HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving Weekend.......Oh, the many joys and memories we have for that wonderful long weekend in November.  Some people are busy buying Christmas presents early before stores run out.  Many of us are busy cooking and baking as we expect family members to invade our houses.  And of course, the football games are number one!  Family reunions are special as we take time to visit with aunts and uncles, cousins and grandkids because we realize Thanksgiving is the only time in the year we see them.  Plane travel is especially tedious because everybody is flying to see someone somewhere.

Yes, during my 86 years on earth I still have wonderful memories of those Thanksgiving weekends.  I remember how my Aunt Frances would take my brother and me plus our cousins into NYC to visit the Museum of Natural History on the day after Thanksgiving.  We would walk a few blocks from her house in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ to Rt 17 to catch the bus into the city.  How exciting to spend hours in that museum learning about our country, its history and growth. Usually winter had not descended on us so we enjoyed local football games.

But what are we celebrating that weekend?  Thanksgiving.......giving thanks.......to whom?  Do we remember why we have that weekend and, especially that day?

The history of Thanksgiving is very interesting.  Remember, the Pilgrims arrived in New England on the Mayflower ship in 1620.  They were running away from religious persecution in England and the Netherlands and chose to sail to that new country available across the Atlantic Ocean.  About 100 Pilgrims finally signed up for the voyage and many days were passed due to legal proceedings with various lawmakers regarding permission to land in the New England area.  Their voyage was not without difficulties with storms and breakdowns of ship equipment so the trip was not easy.  Even landing was a difficulty as the Pilgrims searched for a safe area. The Pilgrims discovered vacant Indian villages which they later discovered had been struck with lethal diseases so that none had survived.  They finally found landing at Plymouth and were most grateful to meet an Indian named Squanto.  He had been captured by some explorers before the devastating diseases wiped out his village.  While in England Squanto escaped his slave holders and was able to return to the colonies. He had learned English while he was in England and could help the Pilgrims.  Squanto had become a Christian, trusted the Pilgrims and taught them how to grow vegetables and other food supplies because he had been educated in England.

Then came the time of harvest.  Because of Squanto's help and the assistance of the entire Wampanoag tribe the Pilgrims survived.  However, their first winter in the new country had been harsh.  Only 53 of the Pilgrims survived due too starvation and cold.  But now the harvest of the new year proved to be enough to last an entire winter.  The Pilgrims decided to hold a feast and invited Squanto, and Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoags and another Indian, Samoset.  The Indians heartily agreed and brought their entire families.  That meant there were now 90 people at this feast.  The Indians very generously brought turkey, duck, fish, deer, berries, squash and cornbread.  What a celebration!  And that was the 'First Thanksgiving'.  The Pilgrims chose to thank God for protecting them, for giving them Squanto, for giving them food to eat and knowledge to grow food in their new country.  The Pilgrims finally believed they would survive in this new land.

Now, think about it.  What will be celebrating this Thanksgiving weekend???  Are we just enjoying family reunions, football games, and big dinners?  When I think of how comfortable we are living in the USA, able to shop for anything, protected by our country, food available at every street corner.......how much time do we take to thank God for all we have?  We are blessed and we need to thank our Lord God every day.  Thanksgiving Day was officially pronounced by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1941 to be celebrated by our country and to take time to thank the God of the universe for all that we have and for all that we are.  Let us never forget to thank our great God.

Will COVID never end?

This week, Vista Springs was put on 'lockdown' again as we had five active cases of COVID.  This time however the lockdown was not as strict.  But we were unable to have visitors, were unable to participate in group activities, we were basically confined to our apartments, ate in the dining room but only one person at a table and we suffered isolation.  The management, of course, followed safe procedures to prevent the spread of COVID.  But I couldn't help asking myself, is COVID ever going to end?  And the answer is, probably not.  However, there are many communicable diseases floating around this world which makes us very aware and careful.  But do we have to go through all the rules of isolation?

I can remember measles, mumps, chicken pox, whooping cough, polio in my school and neighborhood while growing up in New Jersey and we all took these sicknesses in stride and just lived VERY carefully. We never had lockdowns.  Instead, I remember signs on our front porch "MEASES" or "MUMPS" indicating someone in our house currently had that disease.  But we all just respected the fact that certain diseases were communicable and the signs told people to be careful and 'stay away' while the signs were posted.

