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.

19 ~ Not What I Expected

By Kay Heitsch

Right after Mother's Day in 1973, my mom called to let me know she was planning to have gallbladder surgery.

Mom said she had just had a complete check-up. Now, she was happy to report that her results showed she was in the shape of an 18-year-old person. Not too bad for being 61.

Since we lived in a different state, Mom said she didn't want us to come until after she was home from the hospital, so she could see Todd, who was now 18 months old.

The day of the surgery arrived, and I was wondering what was going on when the phone rang. I was expecting to hear that everything had gone well.

However, the doctor called and, in a hushed voice, told me everything did not go well. He said Mom had died in the recovery room. The anesthesiologist had put Mom too far under, and she never woke up.

All I can remember is that I screamed! This was not what I was expecting to hear.

We drove to Michigan, and as I walked into the funeral home, Mom's suitcase was sitting by the door. I'll never forget that. It seemed so bizarre.

I thought Bill's Dad and wife would send a card or something, seeing that my Mom was Todd's grandma. However, they didn't. Grandpa and Grandma Z. sent a card. I appreciated that.

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

One Thing!

By Kay Heitsch

The most important decision we will ever make is to believe and accept that what Jesus did for us was good enough.

We make life too complicated. We try to add our good works to what Jesus did for us. We get the attitude that we now need to prove we have accepted Jesus by following a bunch of rules.

What's interesting is that when we honestly do believe and accept, our lives will reflect God's love. We take no credit for it.

Our Bible verse says. Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the One He has sent.” John 6:29

There is only one work! And that work is to believe in Jesus and what He has done for us! We don't need to start following a bunch of man-made rules to prove anything.

The most important decision we will ever make is to believe and accept that what Jesus did for us was good enough.

When Our Faith Is Weak

By Kay Heitsch

No matter how weak our faith is, God remains faithful. God will bless you in your mess. He is merciful. Great is God's faithfulness!

Our Bible verse says. If we are faithless, He remains faithful— for He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13 ESV.

This says "If," but most of us have been faithless at times. But we can rest assured that even if we are faithless, God will always remain faithful! Great is God's faithfulness.

No matter how weak our faith is, God remains faithful. God will bless you in your mess. He is merciful. Great is God's faithfulness!

18 ~ Todd's Impact On Next Door Neighbors

By Kay Heitsch

When I think back, I had no idea how Todd's life would impact so many people.

On this next move, we lived in a duplex. Our next-door neighbors had no children. They were older than us and had decided they didn't want to have children, until Todd entered their lives!

Jim and Sherry loved Todd! Jim set up a train set in the basement, just for Todd. Sherry made Todd a quilt. I think I still have it! They asked if Todd could go to church with them. We didn't care, but we certainly were not going.

Todd and I liked to dance in our living room. One week, after Todd had gone to church with Jim and Sherry, Todd came in and announced, "I couldn't dance! They didn't have a violin." I think he meant guitar, but it was funny!

Jim and Sherry said it was because of Todd that they changed their minds and decided to have children. They eventually had a daughter and two sons. Now they are grandparents and even great-grandparents.

I have stayed in touch with Jim and Sherry for all of these years. I know God arranged for us to live next door to each other for this time in our lives.

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

Faith & Fear

By Kay Heitsch

Fear says, What if? Faith says, Even if! ~ Don't Worry Quotes ~

This is how we should live our lives. Worry and fear thoughts will come to our mind, saying "What if? When they do, we can answer, "Even if," and keep moving forward.

If God has taken care of our eternal life, He can certainly take care of our everyday life. Trusting God will cast out anxiety and fear.

Our Bible verse says. Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 NLT

Some translations say Cast all your anxiety on God. I like how the NLT says give all of our worries and cares to God. Why? Because He cares about you!

Fear says, What if? Faith says, Even if!

Personal Relationship

By Kay Heitsch

Nothing is greater than having a relationship with Jesus. ~ Inspirational Quotes ~

It's not about how Christian you look on the outside. Or even what day you choose to go to church, or what you eat or don't eat. It's all about your personal relationship with Jesus Christ and accepting what He has done for you.

Our Bible verse says. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV

When we enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, He is not only our Savior but also the Lord of our lives. We live in fellowship with Him 24/7.

Nothing is greater than having a relationship with Jesus.

17 ~ Todd Was Born

By Kay Heitsch

We didn't stay very long in this first move. However, I became pregnant with Todd.

Dee gave me a baby shower.

Bill's dad (OBGYN) was not exactly overjoyed about having his first grandchild. When Bill called him with the news, his response was, "That's what happens when you don't take the pill."

Bill received a promotion, and we were on to the next store. This store's location was still in Ohio.

Many things happened as we moved from an apartment to living in a duplex. The biggest thing was that Todd was born. Little did I know how much this child would change my life!

When Todd was born, I was supposed to be in a semi-private room. However, they were all full, so I was put in a ward.

I met a girl there who was putting her baby up for adoption. She told me she didn't even know she was pregnant when she came to the hospital. I had never heard of that before, but I have since.

I came home from the hospital, and my mom came down for a visit. Later, both my mom and dad came down to see baby Todd.

A few weeks went by, and both Bill's dad and his wife came to visit, too. I'm thinking Bill's dad was curious about his first grandson.

Todd was such a good baby. We had a nice baby buggy, so I walked with him downtown and shopped since we only had one car. It was winter, but I bundled him up and put the covering over the buggy. The fresh air was good for both of us.

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

Tell Them I Love Them

By Kay Heitsch

God loves you! He wants you to succeed. He wants the best for you. ~ Norman V. Peale Quote ~

When I first had the thought of writing, I asked God, "What should I write about and tell people?" Immediately, the idea came. "Tell them that I love them."

No matter where you are in life or what you're doing, I'm here to tell you, God Loves You!

Our Bible verse says. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." Jeremiah 31:3

God has loved each of us with His everlasting love. He draws us close to Him because of His unfailing kindness.

God loves you! He wants you to succeed. He wants the best for you