What We Eat

After I moved back to Vinita, Ok. in 1977, my little son and I would go to Grand Lake fishing with Mom and Dad sometimes.

Daddy would say, “Let’s go fishing,” then head outside to mess around with his fishing poles and tackle. Mom packed crackers and cheese, apples, cookies, napkins in a paper grocery sack. She poured the boiled coffee in the thermos. A jacket in case it turned cool on the water, a book for me to read in case the fish weren’t biting. Just the necessary stuff. Oh, and the flashlight. Don’t forget the metal Ever-ready flashlight.

Then we’d pile into the old ’57 Ford with the non-functioning stick shift on the column and a 4-in-the-floor that shifted backwards and stuck through an open hole cut in the floorboard. Roll the windows down for air conditioning.

Along the way we had to stop at Simpson’s bait shop to buy worms and minnows, Snicker bars and bottles of pop. Daddy always said was, “Why do you women have to turn every thing into a picnic?” He was going to catch fish. We were going to relax, enjoy life, read a book, visit a little after a hectic week.

It is the woman’s way–providing nutrition for her family. Birthday? Cake and ice cream. The family together after church on Sunday? Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. Anniversary? Going out to eat. Friday night date? Movies, popcorn and soda pop. Thanksgiving or Christmas? Turkey dinner for the family. Baby shower? Cake and punch, with party-mix nuts.

Paul talked about food in Romans 14:17KJV. “For the kingdom of God is not meat or drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” 

There is nothing wrong with eating to celebrate, as long as you remember, that what you eat or don’t eat does not bring you righteousness, peace, and joy. It might be true that we are what we eat, but my value as a child of God doesn’t come from natural things.

I am not defined by what I eat but by who I am in Christ..

Called By Name

 We have an indoor cat named Sassy, but she doesn’t know her name. In fact, most of the time we just call her “kitty,” as in “here, kitty, kitty, kitty,” so I guess her name is really Kitty.

We used to feed some outside cats. That practice got started innocently enough. A couple of cute little kittens wandered up, so hubby felt sorry for them and started feeding them. After a while, he wanted to quit feeding them, but it was winter, so I asked him to keep putting out food till spring. Then it was winter again and the cats had more kittens.

The outside cats didn’t have names and they scattered when the back door was opened. If you tried to call them, they ran out of the yard. Since hubby fed them, you would think he could get close to them, but they were too wild. They should have been named, held, touched, petted, and talked to when they were babies, like we did with our indoor cat, Sassy, or rather, Kitty.

Jesus said in John 10:3-4, “. . .the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name. . . And the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”

Just like my indoor cat has become familiar with my voice by being around me, I have become familiar with Jesus’ voice, by hearing Him speak through His Word, the Bible. Some might think this is strange, that I say, “I hear Jesus speak and I know His voice,” but I have been listening for His voice since I was a baby Christian.

Spending time reading the Bible and talking to the Lord gives me a relationship with Him. When He speaks through His Word, I hear Him. When I speak to Him, His ear is open to my prayer and He pays attention.

In John 10:14 Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”

Jesus is my Good Shepherd and He calls me by my name.

Outdoor Living

I sat this afternoon at the dining table, gazing out the window,  lost in thought. When I came to myself, I saw 3 squirrels chasing each other around the yard, up and down the crabapple tree. Suddenly all three went up  the tree and out of sight. A very large blue jay sat on the fence, while  several robins and sparrows pecked at the ground. I watched the shadows on the lawn and felt the tensions of the day drop away.

I’ve never been an outdoors person, although I have gardened for many years. I only went outside when I had to work in the garden or to get  in the car and go somewhere. Our previous home didn’t draw a person outside. Although I made a few feeble attempts to make the backyard more inviting, it  meant work, not pleasure.

Now I am drawn out into the yard. In this home, the patio seems like an extension of the living room and it is just natural to wander out  and look around. Before I know it, I have pulled a few weeds, smelled the roses, entwined a vine through the trellis, and got some fresh air and exercise without even trying. The birds and squirrels roam around keeping me company. Outdoor living is more enjoyable every day.

Jesus said, “Are not 2 sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very  hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31 NKJV

He knows my name, He knows where I am, and the very hairs on my head are numbered. Before I ever called on Him for salvation, He knew me and was just waiting for that moment.

Watching the robins and sparrows, I realize how much God values and loves me.

Choose You This Day

 

The proudest day of my life, up to the time I was 12 years old, was when my older sister had her first baby. She is 6 years older than I and when she had that baby, I thought he was my baby too. We spent many hours together, with us younger kids loving that baby boy, feeding and diapering him, playing with him, just like he was our doll. That’s where I got my favorite name for a baby, “my little doll.” My sister had 3 babies in 4 years, more babies for me to play with.

It was many years later before I had my own 2 children, but because I was an aunt, I was so sure  I knew everything there was to know about raising babies, since I had been with my sister so much while she was raising hers.

Then my younger sister had her first son before I had any kids, then her twins just a few weeks before I had my own first child a son. Her twin boys and my son were so close in age, our mother dressed them in identical clothes and called them her “triplets.” We raised our kids around each other, so that they were more like brothers and sisters than cousins.

What joy it is to see our adult children at our family reunions, laughing and talking like the old days and to see our grandchildren playing with their little second cousins, like brothers and sisters.

Our family is close because of our mother. She always treated us alike, so there was no real jealousy between us. We were raised to share and share alike, to work together, to kiss and make up, to love each other, even if we might not always like each other.

One thing our mother always taught us besides loving each other, was that our family was a Christian family. Mother made a choice years ago that she would raise her children to serve the Lord.

“Choose for yourself this day whom you will serve, . . .As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 NKJV.