Winter

Winter

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Welcome to December


We have made it to December. Did that year go
by really fast or what? Remember when you were
little and it seemed like it took ages and ages for Christmas
to get here.

Just one tiny story, I have always loved to sing. But,
well, me and singing, well we just don't mix. I told my husband
the other day, that when I am living in heaven, and I have
a new body. I am going to ask God I can sing gospel like say
Aretha Franklin. Or my really favorite Koko Taylor. I would
love to sing like her.
Anyway, before there was a house here, the tree was here and
there was this rack that slid into a pickup truck so you could haul
stuff and it had bars on it and I loved it and used it like my jungle gym.
When December would come, I would sit on the top of it and sing
Christmas Carols. I would stare at the stars and imagine that it might
be the star that stood over the stable for the baby Jesus.

So one night I was sitting there singing my heart out. My grandparents
lived next door and I heard my grandpa come out on the back porch and
open the screen door, and he yelled, " Kim!! " " You Hurt??" I said, "
No, Papa," He said, " Okay, and turned around and went back in the house.
I climbed down very quietly, and went in the house. I gave up the idea of being
a famous singer. :) But you know in heaven someday...

I have found the best stories this week as I am going through my Christmas books
I don't think there are enough days in December to share all of the ones
that I have found. But I found one I just had to share today. It is from the book
"Stories from the Heart, compiled by Alice Grey"

This selection is written by Tim Kimmel. I have thought about it for two days.
so I thought I would share it with you.

Changed Lives

In 1921 Lewis Lawes became the warden at Sing Sing Prison.
No prison was tougher than Sing Sing during that time. But when
warden Lawes retired some 20 years later, that prison had become a
humanitarian institution. Those who studied the system said the
credit for the change belonged to Lawes. But when he was asked
about the transformation, here's what he said: " I owe it all to my wonderful
wife, Catherine, who is buried outside the prison walls."

Catherine Lawes was a young mother with three small children when
her husband became the warden. Everybody warned her from the beginning
that she should never set foot inside the prison walls, but that didn't stop
Catherine! When the first prison basketball game was held, she went...walking
into the gym with her three beautiful kids and she sat in the stands with the
inmates.

Her attitude was: "My husband and I are going to take care of these men and I
believe they will take care of me! I don't have to worry!"

She insisted on getting acquainted with them and their records.
She discovered one convicted murderer was blind so she paid him a
visit. Holding his hand in hers she said, " Do you read Braille?
"What's Braille?" he asked. Then she taught him how to read.
Years later he would weep in love for her.

Later, Catherine found a deaf-mute in prison. She went to school
to learn how to use sign language. Many said that Catherine Lawes
was the body of Jesus that came alive again in Sing Sing from 1921 to 1937.

Then, she was killed in a car accident. The next morning Lewis Lawes
didn't come to work, so the acting warden took his place. It
seemed almost instantly that the prison knew something was wrong.

The following day, her body was resting in a casket in her home,
three-quarters a mile from the prison. As the acting warden took
his early morning walk he was shocked to see a large crowd of the
toughest, hardest-looking criminals gathered like a herd of animals
at the main gate. He came closer and noted tears of grief and sadness
He knew how much they loved Catherine. He turned and faced the men,
"All right, men, you can go. Just be sure and check in tonight!" Then
he opened the gate and a parade of criminals walked, without a guard,
three-quarters of a mile to stand in line to pay their final respects to
Catherine Lawes. And every one of them checked back in. Every one!

" When I was in prison, you visited me."

I have thought about Catherine Lawes for two days now.
I hope this blesses you like it did me.

Welcome to December!

~Kim~

12 comments:

Julia said...

Kim, you always have a touching story to tell. Gone are the days when a kind person like Catherine Lawes would be allowed to mingle with convicted killers and bring her kids along with her.

Kim, I've been reading your blog for some time now and just now I noticed that you are a member I'm a 10 minute rug hooker like me. How come I never ran across you on Ruh Hooking Daily?

By the way even though I still can't upload photos on my blog I uploaded one on Rug Hooking Daily on my own Page this afternoon with no problem at all... I posted my Childhood Memories rug progress (which is not much ) JB

Kim said...

We must have the same voice. I sing my heart out in the car - only when I am alone! Sadly I can't carry a tune in a bucket. And its funny what you said because I think I will be able to sing like an angel in heaven.
My grandmother and her sister were the worst. When they would start to sing, my grandfather used to tease them and say it must be a full moon!
That story about Catherine Lawes is so touching. Thank you for sharing it. I am looking forward to your upcoming stories. And as always, I appreciate your comments so very much.
Hugs, Kim

Miss Debbie said...

Wow, that was a tear jerker! She was certainly a picture of Christ. Oh, to live that kind of life!
Thanks for sharing that story. Haven't heard of Koko Taylor....what does she sing?

Verde Farm said...

Kim, what a beautiful story. I have chill bumps. It just shows that giving of yourself is the best gift you can ever share. She changed lives and they knew it. I never heard of her but I am so glad you posted this.
As for your singing--that Papa story is so cute. You sing your heart out girl. Sing for the love in your heart! Sing, sing a song :)
Amy

TexWisGirl said...

First you made me laugh about your "needing help" when singing. Then you made me well up with the story of the warden's wife. How can someone have so much trust so naturally? And then proceed to change lives inside a prison, no less. An angel on earth, for sure. :)

Dog Trot Farm said...

What a heart touching story Kim. I think it pays to be a "nice person", I know I feel good in my heart when I do a good deed. I want nothing and expect nothing in return. December....how time flies, I'm going to turn another year older and hopefully wiser! Your photo is lovely and I had a good laugh over your "papa's" remark. Blessings to you.

Dawn said...

This is wonderful!
Thank you...this meant a lot and really made me think about what I do and how I react and treat people during my days.
(Love your story as a little girl too:)))
Thank you!

Patrice said...

What a beautiful story! As far as your singing goes- sing like you did when you were a child. Those who mind it don't matter, and those who matter don't mind it. Then there's my brother-in-law's voice...

Kessie said...

Seems like I've heard that story before... it sounds really familiar.

As for not being able to sing, I'm afraid my voice is getting that way. I'll be singing along to music and the munchkins demand that I stop. It's kind of embarrassing.

Meg said...

Wow, what a beautiful story. I wish I could touch people like that. I bet she would have been a really amazing person to know.

myletterstoemily said...

what a dear lady! thanks for sharing the story with
us.

by the way, you do NOT have to be from texas to
win my amazing contest, but you DO have to post
a pic. not that i don't trust you . . . :)

Simple Home said...

I love to sing too. I used to sing in our praise band. This was a wonderful story, one I'd never heard before. Thanks so much for sharing. It shows God's love in action :-)
Blessings,
Marcia