All the Days of My Life

  "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days, all the days of my life". When I begin to account the goodness that has followed me all of my days, I have to include two very special people.
Don and Mary Neal have blessed my life and those of my family for as long as I can remember.
  The memories begin when I was 4 and we began attending First Bible Church. Mary was always smiling, even when she sings, she smiles. Don was this big, handsome man with such presence, but he never knew it, you know, impressive without trying AND he was Angie's daddy. A benefit of having Angie as my friend and growing up in church with she and John was that I also got to spend time with Don and Mary. They just make you feel better.
  Time in there home, fellowship at church were all times of sharing and caring that will always stay with me. They have been my leaders, teachers, pray partners, co-laborers, parent stand-ins and precious friends forever. It is hard to narrow the memories down to just a few words.
  Don brought me home from the hospital after the birth of my son Brennan. My Dad would have done the honors, but had a long standing commitment out of town (Babies don't always come when you would like) so, Don said "What time do you need me?". I remember how sweetly he took baby Brennan from the car and up the walk with Jim trailing behind with all the bags and flowers and such. After he had placed Brennan carefully in the house, he returned for me, escorting me up the sidewalk with my arm in his like I was a queen. Remember now, I had just had my third baby and wasn't feeling very "queenly". Don made me feel special when it really helped to feel special. He just does that.
  Now Mary, how can I tell you all the times Mary was just what I needed. It was November of last year, Sunday morning church and life as I had known it was over. On Friday evening my grandson Asher had died from a "true knot" in his cord at the onset of labor. Samantha delivered him on Saturday morning and on Sunday morning, there I was, in my pew. Mary came to where I was and without any words, sat with me and held my hand during the service, just what I needed her to do. You see, there were no words that could comfort me at that time, but her presence in the pew beside me washed comfort over me ten-fold.  It is what she allows the Lord to accomplish through her that makes Mary .........Mary. It is what sets both she and Don apart from others. They have truly been a precious part of all the "goodness" that has followed me.
  Don and Mary are making a move to Tennessee. When John and Angie were in school in Nashville years ago and Don and Mary made so many quick trips there to support their kids in their current musical or drama event, my daddy would say "They need to move down there". He would be pleased they finally are. I am excited for them, the willingness to make a change like this at their age is a good indication of their "zest" for life and Angie will have Mom and Dad close after so long. Wonderful.
  I will miss them. I am thankful for phones, e-mail, snail mail and Facebook. Maybe they won't feel 5 hours away. I will still need their touch of "goodness" to follow me. God bless them and continue to use them. Nashville has no idea how blessed it is about to be.