweet Lisa, life is sad, how could I never be sad? Its just when I am sad I am reminded how much better Heaven will be.” So I smile this afternoon as I reflect Miss. Myrtle and life lesson she taught me. Its okay to be sad, its okay to wish things were different. Just as long as I don’t allow those things to distract me from the One who has saved a place for me. Myrtle always wanted to sing “What a Day That Will Be”. Its funny, I didn’t even remember the song or the lyrics until today.


What A Day That Will Be

________________________________________

There is coming a day,

When no heart aches shall come,

No more clouds in the sky,

No more tears to dim the eye,

All is peace forever more,

On that happy golden shore,

What a day, glorious day that will be.



What a day that will be,

When my Jesus I shall see,

And I look upon His face,

The One who saved me by His grace;

When He takes me by the hand,

And leads me through the Promised Land,

What a day, glorious day that will be.



There'll be no sorrow there,

No more burdens to bear,

No more sickness, no pain,

No more parting over there;

And forever I will be,

With the One who died for me,

What a day, glorious day that will be.



What a day that will be,

When my Jesus I shall see,

And I look upon His face,

The One who saved me by His grace;

When He takes me by the hand,

And leads me through the Promised Land,

What a day, glorious day that will be

Its not that Myrtle’s heart never ached, its that she remembered what a day it would be when she did greet Him face to face. Miss Myrtle is gone now and is finally in that place. And today I am reminded that this place is temporary and time is short. Its not that I shouldn’t experience sadness I just need to be sure its not sadness without hope.

What a day that will be when I greet Him face to face. I am hopeful Miss Myrtle will be close with a package of Oreo’s to share and a piano to play. I can’t wait.