The Hope

The news cycle on Saturday, January 21, 2017, caused distress for rational people all over our nation as they viewed hate-filled women using profanity and shouting vile, even traitorous, messages. As I watched the clips being played on TV, I felt an intense sadness and wondered about hope for young girls growing up in this culture. Then, late in the day, I received a reminder.

Julianne, a serious scholar and incredible athlete I was privileged to teach during my time as a university professor, had posted a picture on Facebook of herself with her younger daughter. This photo was taken following an activity when mothers and daughters separately wrote messages to each other and then shared them at the Mother-Daughter brunch they were attending.

When I saw the picture and read the message Julianne’s daughter had written, tears brimmed in my eyes and I knew I was being reminded of The Hope. Julianne wrote above the picture, “ . . . it was such an honor to receive this message from my sweet Millie. I am so thankful that she understands what is most important to me and chooses to serve Him. What a blessing it was to spend time together this morning praying for one another.  . . . ”

Julianne is an awesome Christian mom to her daughters, Millie and Mattie, (and to her sons) and she is reaping the rewards of her faithfulness. I pray that many young mothers in my community and throughout our nation will come to know Christ in the way Julianne knows and loves Him so they can share that love with their children.

“Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.” Psalm 33:22 (NLT)


(Picture used with permission)

The Good Old Days?

A friend recently posted on Facebook about patterned feed/flour sacks that were used for making clothing in the 1930’s and 40’s. That brought back lots of memories for me since I wore dresses made from feed sacks.

Back in the “good old days,” the common people – my people - washed and saved feed sacks and traded patterns to get enough material for whatever they were wanting to make. Feed sacks came in many prints - stripes, geometrics, florals and novelty prints. They also came in solid colors and border prints.

My dad was a minister and many of the printed sacks we used came from members of his congregation. Those who raised livestock had the most to share, but it still took a long time to get enough fabric for a dress. Feed sack fashions way back when were not a fad, but rather a necessity.

While watching the Prime Minister of Japan during his visit to Hawaii a few days ago, I was reminded of how difficult that attack made our lives because of the rationing of goods - flour, wheat, sugar, dry goods, lard, rayon, nylon, leather, gasoline, tires for cars - to name a few. Each family was allotted tokens and stamps by the government. Without these, many things could not be purchased. Growing a garden and preserving produce was a necessity for survival, and neighbors took care of each other by sharing their crops.

I'm very grateful for parents who were willing to work hard so we had the things we needed. My mom could turn an old, worn adult-size coat inside out, cut her own pattern, and make a nice looking coat to keep a child warm during the winter, and we shared outgrown clothing with our friends. Children could identify their next outfits by observing their primary donors. We walked most places. Gasoline was saved for necessary trips.

I will never forget the day I lost a token while on an errand to the little grocery store down the street. We simply did without the item that token would have allowed us to purchase.

I have many memories of this era. Doing without, the frightening air raid sirens and blackouts, and watching a friend sob after military representatives arrived at their door to inform them that her big brother would not be coming home comprise just a few of these memories.

I have great memories of my childhood and our caring parents. The war is a gray blotch on those memories.

~ Pictures from Pinterest