Getting Ready To Go

The big trip to southern Cal started first with getting all the Black Walnuts picked from the ground under the black walnut trees that graced the south side of the property by the road in the olden days. Dad had several sacks that we used to haul the nuts to the feed store. I never liked the job much but we had it to do before we could head south for Christmas. We worked hard and our hands got stained.

Then we kids were ready to go. But Dad wasn’t. There were always a few ‘little things’ that he needed to do before we could leave. It seemed that we always got to my Grandma’s house around 11:50 on Christmas Eve. She’d greet us at the door of the back porch door. We were glad to be there. They lived in Glendora. We loved being at Grandma Weigold’s house. We loved being with her and seeing our cousins. It was quite lovely. Now Grandma’s house was rather small but we didn’t think of it as ‘too small’. We had our sleeping bags and Paul got the bed on the front porch.

Eating The Delicious Meal

The Christmas meal was fantastic. She did the whole nine yards. There were six kids in my cousins’ family and five in ours so I suppose she did some thinking ahead. There was a turkey, potatoes and gravy (instant potatoes…which I loved), cranberry sauce, two types of pickles, a Waldorf salad (Aunt Louise made it…and it was tops), dressing, biscuits, olives, green beans cooked with bacon, and pies…pumpkin, and cherry and whatnot…always with vanilla ice cream and. of course, Grandma’s sugar cookies cut in circles with red hots in the center. They were miracuously soft. I have the recipe but I can never get them as soft.

We’d open up the gifts and that was special. I remember getting a toy doctor kit, dolls, and play dishes, and clothes even bathrobes. My brother got gifts like western pistols and Etch-a-Sketch. The adults played cards, and we kids just had a lot of fun. Sometimes we’d sing and Grandma or Aunt Louise played the piano. Grandma had a lot of sheet music so Marilyn played the piano quite a bit during our week down there. In the backyard there was a lemon tree and an avocado tree, a clothesline and a couple of other types of trees. We skated on the sidewalks as often as we could. Every Christmas we had a lovely time at Grandma and Grandad’s house.

I haven’t mentioned the other side of the family mainly because they moved up north when I was in sixth grade. We had a wonderful time with them as well. We usually spent a belated Christmas with them and our Cripe cousins. Granda Brumbaugh went to a lot of work as well. I remember she always made a side dish of canned tomato with torn homemade bread that was served in small bowls in the upper left setting in our places. Both grandmothers used their best china and cutlery and napkins for their Christmas meals. They’d make the whole meal a lavish affair. Of course we girls helped wash the dishes when the meal was all finished. We had a system for that too.

My Cousins and Whatnot

As I was writing this blog post I was thinking about my cousins on both sides. We were older than the Staudenraus (Weigold) cousins and similar in age to the Cripe (Brumbaugh) cousins. Our cousins on both sides, including Uncle Walt’s kids, for the most part are still in contact with the family but we don’t talk too often. But this summer my siblings and I took a California trip. Just my two sisters, my brother and me. It was unique. (Around a month ago I wrote about it.) I am glad that the institution of marriage and family means a lot to me and the other family circles. Now that we are older it seems as if we appreciate what binds us more than what divides us.

I think I am blessed…to have my family. Family is a wonderful thing. Some families don’t have the close bond which I enjoy, and I feel for you. But you can make your own substitute family. It’s caring about others that matters. You can offer what you have to your friends, whether they are close or not. People need to know we care. We need to know they care as well. Reach out to someone. Give some food to someone. Help someone out. Be a good friend. Read the bible story of the first Christmas. Share the love. Be kind. Thank God for the food. Thank Him for sending His Son to our earth for us and the ones before us.

I love this country

There is something beautiful about this country. It is a varied land with much variety. The west is decidedly different than the east. I spent five weeks in Florida in contrast to the rest of the year in California. Although they have similarities, there are very different features as well. Both states have their pluses even though they are on opposite sides of the country.

The water makes its waves come clear and fast. We love the ocean and its beaches. All my kids and their families got together on the east coast for LaVonne’s birthday this year. It was so incredibly wonderful! We had a spectacular time together. LaVonne’s husband, Shane, rented a raft-type boat. We went out on the bay, viewed the sea life while we navigated around the bay, and just enjoyed the water, weather, and each other. It was a truly delightful day.

My family is blessed

We don’t get to choose our families. So count yourself rich if your family gives more than it gets. My family gave to me more than I could imagine. I’ve come to realize that more with each year I live. We often take away more that we seek to give. I wish I had told my parents more often, that I loved and cherished them. We often fail to see their gifts when they are with us. My siblings, too, are much loved and appreciated. My nieces and nephews and their children, too. Tell them.

Families are the building block that makes a difference in our lives. Some have some problems that cause a myriad of disasters. Yet even then the families we have been given have influenced us. Everyone has the choice of how they will choose to live, grow, and become in this world in which we live. We are given choices. The difficult choices are hard to make and keep but we choose to make them and possibly keep them.

