I finally asked, “ Now what, Mother ?” She hesitated only a moment, almost as though she were “ listening” for in structions. Then with a smile right out of the Bible, she looked directly at us: “ Now what? Well, children, first we’re going to pray. Our safety is with God. Then we’re going to prepare for what ever He is preparing fo r us. In every least thing He will wonderfully plan for us. Then we’re going to please Him by praising Him. We must trust Him utterly!” I thought perhaps she would ask one of us to verbalize her thoughts in prayer, but this was not at all her in tention. She wanted to talk to God per sonally, and personally she did! I can never, never forget God’s penetrating Presence in the room as we listened: “ Precious Father, joyfully I give you my dear husband, my life companion. He has been your gift of love to me, and I can never thank you enough for the years of joy we have shared. Now, Father, You know it is our fondest dream to observe our golden anniver sary. You know how we long to be to gether as a family. But I will not cling to my beloved against Your Will. I give him to You. Above all, may we show all the world what it really means to be a Christian.” We knew God understood, so we didn’t try to hide the tears. Victoriously we made the necessary family calls. And that day I discovered my Mother all over again. Once again she had con veyed her simple and beautiful pattern for every “Now what, Mother?” area of life. Day after day she prayed. Then she prepared her heart (and ours) for God’s plan, believing it to be always and only good. Above all, she praised Him whom she delighted to please. Through her rare consistency she taught us, her children, to praise Him, too. And on that shining anniversary day, with our family together just as we had dreamed, we praised Him most of dll? By Ruth Calkin
Over
Coffee The letters were in a special stack on my desk one year ago and they were all from very nervous program chair men. Most of them stated, “ I’m new this year and I’d like some help with my Mother and Daughter banquet.” I never started out to be an author ity on banquets, but with several hun dred a year and 25 Mother-Daughter banquets within six weeks of May and April, I have developed a keen sense of awareness as to what makes a good banquet or a waste-of-time banquet. So, here we are after a futile search in the libraries and book stores for ban quet books, one year later, with a book published on banquets. I’m still sur prised; but then I love the surprises God sends! What really makes a great banquet? GOALS Do you realize that this is certainly one lovely affair to which you can bring that friend, neighbor, or even Aunt Susie, who would never darken the door o f your church? For this reason it should come to mind quite early in the planning that the banquet or tea should be very special and have that “ extra” touch. The mothers and daugh ters should come away talking of the delicious food (mothers are such good cooks, your dinner better be hot, good and attractive), beautiful decorations (that will take work, but no one appre ciates them more than women), and the feeling that the program or speaker touched the needs in the life as a daughter or mother. ENTHUSIASM When I’ve asked program chairmen which attitude was most important in the chairman and committee, the an swer was unanimous: Enthusiasm! I f a member of your committee says, “ Oh, let’s not fuss this year,” she really means, “ Let’s use paper plates, no dec orations and last year’s devotional.” If she has to drop out of your planning committee for ANY reason— let her! A banquet planned without enthusiasm and oneness o f goals will be a drab, functional thing and, though people will attend, they will come expecting absolutely nothing and leave with just that . . . nothing. HARD WORK Anything worth while in life gener-
by Joyce Landorf
ally takes its toll in elbow grease. Now, I’m sure there are churches that go overboard in all their work, but they are far and few between. Hard work combined with much prayer can really give amazing results. A gymnasium can be transformed into a garden with plants borrowed from the Park Depart ment or a local nursery. A stuffy church basement can look as if it’s sit uated high on top of a hill when white folded paper doves are hung from the ceiling by strings. One committee of 13 women not only planned and worked, but prayed to gether each Tuesday for six weeks pre ceding the banquet. It was no coinci dence that in the six weeks which fol lowed, seven women found Christ. A good banquet will cost just about everything you have in time, planning, work and money, but the unique har vest is worth it all! “NOW WHAT, MOTHER . . .” Month after month we had been plan ning what we affectionately called the “ Big Event.” It had become a major family project — with long-distance calls, letters alive with anticipation, and happy thoughts crowding each oth er like drifting clouds. After fifty joy-packed years, Mother and Dad would soon observe their gold en wedding anniversary. In fact, it was to be a double celebration: F ifty years of “ wedded bliss,” and fifty years in the ministry for Jesus Christ. To add to the joy, we were all anticipating an almost complete family reunion — the first in twenty-five years. Then suddenly in the midst o f plan ning, my husband Rollin and I found ourselves standing with Mother beside a narrow hospital bed in a small, quiet room. Dad was desperately ill and we knew it. However, we were totally un prepared for the doctor’s slow, meas ured words a moment later: “ It would be wise to notify your family, Mrs. Harms. Your husband’s condition is ex tremely grave.” We said very little as we drove home with. Mother to make the necessary calls. I remember the three o f us sit ting there on the blue sofa. The room seemed safe and serene amidst the dear familiar objects. I glanced at a bowl of fresh pansies on the marble-topped table. How like Mother to have fresh flowers somewhere in the house!
KANDY
KAY
SAYS—
JUST FOR TOD A Y The sun shines through the cur tains, Our kitchen looks so bright; Mother's baking cookies And everything’s all right! Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. (Prov. 31:10) b y R u th C a l k in
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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