Tonight's " Front Porch" tells of my story telling Grandaddy Edward Neal from Clarke County. He would inspire me to pick up my pen after a hard season of grief...
He knew-
Good evening....remember me? Yeah, I know it's been a while. I decided to dust off the pages of " The Front Porch" after chatting with someone this morning about how to start writing.
I told this person I never had been published, although I wouldn't mind it ?
but I let her know that my writing just sort of came naturally. Some of my best stories came after my heart opened in the midst of some mighty hard places. Grief, anger and opposition often have given way to pages of God given words that the Lord has used for his purpose.
Encouragement has come to so many through the written word. Not just mine, but so many before " The Porch " have led the way through stories that savored the moments that change lives. They knew how to lay the word down on the page and leave you with a sense of anticipation as to what would come next.
My Grandaddy knew. He was one of the best storytellers I have ever known. He never completed high school but he knew the history of every state. He held in his head, the hype and the high jinks of all the characters in his tales.
He told of the stories of his home place, hewn from the green pine of the of the woods that surrounded that little place in Clarke County. He would, with the help of a girl named Gladys, raise a family and find his way to Jesus.
Prince Albert tobacco in the can and a pair of overalls always get me a little misty eyed when I pass them in the store. Those two items in themselves tell part of the story that my family have in their own chapters....I am forever grateful that God gave me my story telling Grandaddy Edward Neal...
I challenge you to write your story....put it down on paper as a way to encourage, enlighten and energize others to reach their God given potential.....for that is what we are called to do.
Thanking God for my story telling Grandaddy...tonight from " The Front Porch "