We get to choose how we will live

No, we don’t get to choose what country or family we will live in, at least in the beginning of our lives. But we are given the opportunity to live discreetly wherever we live. You may not live discreetly, and you have that choice, but your life will thrive when you give your thoughts beyond yourself. What do I mean? When we live for others, and give to others, and help others, and think of others, and much, much more. There are many people that our lives touch that benefit from our graces.

Before I end my thoughts, I must say, and I’m going to bring my faith into the conversation, simply because God. He makes the difference. Even when life seems a wreck, it is not entirely true…if you have the faith, you can see it. There are times, possibly, when life is a struggle and you would rather give up. That’s understandable. Life is hard. And maybe we made some poor choices, or we are having a problem with our health or finances. Whatever. But God is enough. He will help you, will keep you, and He is able to do more than we may think or ask. And, of course, the other ones of you, God delights in you. He keeps you, helps you, and carries you along through your journey. Open your heart to Him. I promise you, you won’t regret it.

I will finish with this. Thank God for giving you life. We are fortunate to be living this life, here and now. There is much to be thankful for in this life. Look out your window. A bird flies by. Be thankful for it. Yes, and the food you had to eat. It was good. Be thankful for it. Did you see that ‘someone special’ today? They’re a positive person in your life. I am thankful for you and that is a positively good thing! May God bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and give you peace.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

In the movie A Charlie Brown Christmas there is a scene where Linus Van Pelt tells Charlie Brown that he knows the true meaning of Christmas. Then Linus begins to recite this passage, which is the true meaning of Christmas.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in he field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:8-14).

In 1965 when Charles Shultz wrote the play, the production team wanted to cut this scene. But Charles Shultz refused to remove it. The network was sure the movie would flop. But they were mistaken. It was widely watched and a huge success with 45% of homes watching.

9/11

Decades later, on September 11, 2001 I was teaching on the day of the attacks on the Two Towers. That same year, while our country was still reeling from the assault on our nation and the clean-up of the site was ensuing, the 8th grade class in the public school where I was a teacher performed the play A Charlie Brown Christmas. Surprised at their audacity and pleased as Luke 2:8-14 was recited, I was reminded of the way a tragedy brings us closer to our roots and our faith. Barriers had come down whereas barriers had been erected prior to 9/11 to prohibit words of faith from being expressed in public, including the songs we performed for Holiday/Christmas school-wide performances.

Wonderful Counselor

Pastor Warren Weirsbe was a guest speaker for chapel at Western Baptist College when I was a student in the 1970s. He exuberantly expressed his joy in the Lord. I was impressed. This led me to purchase a book written by him that was in the college bookstore.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Weirsbe wrote about each name expressed in this passage of scripture: Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. I would read his book, His Name is Wonderful, at Christmastime to soak in the essence of who Christ is, what qualities He brought to earth, and the goodness of it all. In such a gracious way, here in this scriptural text we are shown the majesty of the kingdom of God on earth.

Messianic Prophecy

often listen to debates between Christians and atheists. I’ve even bought a few books related to the subject. One of the most compelling proofs of the Bible’s validity is the fulfillment of prophesies recorded by prophets in Old Testament times. This phenomenon of the foretelling of future events highlighted the hope and the promise, the way of salvation that God would provide for God’s chosen people and simultaneously for all people. The world needed a savior to save them from their sins, as we all do. Here’s one of many messianic prophecies.

“After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:11-12).

The Plan’s Fulfillment

However, this salvation wasn’t only limited to the Jewish people. It was part of a God-sized plan for the salvation of Jewish and Gentile people groups. The Righteous Servant was God’s only begotten Son, the true son of God. His redemption plan was all inclusive. It was a broad message and its impact was far reaching to all peoples of the world. God so loved the world in its entirety. God’s gift to humankind was the greatest gift of all. It was a gift of love for God so loved the world.

If Christ had never been born, if Christ had never died an innocent death, if Christ had never loved a sinful world, if redemption had never come to the world, we would be forever lost without hope, without peace, and without the light of life, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

A Positive Heartwarming Story

Now for a treat. I’ve been collecting positive stories for a while. I decided to share some of them with you. So, I leave you with this simple story seen on Twitter, 2020, by Annie White.

“When I was 4 years old, my mom had to stop by the station with me in tow. Just as my mom started to turn left into a hallway, I saw him. Real. Live. In person. Mr. Rogers. DEAD AHEAD! I did not follow my mom, but bolted to my sweater-clad hero. I wrapped myself around his legs, sitting on his feet and screamed at full volume, ‘MISTER ROGERS! I LOVE YOU!’ My mother was mortified. But do you know what that saint of man did? He peeled me off his legs while sitting down on the floor next to me. And screamed, just as loud as I did, “AND I LOVE YOU, TOO!” And to this day, I believe he meant it. Because that’s who Fred Rogers was: Loving. When he found out my mom and (then) step-dad had a quiet courthouse wedding, he threw them a shower at the station because he said every marriage should be celebrated. He genuinely was every bit of what you saw on TV.