From Lessons to Blessings: A Tribute to the Heroes in My Life

By Leola M Jones

When asked how to describe her, a very close friend said, “With Leola, it is a heart thing for she was created to love!” She has always shared her heart with others and looked at the glass half full rather than half empty. She would talk to strangers and leave them feeling happy about the warmth and love she received from the brief encounter.
She loved being the “baby” in the family. Once, she told her mother that she could not whip her, believing that the “baby” should not be whipped. That was one of her earlier painful lesson. This book is dedicated to her mother and grandfather who were the heroes in her life. She received and gave much love to those she met. So, she decided that she wanted to share it with others. God has been very good to her. Throughout her life, she chose to love and believe that “Love is the Greatest Gift.”
Leola Jones is retired after 39 years. She has a daughter, son, and one grandson. She is very close to her family and friends. She loves to volunteer at her church, senior group, travel group, and keeps very active. Currently, she resides in Houston, Texas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546263203

Leola M Jones

Leola Jones retired a paralegal after 39 years. The mother of a daughter and son, and one grandson. She is very close to her family and friends. She loves to volunteer at her church, senior group, travel group, and keeps very active. Currently, she and another neighbor are setting up a newsletter for the owners and tenants of their condominium. Leola resides in Houston, Texas.

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© 2018 Leola M Jones. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  10/18/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6321-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6319-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6320-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018911864

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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My Mother, Louise Turner

By Leola M. Jones

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My Grandfather, Willie Turner)

By Leola M. Jones

FROM LESSONS TO BLESSINGS

A TRIBUTE TO THE HEROES IN MY LIFE

MY MOTHER, LOUISE TURNER

AND

MY MATERNAL GRANDFATHER,

WILLIE TURNER

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1     My Mother, Louise Turner

Mama Loved Her Children

Mama Loved to Play

Hit by a Car

You Can’t Whip the BABY!!!

The Wave

Chapter 2     My Grandfather, Willie Turner

Papa’s Truck

The Golden Rule

Devil Take It

Growing Up

Learning to Think of Others

Papa Got A We Got

Over the Years

Chapter 3     Goodbye to My Father

Chapter 4     My Children, Michele and Mitchell

My Daughter

My Son

Chapter 5     My Sister, Barbie

Tattle Tale

Look in the Mirror

My Sister Hospitalized

My Sissy Wissy

Chapter 6     My Brother, Johnnie

Papa, Papa, Johnnie Got My Candy

Swimming Collateral

Not Me!

Watched Out for Me

I Missed My Brother

Chapter 7     My Big Brother, A.J.

AJ Reflects on our Grandmother

AJ Reflects on Our Grandfather

Don’t Call Me

You Can Count on Us

Chapter 8     Down but Not Out!

Chapter 9     My Introduction to Racism

Chapter 10   My First Accident

Chapter 11   Accidents Along the Way

Chapter 12   Faith

Chapter 13   My Special Place

Chapter 14   Drop Dead

Chapter 15   Marriage Should Add, Not Subtract

Chapter 16   My Cousins

Growing Up

Our Cornbread Disagreement

Reconnect with Your Family

Chapter 17   A Friend

Chapter 18   People Placed in My Life

Chapter 19   My Angels

Chapter 20   I Am So Thankful

Introduction

FROM LESSONS TO BLESSINGS

I have always thought that my life was ordinary. As I grew up, I realized that my life was not ordinary because of the lessons that I learned over the years. These lessons have made me who I am today. I have told them to others I have met along life’s way.

When you are young, your world is your family, church members, neighbors, friends and school mates. My mother and grandfather were my heroes. To me, a hero is someone you respect or recognize for doing something that put you in awe of just knowing this person.

I loved my mother and grandfather. The two grown-ups that I listened to; tried to imitate; and I respected them for their life style, spiritual strength, and abundant love and affection shown to me and others.

I have always preferred to laugh rather than cry; to see the glass half-full rather than half-empty; and to belief that all things work out the best way even when I do not get the desired result that I want. Maybe next time I will get it right! Or, maybe it is just not for me! Then, I thank God that I recognized the fact that I am not the head of my life. God is!!! He knows what is best for me!!

I have collected essays and short writings since high school days. I have collected these writing for many years and they have brought me such awareness of Life. My individual responsibility in this world is to God, family and friends and in general all people.

I have always been thankful that I love people. I have been a talker since I was very young and love to play and tease others. My sister always used to say that if I stood next to a pole, I would talk to the pole. When you talk to people, you find out that most people are just like you. Some think that they are different but once you begin to talk, you realize that you have so much in common. LIFE!!!

I learned most of these lessons from my mother, Louise Turner, and my maternal grandfather, Willie Turner. They influenced me more than any other individuals in my life and the love I feel for my mother and grandfather has inspired me throughout my life. I have always felt loved and I have always had love in my heart for others. I am thankful that God placed so many wonderful people in my life. I count my blessings every day to have such beautiful people in my life!!!

These Lessons of Life that I have tried to remember and to live my life accordingly, are very important to