Maureen's Offerings


Painting and Waving

By Maureen Pranghofer

Maureen Pranghofer not only writes songs but she writes inspirational anecdotes as well such as Maureen's Musings written monthly for her church newspaper. Painting and Waving is one of her columns this past year.

Have you ever had someone make friendly suggestions to you and you know darn well that they mean good and have good intentions, but don't know what they are talking about? You know if they were asked to do what they are asking you they couldn't do it.

Paul and I run into this situation sometimes with our disabilities. For example when we are in the car he will often say, "Oh there's the neighbor. Wave." Obediently I wave. Than he proceeds to tell me that I don't wave correctly. I'm sure he's right, I've never seen anyone wave to follow their example, and my wrist doesn't bend. So I retort back, "Who are you to tell me I don't wave right, you don't wave at all." This past weekend he was painting my office. He discovered that if he stands on a chair with his shorter leg which stretches out his long leg making him about 5 foot 7 in height, (I always tell people when they want his height he's adjustable!) and holds a paint roller in his mouth he can paint. And I think he does a pretty good job.

His only difficulty is that he can only reach half way up the wall. We were trying to think of a way to finish the wall when I suggested I could perhaps reach higher but he'd have to tell me where to paint. He retorted back that why was I asking since we both know I don't have the ability to raise either hand above my head and so my reach is less than his.

We have a good time together teasing each other about what we can and can't do. But there's a point to all this silliness. It's that we generally don't like it when someone else tells us what we should do. But the cool thing I've found about God is that since He made us He knows our abilities perfectly well. So the next time He asks remember He won't ask us to do something we can't do He might just teach us to wave or paint.

It is Maureen's personal goal to publish a booklet of such anecdotes SOON! So be watching and check back often.

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