Grandma’s Stories

Apr 18th Son obeys Father

Today, April 18, 2014 – Good Friday! This has always been a day for me to do a few things – just to let Jesus know that I was sad regarding His dying on the Cross – but through the years I am learning – just what a terrible trial and death Jesus had for my sins from day one to the last day of my LIFE! For Jesus to be such an obedient Son – He Loved His Father, so much and as our Creator – He wants all of His created peoples to be with Him for all eternity.

Today – it is easy to understand with the behavior of people and how we all break every commandment, so easy and so fast – as if we were programmed to do the worse – if at all possible – why we are all paving a  “for sure place” with the Deceiver and all his fallen angels. As you get older and can see how and what people are doing and that it seems that as the years go by – we continue on that “broad” road  – having so much fun – because our love of earth and all the sinful pleasures are the only things we seem to care for and continue to chase after!

When we were KIDS in the Orphan Home – we had “FISH” on Fridays – we said the “Stations of the Cross” and between the hours of one to three in the afternoon- we did without talking and created neither noise nor any kind of disturbance – being ever mindful of the suffering of Jesus – Today. As “ORPHANS” we did receive good and correct motivational learning – enough to last for the rest of our LIVES! I know that there were a good many KIDS that did not want to be reminded that they were in the Orphan Home- later in Life when they had long left the place. It was to some the absolute worst of places they could have ever lived – but this LIFE was not meant to be HEAVEN for any of us.

Today, I still read the Bible in these afternoon hours – and some of the readings are on the Crucifixion – and when I remember back to when I was KID – all I could think of then – is when can we get back to playing as we usually do? It seem to me as a KID that we read the Gospels pertaining to the Crucifixion – too much and too long! But only now can I begin to really – realize how Jesus suffered for us – “ungrateful peoples” – we are really undeserving of all that He did to pay with all the horrible pain and suffering.  The Roman Guards inflicting this sentence out in the most brutal manner –– how cruel and inhumane – they carried out the misery to Jesus.

I just do not feel that there could ever – at any time – ever be someone so loving as Jesus to “OBEY” His Father – to give His Life for all of us – that one day we will enjoy Eternity – forever!

Apr 17th Holy Thursday – Maundy Thursday

Years ago, when I was much younger and highly energetic – especially the years when my children were young – celebrating Easter and the week before was a very busy time for me!

One of the important things that I did – was getting out my Christmas Card List, so that I could prepare a current mailing list, to now send out Easter Cards. Over the years, there were those “important people” that just had to receive a very special Easter Card. Used to spend a day at the Card and Gift Shop – since we lived in Florida – and I always liked to have “SPECIAL” people receive a card and or something that made them really feel important – and that I “cared enough to send the  very best!”

Today – everything has changed. With this new electronically “time- age” – everyone seems to be in another world – they are connected with the “whole world” with something glued to their hands! No one sends cards –and I do not think anyone knows how to write a letter and get it into the “U.S Mail” – and what’s Postage? Letter writing with the use of some nice stationery – and a nice desk set up to receive and reply to personal mail – it is a loss art.

In every home – almost – there is a desk with a very expensive “Computer” and all the gadgets that would completely run a full-time business  – TODAY – but only15 years ago most businesses did not have and if they did – their employees – did not know how to use? The times are a really changing, as no other time in history! It is amazing as to the “KNOWLEDGE” and how fast it is spreading among the younger people. It is all so new and I just am not able to comprehend all of these marvels that people are able to grasp – I almost feel that I am not on the new “Marvel of Knowledge Boat!”

 I do wish that I was smarter – younger, and had better eyesight – to take in all of this information – so easy and fast to get! “It’s Marvelous!”

“This is my EASTER CARD and Happy Resurrection Greetings –  to one and all!”

Apr 15th Promise Box- Empty or Full?

In reading the BIBLE – there are over 800 hundred “PROMISES” to us – when reading through the BIBLE – you will find these – if you really look for them? So many people say that their PRAYERS are not answered – and I’ll bet that – that is because – we overlook the “PROMISES” and of understanding what to expect and how to ask?

One of the things that I plan on doing for my self – is to copy as many Biblical Promises – as I can and put them in a box. My idea is to have a box handy – so that when I need to feel I need an answer from Almighty God – I will be getting my answer – and or His Promises by checking out exactly what He has told us.

Some families have a Promise Box in their home and check it for just such a time as a direct word from our Heavenly Father. My thought on the Promise Box would also work for families that want to do “special things” for the members of their family. Each family member could make up slips of paper with things that they would be willing to do for another family member as a special form of “LOVE” or “GRATITUDE” for something that was done for them or even as an “emergency type” – last minute “MAKE SOMEONE” feel good – when you find that this member of the family is down in the “DUMPS!”

Today everyone seems to be too busy to notice that someone needs a little extra “CHEERING” and there is no time to run out to the store for a “box of candy” – and too late in the day to order “FLOWERS” – but with a Promise Box – all of the wonderful thoughts you could think of nice to do for your family or friends – they can find a slip in the Promise Box with  wonderful feelings written out just for the occasion?

Another idea along the same line – you can make up small cards – hand created with lots of your own “special flair” – that only you can dream up – special things that you want  someone  extra “SPECIAL” to receive from you – and these would be in a very special hand-crafted envelope that will delight whomever the recipient will be?

Make a special “Promise Box” with special messages and or offers of things you will be doing for  “someone special” – the special “ones” you “LOVE” the MOSTEST!

Apr 14th Holy Week

Preparing for the “Resurrection of Jesus” is a whole lot different today than it was when I was a kid in the orphanage and back in the 1970’s and 1980’s – when I was rearing my family! When we were kids in the “ORPHANAGE” – we spent a lot of time in Church – for the “WAY of the CROSS” and Forty Hours Devotions. There were at least 150 children in the Orphanage and it is amazing that we – all –  that many children – the HOME was really quiet!

On Saturday afternoons, when Sister Seraphine was in charge of the “GIRLS” – for one whole hour – all the girls were at their places  ( the same seating arrangement as in the morning when getting ready for Mass at 6:00 a.m.) – and we would be praying the rosary. It would take at least the whole hour- since we all prayed with “REVERENCE” – because that is the way Sister Seraphine, a no nonsense – her presence demanded! – Sister Seraphine had that – Presence about her – that came across that way –  she really  was a “Saint” to me!

On Fridays we would have a special Devotion in Church – and on “GOOD FRIDAY” between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. – at the time that Jesus was crucified – you could almost hear a pin drop – we “150 kids” were so quiet during those hours. I’m wondering if that would happen today in any school anywhere?

Do you remember the years, late 1970s and early 1980s, when the Church was having “RENEWAL MEETINGS” in the homes of “VOLUNTEER” families every week? These meetings may not have taken place during the LENTEN SEASON – but as I remember- since I did hold weekly meetings at my house for maybe –  6 or 7 couples – that something like that should maybe  – be started again? At one point during the evening meeting I would have my oldest son LEE, play the Lowery Organ for all who were attending to sing  along and with music. One piece of music that we would sing quite often was the “OUR FATHER!”

If it were possible – it would be really nice – if each family with children – had some kind of keyboard music – so that all families would for sure –  have a devout time for “Devotions” at home!

If it is at all possible for all families to have some special time this week to have – SPECIAL PRAYER DEVOTIONS – “this week  for sure”– I feel our country – AMERICA –  and ALL our ELECTED PEOPLE need DEVINE GUIDENCE from Almighty GOD’s daily presence!