22 ~ It's Not All Fun And Dancing

 By Kay Heitsch

After we had been going to this club for a while, we were told it was closing. Now they were looking for someone willing to take it over.

One of the women we went out with was a singer in a band that played there regularly. Her husband worked with Bill. They asked Bill if he would go in with them to take over this club.

We were only in our early 20's. This sounded like a fun idea.

Yes, it was fun, in a way. But it was a lot of work and a huge learning experience. I did painting and cleaning, washed all the tablecloths, and talked to customers.

Occasionally, I would bring Todd with me before the club was open. I would put money in the jukebox, and we would dance on the dance floor. Todd was only two years old. He loved to dance!

I believe one reason Todd was so comfortable at school dances was that he had been dancing ever since he was little.

When the club was open, I sat at the bar, drank, and talked to a lot of people. People who drink like to talk. I wasn't sure whether they were being truthful. I heard many interesting stories.

You don't think about it when you go to a club for fun once in a while, but when you are in charge of a club, you have to know who your customers are.

Pimps would come in trying to pick up girls. Not everyone who comes in is looking for fun. There were fights in the parking lot, and the guys had to call the police.

It's not all fun and dancing! But we did have dancing contests. Some guy asked me to be his partner. We won second prize.

K-mart got wind of Bill's new adventure. They were not pleased! It wasn't long, and we were transferred again. This time out of the state.

"Write down for the coming generation what the Lord has done, so that people not yet born will praise Him." Psalm 102:18

Living Life

By Kay Heitsch

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward. ~ Søren Kierkegaard Quote ~

This is so true. Helen Keller said, "Life is a succession of lessons," which must be lived to understand." It would be great if we could learn from others' life lessons, but sometimes we have to learn by going through our own experiences.

Our Bible verse says. For our life is a matter of faith, not of sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7 GNT

Our lives are lived by faith. We don't know what lies ahead.

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward.

Be Aware Of God's Love

By Kay Heitsch

Think of the purest, all-consuming love you can imagine. Now magnify that love by an infinite amount. This is the measure of God's love for you. ~ Be Aware Of God's Love Quotes ~

God will never love you any more than He does right now. No matter what we do or don't do, God still loves us. God is love!

Our Bible verse says. We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. 1 John 4:16 AMP

When we have observed and experienced God's love for ourselves, we know we are loved by God. We need to be aware of God's love at all times.

Think of the purest, all-consuming love you can imagine. Now magnify that love by an infinite amount. This is the measure of God's love for you.

21 ~ Free To Be Me

By Kay Heitsch

After Mom's funeral, I had a sense of freedom. I didn't know my Dad very well because of his lifestyle. Now that Mom was gone, my Dad and I were going to get to know each other better.

Before we left for home, Dad suggested that we all go out to one of the bars in town. Mom would not have approved!

When I was little, Mom had a friend who owned a Coffee Shop in town. It was connected to the Hotel. When her friend was short on help, she would call my mom to see if she would come in.

Mom enjoyed helping out, waiting on tables. However, she would not serve alcohol. If someone orders a drink, another waitress must serve it.

I look back and see how devoted Mom was to her now-religious beliefs. I may not have agreed, but I do admire someone who stands up for what they believe.

Mom didn't always live like this. She would drink, smoke, and dance right along with my Dad. Once in a while, Mom would say how much she loved to dance. I don't think she missed smoking or drinking, though.

I don't know when she got involved with this religion and changed. I know it was after I was born.

When Mom would work at the Coffee Shop, my Dad would babysit me. Dad would take me to the Moose or another bar in town. I liked going with him. Everyone was friendly and seemed to really like me. I enjoyed being around these people.

My Dad did not drink at home. I never saw beer or alcohol in the house. However, Dad drank a lot in several places all around the area. His drinking and behavior when drunk were a big problem.

When we got home from the funeral, Bill and I started going out on weekends to a club with a group of people. This club always had a live band and a nice dance floor. It was fun because most people loved to dance. We had a lot of fun!

Sherry and Jim always wanted to babysit Todd, so we were free to stay late, and Sherry would bring Todd over later in the morning.

I was now going to be experiencing life in a different direction. God had taught me from Sue that drugs were not going to fill the emptiness in my heart. I now think, "Thereby the grace of God go I."

"Write down for the coming generation what the Lord has done, so that people not yet born will praise Him." Psalm 102:18

Looking Back

By Kay Heitsch

One day, you'll look back and realize God was with you every step of the way - through every trial, every tear, and every triumph. He never left your side. ~ Inspirational Quotes

I can see this so clearly in my own life. Even when I didn't give God a thought, He was always thinking about me. Every trial, God was teaching me something. Every tear, He used to clear my vision. Every triumph, I somehow knew it was God's grace.

Our Bible verse says. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8 NIV

I take these verses personally. I know God has instructed, taught, and counseled me throughout my journey. Even when I didn't realize it, His loving eye was on me. It's the same for you! Never forget it.

One day, you'll look back and realize God was with you every step of the way - through every trial, every tear, and every triumph. He never left your side.

20 ~ Poor Timing

By Kay Heitsch

Every person's death is different. I was 23 when Mom died. I loved my Mom, but when she died, I had a feeling of freedom. I always felt this pressure to accept her religious beliefs, but now I was free to be me.

The minister who had conducted my Mom's funeral didn't waste time coming to my Dad's house and informing me that I was now removed from their church membership.

My Mom must have been paying whatever was required to keep me on their church books.

When I think back, this was poor timing and very unkind, but at the time, I was happy to be rid of the whole religious group.

Now, I even shudder to think I might never have studied the Bible on my own, and would have just gone along to get along. I praise the Lord that He slammed this door shut!

My Dad had no connection to this religious group. I don't know what he thought about the whole thing. We never talked about it.

"Write down for the coming generation what the Lord has done, so that people not yet born will praise Him." Psalm 102:18

Let God's Light Shine Through You

By Kay Heitsch

Let the light of God's love shine through you and watch and see what the glory can do. ~ God's Light Quotes ~

Just like the moon has no light of its own. It only glows because of the reflection off the sun. That's the same with us. We only shine because of God's love shining through us. He is our light!

Our Bible verse says. The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

The LORD is our light! We have nothing to fear. We are blessed to be able to allow His light of love to shine through us.

Let the light of God's love shine through you and watch and see what the glory can do.