“Just Enough For Today”
My Aunt Billie is/was a very important part of my life. In fact, I always considered her to be my “other mother”. She was married to my Uncle Carlyle. Their daughter, Lynn, was like my “other sister”. Their home was like my “other home”. She was an older sister of my mother. During my mother’s childhood Aunt Billie often “looked after” my mother. As she and my mother aged they were the very best of friends. They spent lots of time together, often canning and preserving vegetables raised and harvested from the gardens.
Aunt Billie retired from Dayco (manufacturing, Waynesville). She worked in “quality control” for many, many years. She was a leader in the Crabtree Baptist Church (Clyde). For years she taught the Young Marrieds’ Sunday School Class. Her voice was a dependable one in the choir. The Women’s Missionary Union counted on her to provide good leadership.
Back in the late 1990s I spent several months living with Uncle Carlyle and Aunt Billie. Uncle Carlyle lived with serious heart problems for a number of years late in his life. As a result, he had a major heart attack. After a lengthy hospital stay, he returned to the home he shared with Aunt Billie. During that time I was undergoing some personal challenges and was in-between places to live. Thus, Uncle Carlyle, Aunt Billie, and I decided that I would stay with them for a while as he recovered and she needed assistance with providing for his personal care. It was a win-win-win situation for all of us. Everything seemed to work out just fine. They needed my help. I needed their help.
A highlight of every day I lived with them was the “morning devotional”. Each morning the three of us would sit together at the kitchen counter/service bar and have a time of scripture reading, meditation, and prayer. It was wonderful! This time together helped get the day started off on a good footing and gave value and focus that enhanced the beauty of the day. Often, Aunt Billie would lead the prayer. In the special place in my mind where my memories are stored, I can still hear her say, “Lord, if you will give us strength, just enough for today, we will be grateful.” Knowing her as well as I did, I knew she took one day at a time. She would only ask for enough strength to get her (and Uncle Carlyle and I) through that day. She would not feel entitled to tomorrow; until tomorrow became today.
Well, years have moved forward. Both she and Uncle Carlyle have past. However, their memories and their presence ever lingers with me. I am grateful for all they gave me. Through their love, acceptance, and unwavering support I made it through some tough times. Without them I am not sure that I would have. I try to honor Uncle Carlyle’s memory by keeping some of his stories alive; telling them to whomever will listen, often. I honor Aunt Billie’s memory by trying to approach each day (and all of the challenges it may hold) by repeating the phrase, “Just enough for today”.