When I was a little girl, our family worshipped in an old fashioned church. It had high ceilings and an even higher steeple. Now you only see these churches in Christmas cards. I can still  see myself and my brother sitting in the front pew any time I want, even if it happened over 70 years ago. Mama is busy playing the hymns on the pump organ. And when I say busy I mean busy! You see she had to pump hard with her feet in order to get enough air to make a sound when she played on the keys.

Daddy was the pastor and when it got time for the sermon he’d go into his office where there were steps leading, it seemed to me, up to heaven! He would appear again in a white trimmed with gold room high above the people sitting in the pews. It was the place where he spoke a long time. I waited for the “Amen”. Sonny and I waved at him when he appeared up there and sometimes he waved back.

I didn’t listen to much of what he said, but I heard about God and Jesus and I really liked the story of Jesus being born in a stable and I liked the hymns Mama played at Christmas time too. The whole thing sounded to me like a fairy tale, much like Cinderella in my fairy tale book. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered God was real. And he loved me just as I was! And Jesus really was born in a stable. He lived to love the people around him, even the little children. But he died, killed by the bad men who hated him.

Still later, I learned and believed that Jesus died for me, even though I was often mean to my brother! He came back to life again and showed himself to many people and he is with his father, God, in heaven. He is listening to our prayers. He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us too. He wants us to live right and always tell the truth.

I wonder sometimes, do some of the people who say they are Christians still believe the story of Jesus and God is a fairy tale? They don’t always tell the truth and they live like they don’t believe. They go shopping or on a picnic on Sunday Mornings instead of worshipping in church. I hope they truly believe because he is coming again to get those of us who really do believe, We want to be ready, don’t we?

 

I was listening to the news the other day. None of it was good! I heard about the Ebola scare going on, but nothing about how the folks living in North Africa are feeling. It must be tough for them. I heard about the terrorist group who has a different title just about every day. They seem to enjoy taking the heads off people! They are getting quite a bit of space in our news these days, and I imagine they really enjoy that. I heard about the bad things happening in our own country but very little about the good things. We need to smell the roses more today than ever before.

Hearing the news has prompted me to get more out of life, to small the roses, so to speak. The leaves are beginning to change colors here in Washington state. I thought about taking a trip out in the country to look at them. But then I knew there is little chance of that. I don’t drive anymore and getting my busy children to take me is not feasible. My thoughts changed. Why not look at the colors around my home? I took a walk with my little dog, Sonny, and saw all kinds of colors in trees. And there will be much more. I looked at the men cutting trees from our woods. I’ve been very upset about that! But the other night, as I sat out by my pond with my daughter, I saw the stars in the sky! I’ve never seen any stars around here. The trees have covered them all up! Now, I’ll go out by my pond every night the skies are clear to see them.

Here are a few suggestions about smelling the roses. How about taking the kids out fishing on Saturday? Or how about visiting that lonely widow who lives near you? She will enjoy that and you will enjoy her talking about the good old times she had. Or how about going to church on Sunday. You have been talking about that long enough. Maybe it’s time to go on a date with your special lady? Or how about spending more time with the Children God has given you? There are so many times you can smell the roses. We need to do that because our world is in a mess but when we look at the good things, and there are many of them, our attitude changes, doesn’t it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

g