Well, hello there, seems like we were just here, yesterday, if my memory serves me well. And, I do bid you a God blessed day on this Wednesday, March 12, 2025. I was prone to be a daydreamer as a kid and my grandfather used to say that I woke up in a new world every minute, or something like that. We were often out in the woods cutting down trees and sawing them up for firewood. He wanted me to spend more time focusing on my end of the crosscut saw than dreaming about Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone. Maybe it was because of the difficult life he had experienced or having survived two world wars and the Great Depression, but, he did take his work seriously, seriously. When I would drag my end of the saw a little, he would stop and say, "Son, I did not eat your breakfast this morning, so quit leaning on the saw. Get with now, you hear?" I was likely not so pleased to hear an ongoing rattle of admonitions so early in the morning, but, my how I would love to hear them again as I rewind and play those archived memories stored somewhere in one of those mental filing cabinets. You see? My grandad didn't just bark. He always showed up to do as much as anyone else. It was like his moral duty. He wasn't necessarily articulate, but, his message was always clear as a bell. (Pure as the sound of a bell; also, readily understood. For example, Did you understand the message I left you?—Yes, clear as a bell . This simile, which alludes to the bell's clarity owing to lack of overtones, was already a proverb in John Ray's English Proverbs (1670).) His lessons were more caught than taught. He believed in getting up every day and doing what he could in whatever activity he was involved in. When Granny couldn't do much because of her many ailments he would handle the kitchen work just like he handled his end of the saw. If a neighbor needed help he would show up with his carpenter tools in hand. He did as much as he could to show me how to do things. I was not so much inclined to pick up on the many work activities, but, I learned early on how such an unassuming man can be most influential in handing down his values and his faith.
I know. I talk a lot about my granddad. I had others in our extended family that were of great help in molding me into the person I would become. I feel so blessed. I may not have recognized it at the time but I had so many people doing their best to look out for my well being. Most of them have gone on to their reward. I remember hearing a sermon by the late Dr. Jerry Falwell where he made some comments about those in heaven. He used Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." In his way of seeing it, the crowd of witnesses include those who have gone on to heaven and they are watching us run our race here and they are cheering us on. The passage goes on to say this: "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin." (verses as rendered in the New Living Translation) I'm not certain Dr. Falwell is right about those in the stands, but, it is a mighty good thought to see so many beloved to me hooping and hollering in their support of my race here. I do like the thought. I really do. What say you? (I've always taught the crowd or cloud of witnesses are the examples and testimonies set forth by those we read about in The Scriptures.) I still like his thoughts. Now you go out there and have yourself one special day because God is cheering us all on. He is. He really is! Amen.
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