A FEW WEEKS AGO I finally complet ed a task I had put off for months — a task that I knew had to be done, but one that would take a great deal of strength and determination. The task of packing, fo r the last time, all her personal clothes and belongings. I will never forget the moment when I opened Mother’s closet to begin my loving duty. The closet had been closed since her death a few months before. She had fully expected to come home from U.C.L.A. Medical Center and pick up where she had left off, so the clothes were as she left them. The fragrance that met and overwhelmed me brought back a thousand memories. Her favor ite cologne mingled with the light scent of her hair spray brought a vivid pic ture of her lovely face and beautiful brown eyes. Still pinned to her dresses were her P.T.A. pin (she had been spiritual advisor) and her Christian sorority pin (she had been a counse lor), and while she hadn’t a cold in a year or two, her pockets held kleenex that at one time had probably been used to weep with some burdened soul or were used to soak up tears o f joy from her face. When I finished, there were three boxes: one for the Salvation Army, one for my aunt and grandmother, and one for a dear friend. Those three' boxes held all her very personal ef fects from her closet and her dresser. I stood, at the end o f the day, looking wearily at those boxes thinking, “ Is this all of her?” Three boxes for 57 years o f being a minister’s wife, a mother to three and some thirty years of introducing people to her Lord and Saviour? “ No,” came the resounding answer, “ she has left you three ware houses full of a Christian heritage that is priceless.” Then, as I stood there I remembered the three lovely gifts her memory will always inspire. (1) She left me a Sense of Humor. It was she who taught me, by ex ample, that when you managed a run in your hose just as you were getting out of the car, you didn’t say, “ Oh dear, I’ve got a run;” you said, “ My, look at that run. Have you noticed they are wearing them this year?” To test your sense of humor, tell me, what is your reaction when your child spills his second glass of milk in front o f com pany? If you take yourself very seri- iously, you will not find anything funny in this, but if you have a “ sane esti mate of your capabilities,” as Paul says, you will be able to smile at least. The Scripture says, “ A merry heart doeth good. . . .” Children do not come by humor too naturally, but with just a little en couragement, they can develop delight ful senses. I pray fo r your children as well as mine, that we might encourage and develop their sense o f humor, that as life repeatedly hits them, they will respond with an inner joy. (2) She left me with a Sense of Forgiveness. Among her correspondence, I found a letter written to a man who had left my father’s church. He had left in
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“ MOM, YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND . . .” Y ou h ear IT oyer and over—too many times to count, really. You’re be wildered, frustrated, and just plain hurt. A fter all, a mother has feelings, too, and more than anything else, you want your attractive, intelligent teen ager to be convinced o f your genuine love. That’s why you’re always avail able, always eager to help with her plans and decisions. That’s why you ache to know what she really thinks. I f only she’d talk to you! When she was just a baby, you joy fully committed her to God. You’ve al ways considered her His gift, and through the years you’ve sheltered so many joy-filled dreams for her future. Now you’re confused, even frightened. Suddenly — or perhaps not so sudden ly — you feel you’ve lost a daughter. How do you react, what do you do, when she looks at you condescending ly and says, “ Mom, you just don’t un derstand!” You do the only safe thing you can do: You leave her where you put her years ago — in God’s hands. Even when she seems content to coast along, ignoring God, you can be certain God is not ignoring her, nor your commit ment. And then you go right on loving her. Loving, not smothering, unless you want an emotionally crippled daughter. You will permit her to face disappointments realistically, as a nor mal part of living. Since you have already introduced her to Jesus Christ, you will pray daily (often hourly) that God will create within her a deep hunger for Himself. Your hopes for her are high, but His are even higher. He wants her life linked with His — solidly! Above all, you will remember that your control over your daughter must be the result of God’s control over you ! By Ruth Calkin
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by Joyce Landorf much anger — most o f it directed to ward my mother. The letter written in pencil, intended to be rewritten in ink after she came home from the hospital, was a masterpiece of God’s love and forgiveness. My father and I wept as we read her words to this man, “ Oh dear sir, forgive me if I have been a stumbling block in your life,” and later, “ . . . even if you don’t come back to our church, forgive me and serve Christ in another church. You are so needed for His service and He needs workers like you.” The verse in Ephesians 4:32 tells us to forgive, but it does not stop there, it says to forgive AS God through Christ has forgiven us. What a re quirement for forgiving! (3) She left me with a Sense of Wonder. Early in my childhood she began teaching me wonder. The wonder of a flower, a painting, a song, a poem, a piece of cantaloupe, a sunset, and the awesome wonder of God. She had the “ wonder of common things.” Several times I caught her smiling at her kitchen sink. When I could contain my curiosity no longer, I questioned her about it. She gave me the clearest set of reasons fo r smiling at our kitch en sink. With a great sense of wonder she explained that the dishes were done (wonder o f wonders), the sink was clean and sparkling, and that she felt much gratitude for her sink, as many people of the world never had a sink or known running tap water, or ever washed in hot suds. The won der of common things! Most of all though, was her wonder o f God’s love, grace and goodness. If she could have phoned this morning, she would have said, “ Good morning, Honey, what wonderful thing has God done in your life today?” I would have answered with David, the Psalmist’s words, “ I will sing unto the Lord for He hath dealt bountifully with me!”
Brighten the corner . . . In every departm ent store you can fin d these darling little flower pots to brighten your com er or (your kitchen window) but ,1've found they are a little expensive. So take a good look at the expensive ones and then do a little shopping and creating on your own. The little pots pictured above were found for 29c each, then I set plastic daisies into a little floral clay and added white gravel stones to the top of the pot. A ll supplies were found in the dime store and the cost was $1.45. Add to your window sill your own favorite collection o f animals (mine are sparrows) and you w ill have brightened your corner considerably.
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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