The worst part of lockdowns is that we suffer 'loneliness'.  And I'm talking now about people like me who are living in "Assisted Living Facilities".  Here we are living 'alone', no close family with us, and now, in addition the 'lockdown' intensifies the loneliness.  The management here at Vista Springs has shown great support by creatively thinking of activities we do alone in our rooms, but it is not the same as talking and joking with fellow residents.  So we are looking forward to freedom from lockdowns.

Yes, COVID will never end and neither will all the other communicable diseases in our world.  We have to live with this reality that there will always be medical dangers in our sin-filled world.  We are faced with another reminder of our constant attacks by the enemy of God, Satan.  In our environment we sometimes forget that we live under constant danger from the Enemy.  Even though Jesus died on the cross and thereby proved Satan the loser, the Enemy still invades our lives.  Whether it be attacks on our minds or attacks on our physical bodies, Satan will always try to capture us.

What do we do?  Let me share what I do.  I constantly pray for protection and guidance from my Lord and Savior.  There are moments in my day that I sit outside in the beautiful weather of these autumn days (like today) and as the warm sun engulfs me and as I gaze at the red, yellow, and orange leaves of the trees, I am immersed in the presence of our great Creator, God Almighty and I pray.  What an amazing God.  He chose these fall colors on the trees because He wanted beauty to come into our lives.  Never forget.  When we pray, God listens because Scripture tells me He listens. When I pray to the Lord I feel protected and comforted and I smile knowing God is with me.

My prayer does not mean I will never get a cold but I know God will be with me.  I did suffer from COVID.  Back in April, 2020, both Dick and I tested positive for COVID here at Vista Springs. We were confined to our apartment and I do remember being quite sick with mental confusion, flu like symptoms and extremely fatigued.  Dick began breathing heavily and I knew the COVID had hit his lungs.  He died from COVID on May 6, 2020 at age 91.  Yes, COVID hit us hard.  But, miracle of miracles I survived.

The Lord is with us and we don't understand His timing but we trust Him for His love to us.  Yes, COVID is bad and we don't like the rules and interruptions of our usual carefree lives.  But we must obey those rules, understanding that rules protect us.

In the "Amplified Version of the Bible", Matthew, verse 20 states, "lo, I am with you all the days- perpetually, uniformly and on every occasion- to the very close and consummation of the age.  Amen - so let it be."      Remember, GOD IS WITH US!

The Story of America

I have been doing a lot of reading about our early country.  We have an incredible history and story about how our United States of America was born.  For starters let's think about the men who courageously signed their names on the Declaration of Independence.  This was a brave, meaningful decision fully knowing that their names could bring sudden death by firing squad if the British so desired.  But at that time these men fully believed that this new country they were building was what God ordained.  And three to four hundred years later, look what the US of A has become!  The most powerful nation on earth.  And Who has led us, Who has encouraged us, --our Lord God.  When you look back over our beginnings you will observe that those men who proclaimed 'independence' from Great Britain believed and honored God Almighty.  They were not ALL Bible believing patriots but they respected and bowed down before God.  They openly admitted their love and respect for the One true God.

Where are we now?  We have allowed statues of our incredible brave men who risked their lives for a new country to be defaced, torn down and abused.  Have we forgotten the bravery and selflessness these men endured?  Why do we not have decency and respect for these brave leaders?  What message do we have today?  Do we encourage bravery and protecting our rights of liberty or do we just "don't care".

Take a minute and review those signatures of the brave men in 1776 who signed those documents of freedom.  Notice that the men in that day did not hide or lesson their signatures.  Instead they wrote them clearly and easily identifiable to anyone reading the Declaration.  Those men knew what they were doing.  They were following what God led them to do.....everyone of them.

Today we are led astray by our media.  I remember well the news reporting during WW II.  We heard facts......just facts about the war.  No opinions, just facts.  And short reporting about battles won or lost and battle locations, military leaders, US troops being deployed but no details of what was going on.  Today we hear opinions and little facts.

