The Narrow Roads

Where I live, you can see the sunrise and the sunset. I walk two blocks and I am at the post office, the court house, or the convenience store. I walk three blocks and I am at the grocery store, the bank and main street businesses. I can sit outside on my front porch swing and wave at people I know as they walk or drive by. Sometimes people pull up in their golf cart to chat. At the top of the hour I hear the church bells ring a beautiful song about our Lord. I have lived most of my life in a small town, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

A lot has happened since I last wrote a blog. The journey that we are on has made me sit back and truly appreciate where I live and the small towns in my area. The city does have its many perks. You have everything you need at your fingertips. You can shop until you drop, you can get anything anytime of the day, and there are so many entertainment options every day of the week. In our small town we don’t have those things, but what we do have is priceless. There is something special about a small town that most people don’t understand. Even some people who live in a small town don’t understand it. There are several of us though that see the beauty of living in a small town and that’s why we stay.

These past 6 months have been very challenging for my family. My husband has become very ill, and we don’t know what is around the corner. As we have walked this walk, we have experienced so much love from family, friends, our church, and the small towns in our area. We live in Osborne, Kansas where my husband grew up and my hometown Tipton, just 20 minutes away. Both communities have wrapped their arms around us and supported us in so many ways. In a small town when something happens to someone, we all feel it, and it affects us all in some way. When we hear the ambulance, we know the person being taken away. When someone dies, we know them and we are sad for the family, because we know the family as well.

My husband and I stayed here for many reasons. We wanted to take care of our parents when they couldn’t take care of themselves and we wanted our kids to grow up around their grandparents the way we did. As the years went by, we found so many other reasons to stay. We have loved the community and how we all watch out for each other. We are not perfect, but we are unified.

Now more than ever, I appreciate our communities. Osborne and Tipton and the surrounding communities have rallied around us to help in so many creative ways. The people in our small towns have found ways to lighten our load. People have done fundraisers for us and slipped us money on the side. It’s not just the financial gifts that make me appreciate these small towns. People have touched my heart in other ways too. One day I was out walking early in the morning and one of my daughter’s teachers saw me and came up to me to give me a hug that brought me to tears. That same day, everywhere I went someone was wanting to hug me. My church told me that the Sunday after his last strokes, they were all sad, because they felt the pain I was going through. My hairstylist ripped off my facial hair for me, because she knew I wouldn’t have time to do it myself. When I got my car serviced, a man there saw the need I had for new windshield wipers and fixed them for me. People stop me on the street to ask how he is doing and tell me they are still praying for us. I appreciate the ones who haven’t minded me crying when they ask how he is doing. Then there are the people at our local hospital who just keep giving in some way. They are working so well with me and our bill since our insurance company stopped paying. I can’t forget our pharmacy who have educated me and let me cry when I come in. I also can’t forget the ones who have showed up at our door with a meal or several meals. They make it so I have one less thing to do. I have my weekly door dash couple show up with a smile and joke or two to get us laughing. That’s love from friends, family and a small town.

People know they can’t fix Andy, but they have wanted to reach out to help in some way to help with the burden. No one but me can get up with him in the night or comfort him when he isn’t well, but the love and support of so many and my faith in God are what gets me through a day. God sent so many people to us during this time to help in some way or another. I haven’t once been upset with God about our situation. How can I be so upset when I have an amazing family that have been by my side this whole time, friends who keep showing up and small towns that have embraced us. We have cried so many times from all of the love, support and gifts people have given us. Speaking of gifts, my mom’s group of church women, wrapped up a bunch of gifts for us at Christmas. Every gift we unwrapped was like getting a hug. Only in a small town does that happen. We care here in our small towns. We love, we support, and we hurt when others hurt.

In life, it is important to be in the right place at the right time. I can see why that is important now more than ever. If we didn’t live in this rural area, we would have missed out on so much love and support. God knew when we got married that it was important that we stay here. We may not always understand God’s plan at the time, but eventually He fills us in. God knew that we would be on this journey, and He made sure He put us in the right place to have the support we need to get through this. No matter what happens, I know that I won’t be facing it alone.

I want to thank my amazing family. You have been a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. You have given in so many ways and I appreciate you all. I want to thank our friends for all the many ways you bless us. Life is nothing without family and friends. I want to thank our tiny church. Our church may be small. but you all love and give big. Last, I want to thank our small towns. We are small, but we are mighty. You all have reached out to us and hurt with us. I am amazed how God used our family, friends, church and small communities to help us walk this journey. Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough, but it’s all I have to offer you. I have prayed blessings over each of you and I love you dearly.

1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.