If you'd like to see a satelite picture of the "Grand Cooly"
Click Here.

She also told what she called her "Preacher's Wife Joke." 
The story is an old one and may be a repeat for some of you. 
It goes... 

The Preacher's Wife went shopping and came home with an 
expensive dress. They were "poor as church mice" so the 
Preacher was aghast and couldn't believe his wife had spent 
so much money on a dress. "Honey, you know we don't have 
that kind of money. Whatever made you do that!" 

"Well," she answered, "the Devil tempted me and told me I 
looked real good in this dress. So I bought it." 

Her husband, clearly upset, replied, "Well, you should have 
done like Jesus when the Devil tempted him and just said, 
'Get thee behind me Satan!'" 

"I did" she sighed, "but he said it looked good from the 
back too." 

Many years later, a comedian, Flip Wilson, came out with an 
entire comedy routine based on this joke. And we were sure 
he had stolen the line "the Devil made me do it" from our 
mother!!! 

### Lillian Hinds ### 

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3. News from thelillypond.com 
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More articles are going on the website. So watch this space 
and the right border of the website for current info. 

And if you've missed any of the ezines, they are now posted 
on the website in the archive. Go to the "subscribe" page 
and scroll down to the bottom for the "archive" link. 

So check back to www.thelillypond.com and stay connected. 

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4. Can We Have A Dog? 
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When I was very small I had lots of respiratory problems, 
including asthma. Fortunately, I have outgrown the worst of 
this, but with just some residual hay fever now. My earliest 
memories are of a small frame house in Houston not far from 
the church where my dad was pastor. Life was simple, but 
very good, and all went along pretty smoothly. 

Except for one thing. We didn't have a dog. I wanted a dog. 
My brothers, John and Bob, wanted a dog. We begged 
constantly for a dog. When my brothers were small (before I 
was born!) they had a collie. And when I was a tiny baby, 
they evidently had a dog because I had seen her in our home 
movies. But now - no dog. 

When we asked her, Mother always said no. And the reason she 
gave was always the same. She told us that she got so 
attached to a dog and just couldn't get over it when they 
died or ran away. And she assured us that she could never go 
through that again. So we never got a dog. No matter how 
hard we begged. And let me tell you, we begged! 

Just a few years ago, sometime after my mother had died, I 
was commenting on how much I loved dogs and the fact that we 
never had one while I was small. The conversation moved on 
to the types of dogs people with allergies can have, indoor 
versus outdoor, etc. 

And suddenly I felt as if someone had dumped bricks on my 
head. 

We didn't have a dog when I was little because it would have 
made me sick. For a time in my life, I couldn't have a 
bedspread or curtains, I couldn't have any stuffed toys, the 
floor and blinds in my room had to be wet-mopped every day. 
I took lots of medicine and slept at night with a little 
clown blowing hot, wet air at me so I could breathe. And my 
mother knew that I would not be able to tolerate any type of 
furry pets. 

But she also knew that it would have been so hard on me if I 
had realized that I was the reason we couldn't have a dog. 
And it would have been even harder if my brothers realized 
that I was the reason we couldn't have a dog. In her usual 
way, she handled any problem. She made the focus of the 
problem on herself and that was that. 

Any mother can tell you that it is no sacrifice to give up 
something for your child. You do it again and again. And it 
is comforting to know that there is always the possibility 
that your child will wake up someday and realize what you 
have done for her. Even after you're gone. Thanks, Mom! (And 
sorry, guys.)

## Lillian Hinds ##

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4. Reader Laurel -- Memorial Day Letter
===============================

Hi, Lillian,

I just read your Mother's Day article, and really loved it. 
My mom has worked as my assistant since I began a career as 
a Christian pianist and singer/songwriter. I specialize in 
concert ministry, often for mother-daughter banquets and 
women's conferences. It seems that my chosen career is a bit 
unconventional. Also, I have chosen Mom to work with me with 
no regrets on either side. Someday, you'll have to explore 
the situation where a mother and daughter work together. We 
get along great but this really seems to bother some people. 

That should be the end of my story but it is just the 
beginning. I need to rewind and say that I have been blind 
since birth. My mom has always taught me to be self-
sufficient and how not to look like something from another 
planet! Whenever I want to take a risk and my peers won't 
support me, Mom is always there to give me a shove. 

My father left us and was killed on his job only a few years 
after he divorced my mom. I was seven at the time of his 
death. But Mom has taught me about a "Heavenly Father" who 
loves me more than even she does. For many years, I felt 
forced by almost everyone to remember my dad. The problem 
was not having much to remember. I got in the habit of 
bringing dogwood blossoms to his grave on Memorial Day and 
spending a couple of minutes there. I did this basically 
because it looked like the proper thing to do.

My maternal grandfather passed away only a couple of months 
before my dad was killed. When I think of the word "Dad", I 
think of Grandpa, because he was the "daddy" figure in my 
life. He learned to read Braille just for me and helped me 
to learn to read. He had severe rheumatoid arthritis which 
confined him to a chair and, before he died, he was 
bedridden. He developed cancer of the esophagus, and went to 
be with Jesus a year after that. Throughout his illness, he 
was not afraid to share his heartfelt feelings, and put them 
into words that I could understand. Today, when Mom and I 
think of who taught us most about Jesus, we both immediately 
think of my Grandpa, Mom's dad.

Anyway, I have never made a special effort to place flowers 
on Grandpa's grave. The irony always puzzled me until this 
year, when I realized something. Grandpa is the human father 
figure in my life, and I honor him every time I do anything 
that glorifies God, especially when it's work with 
handicapped people and promotion of Braille literacy. There 
is no need to put flowers on Grandpa's grave because he was 
my link to God, and by honoring God, I'm "honoring my 
father." 

I think that John 15:1-17 sums it up quite nicely.

I haven't decided if I will put flowers on my father's grave 
this Memorial day, but for once, I have given myself 
permission not to feel a strangling obligation to do so. I 
have no grudge with him. He just wasn't there. God has given 
me great people, a great mom, and His unconditional Love. I 
live to honor Him.

God bless and thanks again.
Laurel--Central IL


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6. What's your story? 
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One of the most valuable resources we have in this world is 
each other. I'm hopeful that stories and lessons my mother 
taught me will be a blessing to you. Perhaps you have a 
lesson your mother taught you or a story that lifts you up 
and would be of help to someone else. 

Maybe you learned to deal with the loss of your mother or 
have a tip to help mothers survive their teenagers. Maybe 
you have a story that's just plain funny. Whatever it is, I 
would be delighted if you'd send it to me for sharing here 
in this ezine. Include your name, city and state and tell me 
whether you want us to publish your full name, or just 
initials, or your location only. 

Just send your story by email to stories@thelillypond.com 

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7. Reach out 
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If you know someone who would enjoy having The Lilly Pond 
ezine, please feel free to forward this email in its 
entirety to them. 

If you received this ezine from a friend and you would like 
to subscribe and receive your own copy of The Lilly Pond, 
you can go to thelillypond.com and subscribe for free or 
click here to send an email to us with 
"SUBSCRIBE" in the Subject line. Thanks. 

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8. Contact me 
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Your comments are welcome. Click here to email me.

Thanks for reading! 

With all my heart, Lillian 

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