I guess it’s time to tell some stories about my Jim. He died in November, the same month as his Dad. Call me nuts, But I mourned both of them even though Eddie died over 50 years ago, and the two of them were buddies. I sang the song “My Buddy” many times alone in my bedroom after Jim was gone. Here is just one of the stories when he was 9 years old.

He and Mary Jo were competitors as far as playing the saxophone in the band was concerned. The band director thought they were equally first-chair players so he had them change seats every month. Of course, that led both of them to practice harder. They both won first place in the district trial and went to the State Music Festival. The kids were very excited. When they went in and saw all the other children with their horns, their excitement quickly turned to worry.

Mary Jo was on the list to play her song first. As she began playing, no note sounded! She went crying to her mother. Jim left his seat and walked over to her. “It isn’t over, Mary Jo, Here, take my sax and play your song. It’ll work.” She played beautifully and handed his sax back thankfully. Jim had very little time to get ready, but he did it, and also played his song beautifully. Jim got an A, and Mary Jo got an A-, probably because she wasn’t playing her own horn.

Well, how are you about sharing the prized thing you really love; that sweater, tool, or recipe your great-grandmother passed down to you? Jesus once said, “Love your neighbor, as yourself.” That’s easier said than done, isn’t it? Give them something they would like. My neighbor brought me a box of Christmas cookies. You can’t imagine what that meant to me. I used to bake lots of different things at Christmas time, but I can’t bake anything now. Jesus was telling us. things we should do and if we did that and one other thing, love and trust God! Our country would be a different place, wouldn’t it?

Well, I,m back! It’s been a long time. For those who don’t know, I broke my right arm, and it has refused to heal. I have had seventeen weeks in a cast and exchanged them to a different cast four times. I guess my ninety-five-year-old body just doesn’t want to heal. Anyhow, the doctors are going to try something new tomorrow. But I am going back to my blog no matter what!

I suppose Christmas has been taken down and packed away for next year. Or maybe you will keep things up so you can celebrate the new year. Since I have watched quite a bit of TV, I’ve seen more than my share of ladies scantily dressed, but smiling and laughing, having a good time, and men drinking up a storm. They were celebrating a child was born or were they? I believe at least half of the country has forgotten that Christmas means we celebrate a baby, who was the Son of God, was born. He was born to take away our sins, which were many, at that time. It certainly is no better today. It certainly seems that folks deemed dressing up, sometimes in garish costumes, is better than the swaddling clothes our little baby wore.

I guess it is time for all of us to decide as to whether we want to follow God or follow the world. The decision really is to decide if we want to follow all the things we see today like murders, thefts, and all the bad ideas the world offers today. None of us ordinary folks want that! But the other decision offers these things: peace, the forgiveness of our sins, eternal life, friendship with Jesus, and many more. Why wouldn’t we take the second decision? Maybe it’s because we listen to a different voice. That voice is rather tempting, right? But it’s wrong! and you say, “The world offers many good and fun things too.” Yes, and where does it get you? It gets you a headache, loss of money on things that are already gone, and worse, your children will follow your lifestyle.

Do you want the second decision? Great! All you have to do is get ready for you are going to talk to God. Tell him how sorry you are for every sin you have done.you want to follow God. you know God is alive and that He sent Jesus to us, a tiny baby. He grew up and died for all our sins. He rose from death and was taken to his Father God. You know most of this before you made the decision but now it is real. You now have told this to your Father and you have the right to talk to him all the time. He always hears your prayers, even the dumb ones which I have often enough. Happy New Year, all of you friends