2014 Christmas Assistance Program 
Begins for Carole 

Hyped Up Being a Hero

Eight degrees this morning in Greensboro on top of yesterday’s snow, so Carole delayed going to work for several hours. At pre-dawn latte, I told her I loved her more than ever again today (the same thing I told her yesterday morning). She said I could prove it by driving her to work, washing the road salt off her car, and taking it to get inspected. I hate driving on wintery roads, but what could I say. 

Anyway, I got to take her to lunch before getting her to work. I promised I would pick her up later if I could make it back. She said I was her hero. I’m too stingy to pay for a real car wash, so I went to the self-service bay and slid around on the frozen ice. 

At the inspection place, I told service guy Dan my story. He thought it was too much information. I teased that I should have waited on the car wash and let him do it after the inspection. He grinned. I told him I was not as funny as I thought I was. He looked at his buddy, grinned again, and said my car was ready to go. 

DonLoy Whisnant/Journey Notes 14A30

January 12: Celebrating 23rd Wedding Anniversary

    
     Twenty-three years are only a few,

     Forever’s not long to live with you.

     Love always, Don 
                                              

DonLoy Whisnant/Journey Notes 13A12

Celebrating November 4, 1988

On this day 24 years ago, Carole came into my place of business. I had seen her for the first time about a month before (on October 10), but it was very brief and I was busy, so she got away. I remembered her when I saw her on this second occasion and I did not want to let her get away again, so I set out to make a connection. When she left, I told a work associate she would be my wife someday. (Carole, not the associate!)

A week or so later, I called her and we met for lunch. I had not seen her for about a month when I sent her roses a day or so after Christmas. She called to say “thank you” and we met for a second date (dinner at Steak and Ale). Our third date was New Year’s Eve. A year later, on January 12, 1990, we were married by Dr. Gary Marsh at GreenStreet BaptistChurch in High Point, and honeymooned at a bed and breakfast resort in Old Salem.

We had some growing pains during our early days together, but we have never criticized, been unkind, or said mean words to each other. We have no wounds or scars in our relationship.

If our experience together is the evidence, my confidence is that God brought Carole into my life 24 years ago, that it was a tender expression of his love and care for me, and hopefully for her, and that marriage can indeed me a little bit of what Heaven is like.

DonLoy Whisnant/Journey Notes 12K04

Sharing the Spotlight with Peter Marshall

In the evenings, Carole and I are currently reading “Mr. Jones, Meet the Master” by Peter Marshall, chaplain to the U.S. Senate many years ago. Sitting up beside her in bed as I read last night, I stopped to add my inspired thoughts to those of the writer. After a few moments, I saw in my peripheral vision that Carole’s eyes were turned up at me. When I stopped to look at her, she smiled.

“What?” I asked.

“You need to write a book,” she said.

I don’t know if she was impressed, or meant that I should not interrupt Mr. Marshall.

Don Loy Whisnant/Journey Notes 10I01

Celebrating the Last Day of the Long Night

For 20 years, December 21 has been my favorite day of the year, and the one I celebrate most. It is in competition with Thanksgiving, Christmas, July 4, and even Easter, but wins out easily over those days.

December 21 is Carole's birthday. It is also Winter solstice, the day when the sun seems to reverse its course to end the increase of long nights. How appropriate that Carole would bring much sunshine into my life. On our first date I told her that I had quit the ministry. She said, "No, you can't do that!" It communicated to me that someone might need me. I went home, prayed for three days, then reenlisted.

"The woman reflects the image of God in man (her husband)." - 1 Corinthians 11:7 (GracePoint paraphrase)

Don Loy Whisnant/Journey Notes 9L21
www.gracepointcounseling.org

Too Busy Serving Others, Confessing Need

Teasing wife, Carole, this morning, I told her that I had talked to God about her earlier in my quiet time and that he asked me. “Who is that now?” and that I said, “You know, my wife!” and he said, “Well now, let me check,” then after a pause he said, “Oh yes, but I don’t get to talk to her much any more since she is so busy - she is one of those types, you know, that is very independent and self-reliant, so tends not to need anyone’s help, including mine.”

“Wrong!” Carole interrupted to say.

Don Loy Whisnant/Journey Notes 9L09

http://gracepointcounseling.org/

Celebrating God's Love and Grace Concepts Learned

This is to remember a significant event in my life on this date twenty years ago.

Having suffered through a failed marriage and ministry, and in the deepest discouragement, I was pushing to perform my job responsibilites in a downtown High Point, North Carolina business. I was also being called away by sights and sounds and new fragrances to places I had never been before.

But on this day, in one seemingly chance occurrence, I turned to catch a visual, hear a sound, and smell a fragrance as refreshing (may I say it) as an early morning run on a North Carolina country road. Dressed in modest business attire, Carole stood before me asking a question. Her voice and smile were perfect. Her eyes and hands were perfect. Her conduct was perfect. Then she was gone - forever I thought. But a month later, I saw her again. This time, she did not get away

I celebrate the occasion, but also the grace concepts I have since learned from it

1. God is intensely interested, committed, and attentive to our lives, like the caring shepherd for his sheep - both for those safe in the fold, but also for the one wayward sheep that is in trouble.

