Living Memories

July 11, 1998, three days after Dad passes

Dear Geviene,

Bill just asked why I wasn’t sleeping. I didn’t really have an answer, but I got up to put words on a page, I hope there’s some meaning in them when I’m through.

For months my family has prayed for yours and when I would hear Grant pray for “Bro. Perkins”, it made me sad that he didn’t really know him and also glad how the circle of life flows. Someone who was so real to me was also real to my son, but in a very different way.

I felt comforted today. The service was so comforting to me. Words were expressed so well what echoed in my brain of memories. I was a kid – just a girl who had friendships and fun in your home. But I too – took away much more than the fun. As an adult, as a parent, as a wife, I draw from all those experiences. I know that I always will too. I have them so clearly in my head & my heart. As much as Arlene & Robert, as much as Robert & Martha, you and Bob are examples for me. I thank you for that.

It was good to see the family. I‘m sorry I wasn’t able to stay & visit. I’m so glad you broke in the line before the service – I needed that hug! But as I saw them & heard them speak and pray, it became clearer to me... Clearer like when I would read a fantastic article that Greg had written in a church bulletin; clearer as I heard a beautiful prayer while visiting in Corpus; clearer as I sat by a grand-daughter at a tea & listened to the childish conversation, clear that he will continue in the lives of those who he has touched... His family the most – but me in a small, yet big way. Maybe it was big because of where I was in my life; I soaked up a lot. I am so glad.

I am sorry for your loss. It is great. I know you’ll find peace in Christ & through him. The memories will be a comfort too – wherever your walk now takes you. They will not fade. My memories will continue to guide me & encourage me. Thank you. I just wanted to let you know what I felt. The love & appreciation I have for you & your family. You will continue to be in my family’s prayers.

May God comfort & strengthen you.

Much Love

Ruby

Faithful Love, Quiet Mercies and Unknown Kindnesses

Dad was sick for about a year before he finally passed. During that time a host of letters, cards and emails came through. I asked mom if I could have them and since she is down sizing she passed them to me. I cried most of the time as I was reading through all of it. I am publishing a few on our family page because a lot of my nephews and nieces were so young when Dad died that they don't remember him very well. My parents were incredible people. How lucky for me and my brothers.

June 21, 1998 (18 days before dad passes)

My dearest Bob and Geviene, words are very hard to come by when your heart is so full of gratitude. When someone has helped your family in so many ways it seems “thank-you” is inadequate. However, I came across a couple of lines on a book that brought you both to mind immediately.

When I was so tired I didn’t think I could move and I had no idea how I was going to clean house and care for our brand new child, Geviene and Carolyn came through the door and answered all my prayers. It was a small thing to you, but it was a mountain to me. Not only did you care for my physical needs but you also set an example of Christian love that has been with me from that moment. While that seemed like a mountain the next problem you solved was a whole mountain range. When we lost our home and everything else your offer to buy our house was wonderful and such a load off our shoulders. It made it much easier for us to get back on our feet knowing you were willing to help. Jack had a hard time understanding such love and kindness from outside his worldly family. It was a wonderful example for us both.

Through the years, with 3 growing children, you have been a great resource for love, examples, words of wisdom. For all this I thank you from the depths of my heart.

The book I was reading was “Good News from North Haven”. It is a fictional account of a small town and the members of a small Presbyterian church. The author is a Presbyterian minister and it’s a mix of churches and people he has dealt with. In a chapter entitled “The Little Things” he comes to a wonderful conclusion about how important little things are- “They are important because the mark a man or woman makes on this world is most often a trail of faithful love and quiet mercies and unknown kindnesses.”

This is you my dear friends. I hope the remaining time will bring you comfort and peace and that we will meet again in a far better place. With deep affection and gratitude.

Dixie

I've changed a few names.

Facing Death with Gratitude

I was in Houston this week-end helping mom prepare to move and was going through some of Dad’s papers. I ran across a package of printed emails that were sent to him when he was sick. I heard that Dad kept a Gratitude Book but have never seen it but here is an excerpt that Mom quoted in an email she sent out.

Feb 9th

- I’m grateful for Geviene who cares for me so much.

- For the book I am reading

- For friends who care for me

- For God who has always loved me

- For the cancer which has showed me how much I have been blessed

Feb 13th

- A family who enjoys laughing together

- A God who answers prayer

- Reminders of those who are praying for me

- Lunch with Scott’s family... loving grand daughters

Feb 14th

- Hearing and laughing at Rob joking with the nurses

- Rob’s progress at the clinic

- Cards and sentiments that people write in them

- News that a patients lung tumor was not malignant

Feb 15th

- Worshipping God with Geviene and Greg (in his room)

- Finding the right scripture

- Going to Scotts for lunch

- Talking with Walker

Preparation for Prayer

I don’t know about you but I don’t pray very well unless I have prepared myself for prayer… both in private and public prayer.

Personally, I don’t like to open worship services with a prayer. I like to pray a little deeper into the service when I have had time to sing a few songs and reflect on the words, and the needs of my brothers and sisters in Christ, etc.

