Dear Friends, Recently, while having some difficulties going the extra mile-only presenting half-finished jobs to my parents and family-my mother took it upon herself to help me overcome this obstacle in my life. One day, I had asked her if there was anything I could do for her and Mother said I could help weed an rocky area behind our house. So I set to weeding unwanted plants in the rocks. As soon as the job was completed, I left to go help make supper. I assumed Mom did not need my assistance anymore. So instead of communicating [:)] and asking if anything else needed to be done, I left to do my own thing. Mom called me back and reprimanded me for not communicating and leaving the job without asking if there was anything else to be worked on. She then set me to work in our grove raking the dead leaves and grass as a consequence. As I was raking, pondering all that I had done and not done, Mom sat nearby, watching me. After a while, I raked a pile big enoungh for a wheelbarrow load; so I got a wheelbarrow and loaded it. Suddenly Mom was at my side. "Here! How may I help you? Let me take it for you!!" she exclaimed, taking the wheelbarrow from my hands. I was dumbfounded as she went off with the load to dump it in the burn pile. As I turned to rake another load, something caught my eye. Mom was already sitting down. "She could have not got there that fast," I thought, "unless..." I turned my head around. The sight brought the tears to my eyes. There was the wheelbarrow, sitting half-way between the grove and the fire pit. Immediately, I knew what Mom was showing me: what I had been doing. This was what I had been giving her; I was only pushing the wheelbarrow half-way... After delievering the half-transported load and preparing another pile, I again loaded the wheelbarrow. Once more, Mom came up. "How may I help?" she asked for the second time. The tears still flowed down my face. "If I were you [as a mom]," I said in a shaking voice, "I would not want me [daughter] wanting to help you because I'd know I would do a half-job." Mom said quietly, "When you're done with that load, I'd like to talk with you." The wheelbarrow was emptied once more and I sat down beside my mother. We (my father also came and joined us) talked about half-jobs that I was doing and how I can work on them. Mother urged me never to forget the wheelbarrow, and I'll tell you what, I haven't. When I am tempted with doing a half-job, I say to myself, "Remember the wheelbarrow" and finish the job. I still slip and stumble, but the wheelbarrow has helped me so much. Is there some place in your life where you are not pushing the wheelbarrow all the way? In your chores? Your relationship with family members? Your marriage? Your job? Your personal relationship with God? Think about this story, remember the wheelbarrow, and go the extra mile. Be encouraged today, my friends. In His Grace, Miss Taylor