Alice -- Why I Do What I Do (Written by my mom, Jo Ann Stone)

My sister-in-law posted this story on a social network site a month or so ago, and as I was reading it, tears streamed down my face. I had previously read this account and had even had the pleasure of hearing it expressively told by the storyteller herself just after it happened. However, today, after a difficult few weeks of doing what I do, this story served as a reminder, a reminder that I desperately needed to read/understand/let penetrate my heart. Whether you are struggling with the "getting weary in well doing" or you are needing some encouragement/inspiration to step out and do something, anything, to impact your world, this post is for you.

Written by my mom, a woman who continues to dream amazingly big dreams, a woman who presses forward to make those dreams become reality as she impacts the world around her. 

I stepped inside the door of Silver Hills, and there she was, sitting by the window as if she were waiting for someone, anyone to notice her. Alice is always sitting near the door, as if she is hoping that some day, someone will come in that door just to see her! I can't help but wonder does anyone ever visit, does anyone really care? Or is Alice like so many seniors who one day was dropped off and forgotten?

I have written about Alice before... I remember the first time we met her, how she appeared to be a hard woman, maybe carrying a few battle scars of a difficult life, a woman of few words, kind of private, not wanting to share with us too much about her past. It's been a few years since our first encounter, and Alice has softened a little; she even smiles at the mention of chocolate.

Yesterday was different... When I said "Hello, Alice," she threw her arms up to hug me and flashed her biggest smile! She actually talked with us, and when we asked if she would be joining us for the service,  she nodded yes and smiled! I can only remember one other time when she attended a service. That day I shall never forget;  it was October 21, 2012. I am convinced on that day, a new name was written down in Heaven. It was Alice. My heart was filled with joy that day when I heard her repeat the sinner's prayer! Yesterday, I asked if she had a need that the grandkids and I could pray with her about. She smiled and said, "Well, yes, I do." and told us the need. I watched as Jaedyn, Paityn, and Josiah gathered around her, putting their little hands on her, and as we prayed, my heart rejoiced to see even our youngest team members join us in doing Kingdom Business! When we finished praying, Alice said, "You know you can pray for yourself, but it means so much more when others pray for you."  As we said our goodbyes, she smiled and said, "God bless you!"
  
You ask why I do what I do? It's people like Alice that change an ordinary Sunday into an extraordinary story on Monday! I am convinced that in Heaven I will hear the rest of the stories! That my friends is.. Why I do what I do! It's Kingdom Business!

JACSTONE
7/21/2014

Self Analysis: Boring or Passionate?

Recently, I had a conversation with my 10 year old and 8 year old nieces about how boring, or as one of them said, "BOORRRINNG!" their parents are, and their observations caused me to do some self evaluation. First of all, I must confess that I'm confident given an opportunity to express themselves, my 20, 17, and 12 year old stepsons would express the same opinion of me and my husband. Although, most likely it would be with a little less dramatic emphasis, since our boys just aren't as expressive as these two little girls.

A few days before this conversation, I made an abrupt S.O.S. phone call to one of my dearest friends. I knew she would be in the middle of her workday and more than likely wouldn't answer her cell phone. I called anyway, thinking, if nothing else, I could leave a long, not-so-thought-out desperate plea of a message. To my surprise/relief/delight, she was on her lunch break and answered. That's when I spilled out my desire to "just get away, go somewhere, anywhere, I-don't-care-where. Some place where we don't talk about our jobs, our stress, our kids, our bills, our whatever-makes-us-adult worries. I want to laugh. I want to laugh until I see spots." When it came to the "when" part, it got complicated, "Not this month, or half of next, or half of the next-next either..." And at that moment, I thought about this commercial from my childhood of a woman, in the middle of her chaotic life, shouting, "Calgon, take me away!" In an instant, she's in a tub full of bubbles surrounded by the most peaceful things of nature.

However, instead of being whisked away to some place where birds are chirping or soft music is playing in the background, I would prefer to be surrounded by laughter. Whether someone is laughing with me, at me, about me, I don't really care. I just love the sound of laughter, the kind that is unrestrained, uncontainable, authentic, and contagious. 

Not only do I love the sound of laughter, I love to laugh. And when laughter catches me unexpectedly, I've been known to spew things from my mouth, up and out my nose, across a table and all over complete strangers. I have laughed until I've seen stars/spots/nothing-but-black, until my face hurt, until the pressure in my head felt like it was going to explode, until the pain in my stomach, neck, chest lasted for days afterwards. 

As I was replaying my nieces' comments and evaluating my here and now, it occurred to me that even though my husband and I do share a whole lot of laughter, recently I've let the world, my world, conform me into this terribly boring adult. I thought back to my childhood and teenage years and wondered if the child I was then would be pleased with the adult I am now. (Ouch!) The spontaneous, adventurous, larger-than-life, everything's exaggerated me would wonder where my zeal for life had gone. The truth is that I get so caught up in the day-to-day routine of life, I forget to enjoy this day and this moment. In my heart, I know that when I live life passionately, I'm not only happier with my life, but I can tell I make the people around me happier too. 

It has taken me a while to get here, so there are some habits I need to change, most of which include a renewing of the mind, but I am determined to live life passionately again. 

You may not ever enjoy the experience of me showering you with soda, but if you happen to be in a public place and hear the sound of ridiculously loud laughter, stop being annoyed; smile or maybe laugh a little yourself; look to see if it's me; and whether it is or it isn't, let it serve to remind you to live life passionately. He gave us this life, this moment, this here and now to live life to its fullest, to have and enjoy life in all of its abundance! Start living passionately today. Let yourself laugh out loud!