Especially for my Son,Ricky II,part 1

Looking back to my earliest memories as a child of three-four years old,up the "holler",living in a three room house on the banks of Star Creek,across the creekbed from my grandparents (on my dad's side) homeplace .Our lighting was coal oil lamps.I had no thought of what electricity was.Our running water was what we all,from smallest kid up, ran across the creek and up the hill, to Grandpa's spring where we all filled our buckets and carried our part back down the hill and across the creekbed.My little bucket,I will never forget,It was a little green lard bucket,also used at times to pack lunch in for older brothers or sisters as they walked to the country school.
We had a huge garden plot and I remember a big strawberry patch and helping my mother pick strawberries for the strawberry shortcake, fixed her way,the way I still like it best.Strawberries,plenty of sugar smashed up,over baked pie crusts.She also added fresh, whipped,real cream.I liked it then but now have to have the stuff in a can.We had an old smokehouse,just beyond the house.I close my eyes and to this day and can still smell that smell of fresh, cured hams,sausages and such and when I say fresh,I mean fresh.So fresh,in fact, I will not often pull up the memories of the butchering days,I remember so vividly.It would be a cold day and and can remember the uncles and aunts being there and me not fully understanding,but knowing what the squealing of the pigs meant as my little legs went scurrrying,crying,hiding my face in a pillow.It was an all day affair and a lot of the gory details I block from remembering,but it was a necessary part of life.I remember that for a few days,I couldn't eat the pork,but as butchering day faded away,the ham,bacon and sausage gravy were enjoyed.
During this time when I was about four,I remember my first macaroni and cheese.I was instantly a fan.I still remember that taste and smell.I am elated that my recipe I have tried to make as much like what I remember that my little grandsons,esp my six year old,Phoenix,dearly loves and he tells everyone,that "his grammy makes the best macaroni and cheese in the whole,wide, world!"He wasn't kidding either for when I kept him a few days over spring break,I made my huge soup pan almost full.I did freeze a little and sent some home with his dadddy,but while he was at my house,he ate it every chance he got.He would stand beside me, as I was putting it in his dish and have me keep adding to the bowl,till he was sure it was enough.On the last day he was at my house,he insisted he needed mac'n'cheese for breakfast,as well as his cereal.Of course he got it!Of course this warms my heart in so many ways,but especially,as it connects me with wonderful memories of my childhood.
Another first I remember,during this time, was my first stick of boughten(as we would call it) gum.Our gum was from some tree and it was plenty good for that is all we knew,but one day,a car drove up into our yard and that in itelf,brought a lot of excitement,so yes,my four year-old,skinny legs went racing with the rest,before our mother could stop us.I am not sure who the man was,but I will never forget that bright green,flat package of gum he took out and passed out to us all.I can still remember the wonderful taste and wow,what an experience-my first store-bought,Wrigleys Doublemint gum.I confess I still have to buy it occasionally,just because.
Our entertainment was our own,but it involved,singing,dancing to whatever instruments amongst
the family but there was always celebrating-big dinners for birthdays,weddings,births.

"Considering The Lilies!"

Luke 12:27 reads,"Consider the lilies how they grow;they toil not,they spin not; and yet I say that Solomon in all His glory was not arrayed like one of these. This scripture has brought me much comfort through the years epecially during the difficult times when I had been rendered unable to toil or spin as I was acustomed to doing in my busy home life,in a very active children's ministry and in a part-time job.It was during those times that God surrounded me over and over with that calm assurance that indeed,I had nothing to prove.He had made me and it was enough for me for Him,"just being!"What a wonderful Creator and Saviour,Loving Heavenly Father He is.
I love all flowers and plants but lilies have played a big part in my life especially during extremely difficult times.In the early 80's,we were pastoring a little church,I was having some pretty bad physical problems,my dad was dying an agonizing death of esophagal cancer;my four children were ages 3-8;the economy had bottomed out and we had a steady stream of people needing food and other things coming to our door.It was coming upon Easter Sunday and I confess,I was feeling pretty overwhelmed.For sure there was no money to buy the fresh lilies I always hankered for for the church,at Easter.I was battling my discouraging thoughts,trying so hard to think what Easter really meant,but just couldn't quite get above the darkness,as I came down the steps of the parsonage,heading over to our little church,wishing so bad for a sign from above.As I started to pass by our car,out of the corner of my eye,a flash of white in the front seat.I turned to get a better look and what I saw,both humbled me and made me feel so happy and loved.There,in all its glory was my "beautiful Easter Lily",my reminder of how very much God loved me that he would take the time to impress upon a Safeway manager(a good friend) to bring me my Easter flowers.
Maybe today,just now,you are battling overwhelming self-doubts,unworthiness,inadequateness,etc.,etc.,it is enough to just be;consider the lilies!

Not Open for Debate

In my life,there are a few things so settled in my own heart that are "simply not open for debate."The main one being who Jesus Christ was and is still today.My teachings of Him were rooted and grounded in me from birth by a wonderful,Godly mother whom I shall always thank God for.Throughout the years,how glad I have been for those teachings and that I was rock solidly taught those principals for though I am thankful and appreciate the many ,many people of my church and all the support I have received through the years from them,I recognize anew today that my relationship with God came from my mother's knee.
I have been privileged to learn my family tree several generations back on all sides and now know that I owe a great debt to all those gone before,several of whom were ministers of the gospel.A few years ago for the first time,I attended a big family reunion of my mother's family.Words cannot describe what I felt to be amongst a huge group of people,most related to me and many whose faces reflected that familiar look of my mother and her sister.
The reunion was held as it is every time in a little country church that was started over a 100 years ago by some of my family and still pastored by a cousin.So you see,my view of God and His Son,Jesus,as handed down through the realms of family on all sides can never be questioned or debated.True,I had to come to my own personal realization for myself,but it wasn't a hard choice for it was always a part of my life and I am so very thankful for that!
A few years ago,for a time,I worked part-time at a little sandwich shop.The owner was very staunch in his "religion"-so staunch that when it came prayer time each day,it didn't matter what was going on,he put his mat on the kitchen floor and turned the right direction and said his prayers.His treatment of me was what I considered less than Christian,but I endured it for I needed the job.
One day, he brought his "book of teaching",what we would call our Bible and he requested I sit down across from him and he was going to persuade me of how wrong my belief in Jesus was.As he began to read first one passage and then another,I let things roll until he mentioned,then started to read about how Jesus was "just a man."As those words came out of his mouth,I very emphatically interupted him with these words,"I need you to stop right there.Nothing you can say will change my mind or what I know.Indeed Jesus was the Son of God;He did come back to life and I know this for He lives within this heart of mine and furthermore,I cannot even have you say such things in my presence.Fire me,do what you will,but this subject is not up for debate." I was not sure but what I had just lost my job,but it did not matter for I meant what I said.He did not like it and got pretty mad and still tried yet again to say the same,but again I refused to hear!He simmered down and realized how bad he needed my help at the restaurant,so did not let me go.He did get light shed upon his darkness and I still pray for him.
Today at this moment,I still feel the same.I serve a "Risen Saviour" one whom took a stand for me and my unworthy soul as He gave Himself up on that cruel tree.The least I can do is defend His worthy name and take a stand for Him,my Jesus,my Father and friend!