Grandstands of Heaven

Our Miss Mattie and our Rebecca
2004ish

"Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again...That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (Heb. 12:1-3 The Message)

Along the pages of my third children's book, Hoot Owl Hollow, in the character of the wise and lion-hearted Nonie Baskin...

("Miss Nonie" by my talented Ben)

are footprints of six extraordinary women: Verna Watson (my mother), Imogene Glassco (my mother-in-law), Willie Elliott, Alandra Parks, Evelyn Baskin, and Nonie Webb. These "steel magnolias" blazed a live-life-righteously-and-courageously trail that I aspire to follow.

In hindsight, a seventh pioneer should have been included in the "Afterword" of that book: Mattie B. Taylor - yet another brave-spirited woman who walked before me. (Miss Mattie would be 110 years young today.) Four of these seven extraordinary women now cheer from the grandstands of heaven. 

So let's get on with it, beloved! Refresh in His story, catch your second wind, and keep running the race set before you with eyes glued to the prize: Jesus Christ, our Savior, Lord, and King!