What do we do about this 'mess'?  For one thing fewer and fewer people are watching news repots any more.  In fact wasn't it a change when we heard all about Queen Elizabeth this week as she died peacefully.  And to observe a double rainbow in the afternoon sky over London was a message from Almighty God that He blessed the Queen.  What a blessed joy to hear news of a sovereign lady Queen who led her country so admirably.

Where are we now in America regarding our Christian faith?  Do we still honor it, do we still believe in it, do we still display it?  We must make those decisions ourselves.  God has given us this country as a gift.  Do we intend to keep it?  I want to quote a paragraph from the book,"The American Story" by David Barton and Tim Barton.  "The Biblical Christianity practiced by the early colonists and Founding Fathers had a powerful influence in directing the early course of the American Story.  Without true Biblical Christianity, there never would have been the US Constitution that has caused America to become the longest on-going constitutional republic in the history of the world"  Those words and that message are significant.  Just think about that...... "the longest on-going constitutional republic in the history of the world"!!!  Nothing the Roman Empire did, nothing the British Empire did, but what God led us to do.

You cannot help but ask, where would we be today without God?  When you consider this world which our God created, where would we be?  Without God leading us, where would our country be?  We must continue to acknowledge God, recognize Him, believe in Him, obey Him.  Remember the words of the Lord........Job 38: 4    "Where were you when I. laid the foundations of the earth?  Tell me, if you have understanding."  Yes, the Lord created this earth and all that is in it.  Let us never forget Who is in charge.

MEMORIES

 Those of us in our 80s and 90s can look back in our lives to many memories.  When you have lived this long we gather tons of memories.  Many days as I sit and think I am amazed that I remember what happened to me pre-kindergarten.  I have pictures in my mind the way we dressed, the remarks that people spoke, and thoughts I had.  At this age I am just spell bound at how my mind has worked for these 86 years.  Many of these memories are filled with joy, but of course, since life has difficulties I also remember the 'bad times'.

Let's start back in 1941.  I was in kindergarten and my teacher was Miss Wilkins, who was strict but kind.  If you look on the calendar you will see that December 7,1941 was on a Sunday.  That was the beginning of WWII when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.  That Sunday evening our family attended a pre-Christmas church service.  That evening when we arrived home we suddenly heard the news on our radio.  My parents were upset and I wondered what all this meant. The next day, Monday, I was sitting in my kindergarten class and Miss Wilkins had the New York Times open in her lap.  She then, very seriously, told us Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor and that President Roosevelt declared war on Japan.  I remember how our class of 5 and 6 year olds sat there quietly as she read the news.  I will never forget that moment.  War?  What did that mean to us in Ridgefield Park, NJ?  Guns roaring down our streets?  Enemy bombers cruising in the sky?  As the war in Europe and Japan became a reality, our Roosevelt School scheduled surprise 'Alarms' when every class had to march down to the basement, kneel down on the cold cement floor and cover our heads with our arms to protect us if and when we ever faced bombing.  That was scary but we obeyed. Then walking home from school, I would glance up at the sky looking for enemy bombers.  But I do remember going home and in my house I felt safe and my worries disappeared.  My home was filled with love and that protected me.

A wonderful memory occurred in 1950.  I remember thinking what a marvelous date to be graduating eighth grade- 1950.  A year that marked a half century.  In June, 1950, at my elementary school, Roosevelt School, all 8 grades were assembled in the auditorium for a special assembly of honoring our graduating class from 8th grade in 1950.  It was an exciting day, knowing that certain students would be recognized for their high grades and special achievements.  Our class was all sitting there happy about graduating from 8th grade, some of us glancing at our fellow classmates wondering if a certain boy was going to invite me to the first dance at the High School.  We were all pretty excited.  The principal of Ridgefield Park High School, Mr. Shields, arose and made an announcement.  "This year we are giving a new reward.  This is 'The Barbiere Award for Teenage Success' and the winner is Janet Bird!  I sat there and suddenly realized he mispronounced my name.  Mr. Shields said 'Bird' instead of 'Baird'.  Everyone in my class was laughing but I stood up in a daze and walked to the front of the auditorium where our family friend and neighbor, Walter Watson, handed me the formal award document.  Wow, what did this mean?  I remembered that I had written a beautiful story of a spiritual vision that appeared to me as a young girl.  In that vision I was sitting in my back yard, and as I gazed up at the sky, I felt the presence of the Lord.  Not totally understanding what was happening, I wrote it all down.  Sitting there at that time I experienced incredible peace and love.  I believed that God was speaking to me to tell me He loved me.  I remember looking Heavenward and feeling moved by this message.  So I wrote about it.  And here it was 1950 and I entered that story in the contest.  The judges made the decision and I was honored.

