the children is that there might be an accident. A relative would be emotionally upset, but a housekeeper takes things of that sort in her stride. We feel that it is essential that the children be left in their own home where they will feel secure. It is im portant for a child to have his own bed and his own possessions around him. As the children have grown older, we have felt that it was important that they, too, have their own vacation. So we plan what amounts to two vacations. Dr. Hanna usually takes a month’s vacation. First we have a little time to ourselves, then we take the children to the beach or to the mountains. Most people cannot take that much time, but the plan will work for a week or two. Dr. Hanna and I have learned that vacations should be vacations. It’s too easy to bring .all the old rules and regu lations along with one, and all that happens is that the family is living in a different place. But vacation is some thing of the spirit. It’s a time to relax; so we try to relax the rules with the boys. We’re glad that they don’t have to be up at a set time to get to school, or to go to bed exactly on time. Clocks can be binding. When on vaca tion, we forget it as far as possible. Even devotions come in for new treatment. At home we usually take about twenty minutes for family worship, because the old clock is ticking away; but away from home we allow about an hour. We read a different Bible story book (I like The Child’s Story Bible by Vos), review the verses we have memorized during the year, and take plenty of time to answer the boys’ questions. It seems won derful to have all the time one wants to devote to God. After devotions we play with the children. Too often we don’t have the time to do this at home but now during vacation time we frequently get out the children’s dom inoes and play with them. There are a number of chil dren’s games that Clif and I enjoy playing with them. If you feel that you can’t take two vacations each year, you might be able to take a week end by yourselves and then spend the rest of the time with the children. Or you might take a vacation by yourselves one year and the next year take'one with your children. We’ve learned that both kinds of vacations have their place in our lives. I’ve found that others approve of separate parent-chil dren vacations. Recently a friend of mine, who is a law yer, told me, “When a couple comes to me for a divorce, the first question.I ask them is ‘How long since you’ve had a vacation without the children?’ Usually they say ‘never’ or ‘not for years.’ I advise them to go away to gether without the children and see how things work out. Many times that is all the couple needs, just a time to be alone together and rest.” It was good to have him agree with me, and I suggest separate vacations especially for Christians who feel that they must at all times be their best so that their life will count for Christ. r - v
TheHomeI Lire In Written by a ninety-year-old Christian woman
The house I live in has grown old Some parts of it are in decay;
The thatch upon the roof, once brown, The passing years have turned to gray.
Light through the window panes is dim So that I cannot clearly see; Th e new ones I have now outside Have been a wondrous help to me. The grinders from the kitchen gone; I miss their presence every day; Some others that I once put in Are of no service any way The unseen, noiseless engine beats; That has not ceased for ninety years; So still at work, but slower now, Its action to my sense appears And the warm liquid that it sends Through the old house to heat its walls Grows cold as round about the place Black winter's withering snowflake falls. Though I have had the house repaired Sometimes outside and oft within Yet as the silent years roll on I feel the walls are growing thin. 'Tw ill grieve me much to leave the place. Each nook and corner I revere, Sweet joyous days I've spent within Through many a bright, glad, golden year. T o me its walls are sacred too, W ithin them I have suffered long, But God has been my strength and stay In weakness He hath made me strong. And He has come and supped with me And soothed my sorrow, eased my pain. And made the place like Mary's home Bright with restored life again. Soon this old house will be dissolved Not lost, but only laid away, And I shall then be taken Home, W ithin my Father's House to stay. Till the whole family shall meet From every clime beneath the sky And this frail house be built anew For me once more to occupy, A tenant in a changeless house No windows dim, and no decay, N o sickness, sorrow and no death; T H E FORMER T H IN G S ARE PASSED A W A Y !
Mrs. Clifton Hanna is the w ife of a well-known Beverly H ills dentist and is the mother of three boys and one girl. FEBRUARY, 1961
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