Sunset sky at Andra and Michael Harris's wedding
Day and Night
13 years ago
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Well, well...
Yesterday my mother's doctor told her that, in his experience, patients who pray and believe in God get better faster and stay well longer than his non-believing patients.
Monday, April 27, 2009
The words of my Great-Great-Grandfather Cross
My maternal grandmother was born May 17, 1904 somewhere in Kansas. Her name was Theo Nettie Jane Smith, but her mother's maiden name was Nora Cross. Nora Cross married Julius Smith and bore him two sons, Roy and Pete, and three daughters, Theo (my grandmother), Nora, Alberta and Pearl.
When my Grandma Theo was nine years old, her mother died, leaving Theo to step in as the homemaker and mother to her little sisters. The family lived on a Kansas farm and her dad and brothers had all they could do to work the crops and care for the animals. Theo was in charge of the house and farmyard with its chickens and pigs. She learned to cook for a big hungry family everyday, as well as wash all the clothes and clean the house.
I have heard this story many, many times and always felt so sad for my grandma. She had to bear with the grief of losing her mother and then, suddenly, had to take on her mother's household responsibilities.
Not many of my grandmother's belonging survive from those early days, but we do have a letter that her Grandpa Cross sent to her sometime after her mother's death. He obviously loved Theo and wanted to encourage her. I want to share his words, just as he wrote them, because I find them very touching. He must have been pretty elderly or ill because he didn't expect to live long after the letter was written. His handwriting is beautiful script that varies in size as he covers the page. He writes all the way to bottom and finishes with a couple of broken phrases that float on the page in a meditative, brooding way. For what they are worth, here are my great-great-grandfather Cross's words:
"Darling,
As this may be my last [letter] to you I am going to send you this little boot of purer gold than the other. It's this
When you wake up in the morning, just think, Lord, I am one of your creatures. I am yours, You made me. I am yours. You know all about me thousands times more than I know about myself. You know my faults, failings, weaknesses and sins. Please do the best you can with what there is of me to do with today, and make as much of me as there is to make with to please you . And help me to improve myself.
Then at night, think Lord I am ashamed of myself that I did so little to improve myself, but you know all about our weaknesses. I thank you for mercy forgiveness and grace. Forgive my sins and love me still. I know you do. Oh I am so thankfull.
Now you need not use these words sometimes others will be better. sometimes you will want advise. Ask for it then do the best you can think, he will lead your thinking but if you get a wrong understanding and do the wrong thing, he will take charge of the results.
It may take you a long time to understand him, but he understands you!
And you may be sure he loves you more than I do. that's lots, heaps, tons, and bushels and he will be proud of what he can make of you.
Of course I know that soon he will open your eyes to his teachings. then you can read his saying and acts understandingly. little by little, step at a time, until you won't read the Bible as smart people do but as he wants you. But you lean on him, he understands the bible as he understands you.
Your "dearest"
Grandpa
Of course I know that you will forget morning after morning, night after night but if you keep trying it will become easy in time.
Then something else will come. A change, you will hardly notice it or it may be sudden that depends.
When my Grandma Theo was nine years old, her mother died, leaving Theo to step in as the homemaker and mother to her little sisters. The family lived on a Kansas farm and her dad and brothers had all they could do to work the crops and care for the animals. Theo was in charge of the house and farmyard with its chickens and pigs. She learned to cook for a big hungry family everyday, as well as wash all the clothes and clean the house.
I have heard this story many, many times and always felt so sad for my grandma. She had to bear with the grief of losing her mother and then, suddenly, had to take on her mother's household responsibilities.
Not many of my grandmother's belonging survive from those early days, but we do have a letter that her Grandpa Cross sent to her sometime after her mother's death. He obviously loved Theo and wanted to encourage her. I want to share his words, just as he wrote them, because I find them very touching. He must have been pretty elderly or ill because he didn't expect to live long after the letter was written. His handwriting is beautiful script that varies in size as he covers the page. He writes all the way to bottom and finishes with a couple of broken phrases that float on the page in a meditative, brooding way. For what they are worth, here are my great-great-grandfather Cross's words:
"Darling,
As this may be my last [letter] to you I am going to send you this little boot of purer gold than the other. It's this
When you wake up in the morning, just think, Lord, I am one of your creatures. I am yours, You made me. I am yours. You know all about me thousands times more than I know about myself. You know my faults, failings, weaknesses and sins. Please do the best you can with what there is of me to do with today, and make as much of me as there is to make with to please you . And help me to improve myself.
Then at night, think Lord I am ashamed of myself that I did so little to improve myself, but you know all about our weaknesses. I thank you for mercy forgiveness and grace. Forgive my sins and love me still. I know you do. Oh I am so thankfull.
Now you need not use these words sometimes others will be better. sometimes you will want advise. Ask for it then do the best you can think, he will lead your thinking but if you get a wrong understanding and do the wrong thing, he will take charge of the results.
It may take you a long time to understand him, but he understands you!
And you may be sure he loves you more than I do. that's lots, heaps, tons, and bushels and he will be proud of what he can make of you.
Of course I know that soon he will open your eyes to his teachings. then you can read his saying and acts understandingly. little by little, step at a time, until you won't read the Bible as smart people do but as he wants you. But you lean on him, he understands the bible as he understands you.
Your "dearest"
Grandpa
Of course I know that you will forget morning after morning, night after night but if you keep trying it will become easy in time.
Then something else will come. A change, you will hardly notice it or it may be sudden that depends.
_______________________________________________________
Theo went on to marry young and have seven children of her own. She and my Grandfather, Jacob Ennes Thiessen, moved to California during the dustbowl days when their farm blew out from under them in Kansas. They were strong people who lived for their family and enjoyed them tremendously.
Grandma must have cherished this letter from her grandfather because it was among her belongings when she died. She had lived up to his hopes for her as she and Grandpa Jake headed a family of scores of people who still walk in faith to this day.
Friday, April 24, 2009
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