Since Mother’s Day was Sunday, I want to pay tribute to my feisty mom who tries to get a laugh whenever she can. It’s part of her charm.

Before GPS, Google Maps, and cell phones, if you were lost, you stopped and asked a stranger for directions. My mom had her own unique and humorous (in her mind) way of doing that: “Can we get there from here?”

Needless to say, the responses she received were rather interesting. Most people knew she was joking and would laugh. “Yeah, you can get there from here.” Then they proceeded to tell us as they pointed all around. “You go on up a mile and turn left and then turn…” You get the idea.

Some people were confused by my mom’s question. They would crinkle their eyebrows or scratch their heads. Sometimes both at once. “Huh?”
At that point I added, “She’s just trying to be funny when she asks for directions.”
My mom smiled at them like the Cheshire Cat.
“Oh…okay.” They also pointed as they gave directions.
To be honest, I don’t think they really understood her humor and probably gave us directions just to get rid of us.

A few people became exasperated and even angry when my mom asked, “Can we get there from here?”
Instead pointing toward where we needed to go, they would throw their hands up in the air. “NO! You can’t get there from here.”
She flashed her Cheshire cat smile and asked, “Then how do we get there?”
“You have to go somewhere else first to get there.”
I would shake my head. We were still getting to where we needed to go from where we were.
I think a lot of people want the shortest and easiest route. And if they can’t get it, they won’t go. In other words, they don’t want to get out of their comfort zone. You may miss out on a lot if you don’t dare to do the things that are challenging and hard.
In fact, I have repeated my mother’s words in my prayers when I feel God is leading me somewhere: “How can I get there from here Lord.”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)