It’s Never too Late for Love

 

Never too Late for Love 

Several years ago, I worked for a mortgage company.  The phone rang; it was my turn to answer it.  “Thank you for calling Chitwood Mortgage,” I said in my most cheerful and smiling voice.  A very masculine voice replied: “Thank you for answering.”  His voice and humor got my attention immediately.  I straightened up and began taking down information to start the loan process.  I liked his voice and for some silly reason, I didn’t understand, it gave me a slight shiver.

When I hung up the phone, I looked around at my co-workers and told them I had just taken the coolest application.  Then, I Informed them that I might just marry the man.  Everyone thought that was funny and we all had a good laugh.   The loan progressed in the usual way, I had the good fortune to be the person who always collected the necessary documents needed from the applicant.  

I began to think about Walt (that was his name), and reached the decision to call him up and ask him out.  I was in my middle sixties, and asking a man out was not in keeping with my southern upbringing.  I told the girls I worked with, about my plan.  They informed me that calling him up and inviting him out was a conflict of interest.  Oops, I had forgotten about that.  No problem, I would have to wait until we closed the loan.  

So, I waited!  The loan was closed and I made the phone call.  He took me to dinner on Friday evening.  We had a lovely meal together and chatted until the waitress was tired of refilling our wine glasses.  He took me home, walked me to the door and said he would be in touch.  All the next two weeks, I waited for a phone call, but none came.   I was confused !  Did I just imagine that we had a good time and got on well with each other?   

I’m sorry to say that I actually chased this man until he caught me.  I made a shopping list and told everyone in the office I needed to go to the new pharmacy, where he was manager, to pick up a few things.  When I walked in, he saw me and came over to say hello.  I asked him if he could help me find a few things and handed him my list.  He read the items out loud:  lotion, toothpaste, body wash, nail polish remover and WALTER.  He looked down at me: “WALTER?” He said with the cutest grin.  I immediately replied: “ What can I say, you are on my list.”  After that day, we became an item, but the best was yet to come. 

A few months later, he invited me to go with him to a Christmas toy drive for kids.  Each person was to bring a toy.  He told me not to pick up one, as he had already purchased one for me.  When we arrived at the drop off for the toys, he opened his trunk and it was bursting at the seams with toys.  I fell madly in love at that moment.  We were married three months later, and we have been blessed with our “Happy ever after” for fifteen years now.    

Night Song

 

Night Song

I sit quietly 

in the night, 

surrounded 

by stillness.

The darkness

is its own reward. 

In the distance,

classical guitar music

floats on the summery breeze.  

A stranger's voice,

mellow and alluring,

parts the night

with a lyrical language,

unknown to me, 

and night dissolves

into a slow tempo

of song and infinity

Published by Poetry Quarterly

By His Wounds

 By His Wounds

I was the darkness

in agitated clouds

floating in

churning turmoil

I was the splinter

in roughly

hewn wood and

the thorns

in a bloody crown.

I was the nails 

that pierced

Your hands, and the

voice that yelled

crucify Him!

I was the sinner

who mocked you, 

Yet You bore my pain

and suffering

and remembered

me.

I was the silence

in the crowd when 

you were punished

for my wickedness.

My well being

fell on you, and

by Your wounds

I am healed.  

© All rights reserved 2012 - Nells Wasilewski 

Temptation

Temptation

Today’s Scripture:  James 3/13/2022

Today’s Verse: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. James 1:14 (KJV)

“Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin; each victory will help you some other to win; Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue, Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.”   ― Horatio R. Palmer

 

 

We don't have to search very far to find temptation. It is on television commercials, the front page of popular magazines, in department store windows and the list goes on and on. The things assaulting our senses are designed to lure us from God’s goodness, and convince us to believe in Satan's lies. We are tempted by numerous things in our everyday life, and it is hard to rise above it. Overcoming the lure of the world is never easy; therefore, we need a concrete plan for resisting it, and we can start by recognizing the lies propagated by Satan who is more than willing to show us the easy way to the world’s view of success and happiness. Before I can become too overwhelmed by my selfish desires, I look for a quiet place to seek God's presence, and pray for strength to overcome the lies. I keep some of my favorite bible verses close to my heart for emergencies. I like to keep the bible story of Eve being temped in the garden close too; it is a good reminder that allowing ourselves to stray from God’s will into our own has serious consequences.

 

I find it easier when I am focusing on heavenly things rather than worldly pleasures. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to be alert and sober, because Satan prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Having good control over thoughts and yearnings of the flesh weakens Satan’s influence. Temptation becomes strongest when we allow our focus to stray from the Father, beware, because temptation comes wrapped in beautiful, alluring packages, but yielding brings disaster.

 

Published:  Quiet Hour 2013

 

After the Sun Sets

 

After the Sun Sets

We walked into the cool breeze of evening 

hoping the chilly breeze would eradicate 

the numbness and grief.

On our way home we remembered 

your smile and warmth.  

We remembered your sense of humor, 

your generosity,

and how you loved helping others.

For days we walked through a haze

of disbelief, shock and pain. 

The fourth day 

we swallowed our grief, 

dried our tears 

and straightened our spines.   

We existed in quiet dignity.  

After all--our wailing had not disturbed

the silence of precious life slipping away.

This poem is dedicated to my precious son who passed away October 5th, 2020.  I miss him so much.

Published by Taj Mahal Review winter of 2021