Being away this past weekend was no good for this lifestyle change of mine.  I had all good intentions to only eat the green apples I brought, drink lots of water, climb the stairs each night, and say no to every dark chocolate cupcake with pink frosting with mint sprinkles on top.  Needless to say, I succumbed to all things tasty and left no room for climbing Harrisburg’s Hilton Hotel staircase.  I stayed up way too late, ate all sorts of yummy-ness, and the only form of exercise I did involved lifting my fork, yet again.

And so, this leaves me doing sit ups and leg lifts on my family room berber rug.  As I was doing my 200th crunch this morning, I looked up at this picture I’ve had hanging on my wall forever.  I’ve always loved the tenderness in this Jack-Vettriano painting.  My eye is naturally drawn to the romantic couple in the center.  The woman, in her striking red dress and the dashing, tall-dark-and-handsome man she has in her arms.

But I forget that, without the humble umbrella holders, they would be one sopping mess.  Her hair would be matted, hairspray running down her face, merging with mascara as they settle together into laugh lines.  

As hurricane Sandy approached the Northeast yesterday afternoon, I waited anxiously for my daughter’s bus to arrive.  At this point, the trees had started their howling, and the rain was already moving in a soon to be destructive, horizontal fashion.  I quickly scrambled for my umbrella, and ran to meet her.  She smiled as I rescued her from the downpour and shielded her as best I could.  We laughed as we ran together back up the driveway, dodging earthworms, and puddles and debris.  We managed to make it inside before my umbrella imploded on itself and we both exhaled a sigh of relief.

Too often, (as I look at the picture above while doing my “get these pink frosting cupcakes off my side sit ups”), we don’t take the time to lend an umbrella to our fellow christian. Instead, we sit and watch them get drenched, or worse yet, walk by and stomp our foot in that puddle and watch their pant leg get doused with mud.  

Let us be different?  Remember to always, be the humble umbrella-holder.  Always have the other person’s best interests at heart.  Be excited for their triumphs and joys… and when the storms come, and the winds rage, be the umbrella-holder in their life.  

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