Wring Whatever Good Can Be Wrung From the Hard Thing

In my work as a hospice nurse, I am honored to care for all kinds of people. I serve the young and the old, the ugly and the pretty, the rich and the poor. I take care of folks who have no faith, some faith, and occasionally, unshakable faith.

Such was the case tonight. My patient was a woman in her sixties who has taught adult Sunday school for many years. Her husband told me that on the first Sunday after she received her diagnosis, she shared the news of her extremely poor prognosis with her class. Tonight, he shared his wife's notes from that lesson with me.

Below is a short excerpt. It is how she ended that day's lesson, which turned out to be the last one she would stand up and give. Her words and the illustration she chose moved me deeply.


I’m telling you again the story I’ve told you before, because it speaks to me more vividly than anything else about this truth. The story came from John Claypool, who died last week of multiple myeloma. Claypool said there was a beautiful plum tree that stood for years in his grandfather’s yard – the prize of the farm and the pride of the family. One day a tornado swept across the southern Kentucky community where the Claypool family lived, twisting that plum tree from its roots and leaving it lifeless on the ground. After the storm passed, the neighbors ventured out to survey the damage, gathering in Claypool’s yard. They stood in a silent circle, gazing down at that one-beautiful plum tree, now ruined beyond repair. Finally one of the men asked Claypool’s grandfather, “What are you going to do with that tree?” And after a long pause, the old man replied, “I’m going to pick the fruit and burn the rest.”

I’m going to pick the fruit and burn the rest. I’m going to wring the good from this hard thing and then get on with the rest of my life.
Pick the fruit – take from the hard experience whatever God teaches you, new sensitivities to others he’ll open to you. Pick the fruit – pay attention to the new insights you’ll gain. Pick the fruit – the crop will be new experience with the sustaining presence of God.
Pick the fruit, burn the rest, and walk on with hope into whatever is left of life with the God who raised Jesus Christ from the grave. This is our hope! Amen.

My patient will go to glory soon. Perhaps before the end of this night.

But her lesson -- it will live on in my heart for a very long time.

It's Really That Hot

Here in Texas we're into the second week of hundred-plus degree heat. Want to know how hot that really is? This Dallas Morning News quote from 63-year-old Ardellar Hightower pretty much sums it up:

"It was so hot in the bedroom the day before yesterday that the smoke detector just fell down from the ceiling."

Now that, my friends, is hot!

Foster Parent

The Coming Home to Ruby Prairie series is about Charlotte Carter and Tanglewood, her foster home for troubled girls. About ten years ago, Randy and I served as foster parents. It was the most difficult, rewarding, faith-building thing we have ever done.

Recently, I received a message from a foster parent. Her words touched me and I wanted to respond. However, there was no return email address included in the message. If you are that person, would you please contact me again?

Foster parents need encouragement. Please, if you know a foster parent, express your appreciation. Send a note, surprise them with a gift certificate. Bake a cake or wash their car. If you're able, offer to lend a hand for a few hours. You will be blessed as you bless.

Foster parents are truly, truly doing God's work.

So When Are You Going to Write a Novel?

It was the promptings of my agent, publishers, and readers of my short story books that pushed me to finally pen A Town Called Ruby Prairie, my first novel. I'll always be thankful to Moody Publishers for taking a chance on me, an inexperienced novelist. They blessed me with a three book contract. During the couple of years I spent writing the series, Moody editors were encouraging and helpful. By the time I'd finished the third novel in the Coming Home to Ruby Prairie trilogy, I felt like I'd been paid to go to novel writing school. You hear that practice makes perfect. While there is no perfect novel, I can say with assurance, my writing improved with every book in that series. I hear frequently from readers who love the series. Many request yet more Ruby Prairie books.

Like them, I love Ruby Prairie, Charlotte, and Jock. Like them, I wish Ruby Prairie was a real place and that the stories of the folks who live there could go on forever.

But they can't.

Because shortly after finishing Charlotte Leaves the Light On, the third book of the series, a new character appeared and begged to be heard. His name is Joel. He's a 27-year old single dad, a straight male hair stylist who makes his home in Eden Plain Texas. His story is the subject of my next novel, the one I'm terribly excited about. Due to release in January, the title of Joel's book is A Bigger Life.

Watch for it.

It's nothing like the Ruby Prairie series, but I think you're gonna love it!

Read Any Good Books Lately?

My taste in books is highly eclectic. I'll read just about anything, including the back of the cereal box and the paper wrapper my bath soap comes in. I've usually got a couple of books going at once.

These are a few I've enjoyed this summer:

Riding the Bus with My Sister, by Rachel Simon
Watching the Tree Limbs, by Mary E. DuMuth
The Soul Tells a Story, by Vanita Hampton Wright
The Dance, and The Invitation, by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Expecting Adam, and Leaving the Saints, by Martha Beck

While my writing tagline is "Southern Style Fiction" my style of writing is fairly eclectic too. My first book, The Whispers of Angels, is a collection of based-on-actual-events stories I wrote about my experiences as a Registered Nurse. It is to date, by far my most popular book. Nearly ten years after its original publication, this book continues to sell.

After Whispers of Angels, I wrote four more books of short stories. To that, I added two parenting books, Help! My Little Girl's Growing Up, and Help! My Little Boys Growing Up.

In my next post, I'll share how the Coming Home to Ruby Prairie series came about and share what's in store for readers of my next novel.

Until then, happy reading!