2. His care is not based upon our deserving, but upon our need. Had God not looked beyond my faults on that day to see my need and to intervene, I think I could have been lost to a different world.

3. Usually, God provides for us as we wait on him, but apparently, he also sometimes chooses to act sovereignly in order to rescue us from the brink of our destruction.

4. God will bring into our lives exactly what and who we need. Only Carole could have tolerated my growth out of legalism into grace, from being a user to becoming an investor. Never once did she ever react to attack my stupidity when she had good reason to shoot me. This is the reason I can say with confidence to wives that there is hope if by God's grace they will not react in anger and discouragement to a husband who is embracing the concepts of investment leadership and is committed to living them out in their marriage.

Don Loy Whisnant/Journey Notes 8J10

Weekend Date: Getting By Cheap Having Fun With Carole

Last week we spent our dispensable income helping family with emergency needs, so Carole and I had an even cheaper weekend date than usual last night. Dinner was pizza and salad at a buffet before shopping at Dollar General for birthday cards and at a garden shop for mums. Still we had fun, some of it at Carole’s expense. After letting her out at Home Depot before parking, I eased up beside her in our Grandpa car (86 Toyota Camry), rolled down the windows, and turned on some loud country radio. She sprang into a fast walk and turned her head the other way. But I thought I saw a grin. God bless her tolerant soul

Don Loy Whisnant/Journey Notes 8I13
gracepointamerica.org

Taking a Hike, Walking in the Rain

Last evening, I insisted wife, Carole, and I walk a new route, even though it was a wide loop away from home and the skies looked like rain. Sure enough, half way out it began to lightly rain. But it was energizing and refreshing, so as we bopped along, I began to sing.
"Walking in the rain, I wished I had a brain!"
"Now your turn," I said to Carole.

"Walking in the rain, my hair is getting lame!" she answered.

"Your turn," she said.

"Walking in the rain, my wife, she is so vain!"
Her: "Walking in the rain, my hus-band is insane!"
Me: "Walking in the rain, my wife, she is a pain!"
Her: "Walking in the rain, tell Don to take a plane."

Me: "Walking in the rain, ...okay, I quit!"

Don Loy Whisnant/Journey Notes 8G09
The Grace Perspective

Confused But Not Afraid: Carrying On Nonsense With Carole

From my downstairs office this morning, I called out some trivial nonsense to wife, Carole, who called back to invite me upstairs so that she could hear me. I teased that when I called her name I expected her to come front and center. She said in that case, when she came front and center, better I expect to be running, that I had her confused with someone who would not put a knot on my head. But I am not afraid. I'm not.

Don Loy Whisnant/Journey Notes 8F12gracepointamerica.org

Taking Care of Precious Cargo

Hugging my wife real tight I asked "Don't you just feel the love." She said no, that she just felt the pain. I said, "Well, you know, love hurts!" She said it didn't need to

My wife said our hostess at lunch today was a precious person. Then we talked about Heaven, that everyone there will be "a precious person." Driving home I was reminded that I was transporting precious cargo and thought again to remind parents and husbands that we are at the wheel in our homes and the lives we are responsible for are precious.

Gracie Allen's Legacy Lives On

I told wife, Carole, she shoulda. She said her shoulda woulda but her coulda didn't. She said she woulda already but she just didn't really want to. (Comedian Gracie Allen's legacy lives on.)

Meeting Happiness Needs and Having Fun with Carole

Carole, gives this advice to young women on what to look for in a husband: "Support, Support, Support! Look for this support in the qualities of the man himself. First, is he a person who has a living commitment to his own health? Secondly, does he understand and embrace the role of the husband to invest in the health and happiness needs of his wife?"

Met needs will set a husband and wife free from fear, the need to control, and hurt feelings. This means they are easy to express their feelings and thoughts, and even to tease, without tension or offense. For example, when I am being my best knuckle-headed self to fuss and complain, Carole's favorite call to order is to say, "You know, I've just about had enough of that, mister (or ol' boy)!" Sometimes, when I am really being obnoxious, she will show off her tiny fist with a protruding middle knuckle and say, "I'm going to pow-zoom you to the moon" or, "Where do you think you would like a knot on your head?" I love it.

Carole's Challenge with Personal Regimen for Physical Renewal

Carole uses Leslie Sansone's Walk the Walk videos in the mornings (along with evening walks in the community and several visits a week to Curves) as part of her exercise regimen. But some mornings, it is not with a lot of enthusiasm. The other day she wondered if she could not just Talk the Walk. "I don't think so," I sympathized. One morning recently she really struggled to get out of bed. "Could I not just Sleep Walk the Walk this morning?" she groaned.