11.7-Tomorrow's Election, The American Dream and Mom and Dad

This morning in North Richland Hills Texas we have had some rain showers.  

Yesterday at church my preacher, Rick Atchley, mentioned that God gave witness to His love for people by giving “rain from heaven and crops in season.”

Today thankful for my parents being willing to work hard and overcome challenges that came their way.  They had certain advantages.  They were both born in America.  They were raised in families that had a mom and a dad actively working to make the lives of the children better.  Their parents and mom and dad owned their land and their homes rather than being renters and sharecroppers.  In that culture it made them what I would now refer to “middle class” but in their view they were just hard working year to year farmers getting by through God giving “rain from heaven and crops in season.” Both their parents were people who believed in God and worshipped Jesus Christ as their Savior and guide in life.  

On the other hand, they did have some challenges.  My dad lost his dad when he was only twelve when he lost his dad due to a brief illness.  I had my dad till I was 58 years old. My mother had experienced some financial hardship as many did who lived through the depression. Her family lost all their savings in the bank because her granddad was a stockholder.  

By the time they retired they were blessed with their farm paid for and social security and some income from their cattle raising operation.  Dad continued to work some in the grocery store for a time and they enjoyed this season of their lives.

Mother and daddy were like most of the people they associated with in this way, they worked hard and didn’t expect a easy ride in life or a free lunch.  They wanted to provide for themselves and to give money to others who were poor and in need.  This morning as I was reflecting on the phrase I got from church that God’s love is also shown in “rain from heaven and crops in season.” I remembered their work ethic.

They believed that God would deliver them from the wicked men and women who might lie and take advantage of them and kept believing in their neighbors and the “American Dream”.

They believed that through prayer and worship of God that they would be given the strength and protection they needed to get through each year though at times a drought or grasshoppers would almost destroy their crop.

They believed that their fellow citizens in the community who lived godly lives would continue to survive and flourish over the long haul.

They trusted in God’s love and Jesus Christ’s perseverance. 

They steered clear of lazy, fast talking, snake oil salesmen types.  They weren’t looking for any get rich quick schemes.  They were drawn to hard work and being conservative with what they had and not wasting their resources.

They believed in if you ate food at a place you were to pay for that food.  We went to football games on Friday night but we did not eat any hot dogs or candy because to eat it we must pay for it.  We had already had our dinner at home.  Some variety.  A joke we had, “Beans and taters.”  And “taters and beans”.

They believed in working day and night.  Dad farmed at day time and worked a midnight shift at a meat locker.  Mother worked in the field by day and quilted and mended clothing at night.

They believed in labor and toil.  Some jobs were steady and long hours.  Others were intense and could only be done a short time before resting by an easier job.  I saw them work steadily for six days a week and then rest most of the time on Sunday.

They did not want to be a burden on the community.  There were people who had hard times and health problems or were aged who could not work and the resources available were to be reserved for them.  They acknowledge to us that some poor people in the community did not seem to get a fair shake in life because of the disadvantages they had from the day they were born.  They seemed to think they had been blessed and so they did not want and would not receive a hand out.

They were models and examples at work.  They laughed and worked joyfully playfully but with serious focus for it was important.  It provided food and shelter.  Their rule was borrowed from the Bible.  “No work. No eat.”

They did not like to spend time with lazy, idle busy body kind of people.  They pointed out to us the kind of workers they wanted us to be and the kind of person they hoped we would not be.

They taught us to settle down and do your work and don’t waste time judging what others are doing that is easy money.

This morning I was approaching the election for the leadership of America tomorrow and just got to thinking about what my preacher said yesterday.  He said to us he had an extra “free” sermon for us in addition to the normal lesson.  

1.       Go out and vote your conscience if you haven’t.

2.       Keep a kind and loving attitude to all people regardless of their views.  Don’t lose your Christian witness over something like this.

3.       Pray for God to bless the leadership of America.

He also reminded us during the other sermon to remember that God gives lessons of His love through

“rain from heaven and crops in season.”

Larry Wishard

11.7.16