3.24- On the week of Sheila’s parents anniversary.

3.24-

On the week of Sheila’s parents anniversary.

Taxi driver :“Are you a good dad?”

Pretend rich guy London utilities trader: “Yeah, I’m the best. I keep a roof over their head, I give them the best of everything. And I’ve never laid a hand in them, never would.

Taxi driver: “That’s the bare minimum mate. Don’t pat yourself on the back for that.”

The Nest, Sean Durkin

This part of the movie moved my heart as I reflected on my life and its blessings. This week I remembered the anniversary of Ralph and Gladys Self who both had been moved to heaven by 2011.

They had high standards of what good family life was to be. Ralph was a hard worker at anything he did. He and Gladys grew up in the farm fields north of Paris, Texas in Lamar county, Texas. Direct, Tiger Town. Visits to the big city of Paris on weekends. Maybe a quarter for a movie on Saturday night.

They married young and in love. She left the work at the soda fountain and after graduating from community college they moved to Port Neches, Texas where he worked hard and became a manger and shift superintendent at Arco Refinery. She was a Mrs. Cleaver type housewife.

They focused on doing the best they could to love each other and their children and grandchildren and in laws like me. They hugged each other often and hugged the children and grandchildren freely. There is something about a holy hug that just pours positive drugs throughout your system. Triptophan, Cortisol and serotonin.

They both worked to be genuine, real people. They were loved by their siblings, children and grandchildren. They didn’t meddle. They didn’t overreact to decisions of their adult children.

They loved keeping their house and yard and cars in perfect as possible condition.

Sunday morning they went to Bible School and Church. 52 weeks per year.

This movie has some moments that made me remember the things that are very negative for family life. Pretension. Out of control eating, drinking, drugs and parties.

It presented what is healthy. After failures there can be repentance, reconciliation and back to the hard work. Working with your hands to move hay to feed horses and cows. Moving the fertilizer from the barn to the field and growing tomatoes, onions, potatoes, cabbage, radishes and carrots. Serving breakfast for yourself and your family. Quietly having bread, butter, coffee, tea or cold Dr. Pepper.

1 Thess. 5.

12 But we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who diligently labor among you and [h]are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you [i]instruction, 13 and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the [j]unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit, 20 do not utterly reject [k]prophecies, 21 but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, 22 abstain from every [l]form of evil.

2 Thess. 3.

6 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you [d]keep away from every brother or sister who [e]leads a [f]disorderly life and not one in accordance with the tradition which [g]you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to [h]follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you, 8 nor did we eat [i]anyone’s bread [j]without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; 9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a role model for you, so that you would [k]follow our example. 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now we command and exhort such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ to work [l]peacefully and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary of doing good.

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1Larry Wilterdink