MY HERO

Today in Jacksonville, Florida, one of my heroes is having a birthday. Hat's off to Erma, who is Hanna and Caroline's "other" grandmother.

If Erma hadn't birthed our daughter-in-law, we might never have met. But Laura is not the main reason that Erma is my hero. Erma makes beautiful clothes for the little girls; she can "copy" or make a reality anything that Laura describes. That's a huge asset, but still is not the main reason I admire her.

I look up to Erma because she exemplifies the Philippians verse about considering others to be more important than herself. She is like many "unsung" folks who care for an Alzheimer's loved one. Erma cares for her husband, Jim.

We first met Jim and Erma six years ago during the wedding prep for Brad and Laura. Immediately we coined a nickname "JimDear" for Laura's Daddy...perhaps because Jim had a crusty outer shell after years in law enforcement. Most readers will not remember 1955, but that was the year "Lady and the Tramp" came out. And the human couple in the movie were named JimDear and Darling. Our Jim might be crusty outside, but he has a soft center for his little girl, Laura.

The Lord is faithful to provide the strength for us on the path He calls us to walk. Erma loves the Lord and depends on Him. Still, my life experience puts my heart very close to Erma. I know that being conscious of another person's whereabouts and welfare for 24/7...is weighty. This lady is not a complainer, but she IS stubborn and will not allow much help. I'm so thankful for her sense of humor. That's a saving grace like the jiggler on top of a pressure cooker.

Erma is always careful not to dishonor her husband...but please understand that if you don't laugh at some of the inane things, your head would explode. Here is a peek into just one hour of a "normal" day...

Jim and Erma were in a store. She sat Jim beside the dressing room door as she went in to try on something, and the next thing she knew...her name was broadcast over the store intercom like an Amber alert. It doesn't pay to be out of sight.

So my hero Erma gets a shout-out on her special day because she is a special lady. God bless and keep you, Friend! You illustrate the Philippians verse for me:

"Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, and became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death - and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever...so that all created beings in heaven and on earth - even those long dead and buried - will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father." Philippians 2.4-11 TM