Also, in private prayer if I think “oh I need to pray” and start praying then those prayers tend to be short and routine. If I can begin my day by reading from God’s word or by reflecting on my blessings or problems then my prayers have more depth to them.

Holy people of old prepared themselves for prayer by fasting and wearing humble clothing.

Prayer is important but not just praying for the sake of praying. Prepare yourselves for prayer. I’ve got a feeling that God doesn’t want to hear prayers recited from memory but rather prayers generated from the heart.

Thoughts on Romans 11:5-14

“What then? that which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened” (Romans 11:7)

Israel was seeking for salvation from God but did not obtain it because they thought they could acquire it through the “works” found in the Law.

The Elected (not the rejected) were able to obtain salvation because they accepted God’s grace (Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11)

“According as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day” (Romans 11:8)

The “spirit of stupor” was given to those who were seeking salvation by the works of the Law and in doing so rejected God’s grace (Jesus Christ). God did not make them stupid so they couldn’t accept Christ, they had already rejected Jesus because they could not see past the Law. He allowed them to steep in their stupor.

If Paul who wrote this truly believed that God was hiding Jesus Christ from the Jews he would not risk his life teaching in their synagogues on a daily basis.

God himself tried to trump this “spirit of stupor” by extending his grace to the non-Jews to create a “spirit of jealousy” (Romans 11:14) to open their eyes so they could see Jesus Christ.

The non-believing Jews would become jealous of the Roman Christians as they saw their spiritual blessings transferred to Roman (non-Jewish) Christians. Things like the Apostles, miracles and other wonderful things from God.

Impressive Obituary

I read obituaries every day and a few stand out. Dauris Granberry was one of our clients who I did a lot of cattle work for. I was impressed with her even before I read this impressive obituary.

Dauris Ann Jackson Granberry “flew away to heaven” March 9, 2011. Her giggling, girlish sense of humor was present with each conscious breath. She told each attending nurse or aid how handsome or pretty and wonderful they were, for a Southern Lady is always gracious. She taught her children that even when you have been slighted it is far better “to heap coals of kindness” upon the heads of those who irritated or vexed you than to berate them or be rude. “Besides,” she would say with an impish smile and wicked little twinkle in her eye, “it works better!” Dauris Ann was a strong, independent woman. A wonderful photographer, a knowledgeable rancher and a great lover of birds and wildflowers, a catcher of frogs, tolerant of snakes and a lover of all the outdoors. She was more at home in a sea kayak than a Cadillac, scuba gear than a cocktail dress, or a pair of jeans and a chambray work shirt holding the nasty, manure-laden tail of a calf about to be branded than at a ladies luncheon. All her cows were named, in a code that she and her soul mate, Bill, had contrived together. They could trace the lineage of a heifer back generations just by hearing the name. Bill, having a day job, left the day-to-day ranching operations to her. If the phone rang during supper, and it was someone calling about an ad for young bulls for sale, Bill would say, ”Hang on, let me get the expert on the phone”, and he would hand the phone to Dauris Ann.

She gave her children and grandchildren humor, a love of literature, and a strong streak of rebelliousness. She had her picture taken in front of the White House while standing on her head. It wasn’t political, it was just fun! She taught that you did things because they were right, not popular; you were polite, not because someone one earned or deserved it, but because you had to look in the mirror sooner or later, and you owed it to yourself to treat the world the way you wanted to be treated. If they didn’t deserve it, well, see coals of kindness above. She was a Cub Scout den-mother, and an (almost) tireless chauffer to gymnastics, little league and football practices. Once we could drive, and turn on the stove without burning down the house, she announced that she was resigning as a short-order cook, and she would fix what she and Bill wanted and, if we wanted something else, we could rustle for ourselves. She ensured that we learned to cook by fixing brussel sprouts, green beans and a host of other “healthy” stuff no self-respecting teenager could stomach. Sometimes, we felt a little sorry for Dad and snuck him something good!

She taught all the neighborhood kids how to ride their bicycles. She put on puppet shows, put up tents in the backyard, served gallons of Kool-aid to all the galloping hordes in the neighborhood. (Real cokes were reserved for trips to the ranch-limit two per day!) Bad grammar cost you a quarter. She did not give much of an allowance, but she and Bill paid anyone willing to work minimum wage. A lot of bicycles, air rifles and movies were paid for by money earned working cows or cleaning fence lines or hauling, stacking, or feeding hay, building fence, shredding pastures or any of the other numerous chores that stack up on a place.

Our little bird has flown, and her soul has joined the spring migration.

Is Homosexuality a Sin?

I’ve been disappointed lately in the number of Christians, including our President, who have come out in support of Homosexual marriage. It tells me that they either don’t respect what the Bible says or they are not well informed about what it teaches.

The teaching against Homosexuality is just as clear as is the teaching “not to kill”…

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination” (Leviticus 18:22)

“Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13)

Both of these things are sins against God and unless repented of will result in eternal condemnation. Christians who don’t speak out against such things are just as guilty.

The Bible is clear about how God expects his people to live but clearly some people won’t take the time to find out.