My seven year old grandson, Everett, is always teaching me something. I wanted to pass this on to you. My Dad was having surgery on a Thursday, partial knee replacement. My daughter has all of the kids signed up for an Enrichment program for homeschoolers which meets on Thursday. On Wednesday my daughter mentioned to Everett that the next day would be his class. Everett said, "Family is more important than class." Barb asked him what he meant and he replied, "I can't go to class when my poppie is going to have surgery." With that statement his lip began to quiver as the tears were right at the surface. She promised him to take him over to see his poppie before the surgery and then after. This was satisfactory to him.
A seven year old already understands the importance of family. He knows that we do not need to go after fun for ourselves when there is an important issue taking place in our family. I want to commend my daughter, Barb, and husband, Kalin, for the way they are raising their children. They are training them in the important things of life. The most important thing they are doing is pointing each of their children to Jesus. They incorporate the love of Jesus into their training as they love each child for the glory of God.
Thank you Barb and Kalin for your efforts. Thank you Everett for considering others better than yourself. I heard your lesson and will strive to learn it as I serve my family.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Breakfast with Mom
Every Thursday morning for the past 30 years I have had breakfast with Mom one day a week. We have gone to the same restaurant for most of those 30 years. It is like a family. The waitress and the other customers know me by name. They have shared in the slow decline of my mom over the years especially the last ten.
Our times at the table now do not consist of real conversation. Actually my mom cannot follow a conversation anymore. She does like to talk. So she makes up stories and tells them to me. They are usually about me. For instance, she had a dream we were running together on the farm in Tennessee or my dad was defending me against neighbors who were speaking back about me. This last week she said when I was three years old I said, "I just got the call and I am going to be a truck driver." :) That's funny!
Mom loves to tell a joke. She forgets a lot of things but not this one particular joke. She will tell anyone who is in her path. I try to make sure we go straight from our booth to pay but I am not always successful. One morning, Mom pushed me ahead of her so that she could interrupt a man's breakfast to tell him her joke. He did not look very happy about it. I was not close enough to thank him for his patience so I decided to ask the waitress to let him know of mom's condition. I remember the waitress saying to me, "Don't worry about that! Your mom is fine. You do not need to make excuses for her."
What a wonderful thing to hear from this woman who has waited on us for many years now! She was kind and loving concerning my mother. I have to remember that kind and loving part as I sometimes get a little embarrassed and impatient. She is still my mother after all. I need to treat her as such.
The people we meet each day are taking account of us. They can be the cashiers, the driver of the car in front of us, the person we pass walking on the street or a waitress. What kind of attitude do they see from us? Is it reflective of Jesus? It better be if you are a follower of Christ. That is who we are called to reflect.
So do these people I meet every day know who I am, a Follower of Christ? More importantly, does my mother know who I am? (Even if she can't quite process it)
Our times at the table now do not consist of real conversation. Actually my mom cannot follow a conversation anymore. She does like to talk. So she makes up stories and tells them to me. They are usually about me. For instance, she had a dream we were running together on the farm in Tennessee or my dad was defending me against neighbors who were speaking back about me. This last week she said when I was three years old I said, "I just got the call and I am going to be a truck driver." :) That's funny!
Mom loves to tell a joke. She forgets a lot of things but not this one particular joke. She will tell anyone who is in her path. I try to make sure we go straight from our booth to pay but I am not always successful. One morning, Mom pushed me ahead of her so that she could interrupt a man's breakfast to tell him her joke. He did not look very happy about it. I was not close enough to thank him for his patience so I decided to ask the waitress to let him know of mom's condition. I remember the waitress saying to me, "Don't worry about that! Your mom is fine. You do not need to make excuses for her."
What a wonderful thing to hear from this woman who has waited on us for many years now! She was kind and loving concerning my mother. I have to remember that kind and loving part as I sometimes get a little embarrassed and impatient. She is still my mother after all. I need to treat her as such.
The people we meet each day are taking account of us. They can be the cashiers, the driver of the car in front of us, the person we pass walking on the street or a waitress. What kind of attitude do they see from us? Is it reflective of Jesus? It better be if you are a follower of Christ. That is who we are called to reflect.
So do these people I meet every day know who I am, a Follower of Christ? More importantly, does my mother know who I am? (Even if she can't quite process it)
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
A Tribute to my Pop
On Friday my dad is going to be having double partial knee replacement. He is 83 years of age and in good health, he does have a hard time walking. I am praying for a quick recovery and for the surgery to go well. He has been a part of my life for 46 years and I love him with all my heart. I remember something I had written a long time ago about him and want to post it here.
The year was 1963 and I was 11 years old which meant that I knew everything. My world was devastated that year when my mother remarried. I was a very determined child and had decided that I would not call this man, dad. The use of his first name was allowed but it was not a good example to my younger brothers. I persisted however.
This man was nothing but good to me. He showed me every kindness but it took me two years to realize just how much this man loved me. I remember the day very well. We were on the road during August of 1965 going to Arizona when I first called this man, Dad. He was very proud that day. The example to my borthers had changed and they picked up on it right away. He was truly our Dad.
God is our Father. He loves us and shows us every kindness. He has given us the ultimate gift of His Son. But are we still be disrespectful to Him? Do we honor Him as we should? Do we recognize that He is truly our Father? When was the last time that your children heard you cry "Abba Father"?
The year was 1963 and I was 11 years old which meant that I knew everything. My world was devastated that year when my mother remarried. I was a very determined child and had decided that I would not call this man, dad. The use of his first name was allowed but it was not a good example to my younger brothers. I persisted however.
This man was nothing but good to me. He showed me every kindness but it took me two years to realize just how much this man loved me. I remember the day very well. We were on the road during August of 1965 going to Arizona when I first called this man, Dad. He was very proud that day. The example to my borthers had changed and they picked up on it right away. He was truly our Dad.
God is our Father. He loves us and shows us every kindness. He has given us the ultimate gift of His Son. But are we still be disrespectful to Him? Do we honor Him as we should? Do we recognize that He is truly our Father? When was the last time that your children heard you cry "Abba Father"?
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