Do you have special memories?  Think about them and then write down what you remember.  Your memories will move someone who is much younger today.  Memories are so special and so meaningful as our world moves faster and faster.  The Lord has given you those memories.  Don't hide them.  Share them and your life will be blessed.

Aging 101

 Most of us seniors don't like to talk about aging.  We want to think that we are in fine physical shape and don't need need help.  But the truth is in the natural progression of our bodies we do slowly decay.  Shocking, isn't it?  Instead of ignoring the aging of our bodies, we must accept the fact that we humans do become weaker and eventually die. Is that what we must think about?  Dying?  Since that is the end result of our living let's think of the positives of how we should live during those wonderful days of living.

God put us here on this earth for a purpose.  Each one of us has a different purpose so it is to our advantage to discover what that purpose is.  Then when we realize why we are living here, let us be intent on fulfilling that purpose.  I am 86 years old and as I look back on my busy life I discover how grateful I am that I accomplished so much in my life for others.

Yes, in this stage of my life I have 'aged'.  BUT is my life over?  No, so I keep producing tasks that God approves of.  Even in our senior years keep working and keep producing.  As I admit I am aging I realize this is a natural part of living.  We don't like to admit, "I can't run, I can't climb a ladder, I can't get out of bed easily, I can't make my bed, I can't drive my car, I can't walk outside by myself, I can't paint the house, I can't sweep the sidewalk, I can't cook my supper"........BUT look what I can do.  I can write, I can give Bible studies, I can study the Bible and give presentations, I can use my brain to solve problems.  I am thankful for what I can do and I don't let my 'can nots' become my 'I wish I coulds'.

In the meantime you choose how you want those last days to be.  I am a Christian and believe that Jesus is my Lord and Savior and believe that I will be in Heaven with Jesus when I die.  I have no fear of death.  I believe that the moment I die angels will escort me to Heaven.  What joy and beauty await me!  No one knows when they will die but trusting in Jesus gives me complete assurance I will be with Him.

So many seniors today won't even talk about 'dying'.  They are basically scared of a natural process as our physical lives end.  But why be scared?  We should be rejoicing and looking forward to Heaven.

Let's face the fact that we are aging and rejoice in what that brings.  Now many seniors will say, "Rejoice in aging?  You are crazy."  But think about this.  We have all lived productive lives, especially if we are now in our 80s and 90s,  We may think we've done nothing but we have all contributed to God's wonderful plan.  Years ago I totally gave my life to Jesus and even though I thought it was difficult i sought His will and obeyed Him.  Now in my 80s I am so glad I veered away from temptation and obeyed Jesus.  I'm sure many of us will admit, "Thank goodness, I didn't do...........because now I realize I would have ruined my life and placed my family in pain.  Thank you, Lord, I obeyed you and dd not yield to temptation."

Of course , we are confronted every day with our culture constantly repeating via the media and advertisements........"Only the young are beautiful are important, pay no attention to those 'old' people." I have decided I have to mentally and emotionally reject that philosophy.  As we all look in the mirror every day, don't think about the wrinkles and sagging skin but look yourself in the eye and proclaim,  "Wow, I'm still beautiful, my smile is intoxicating, my eyes sparkle with intensity, and my lipstick paints my lips with joy."  That philosophy will brighten your day and fill your life with praise to Almighty God.

Remembering Daddy

 IF you missed my post last month, I admit I did not write.  I had a bad fall, was in the hospital 2 weeks BUT I am healed and back with you.  HALLELUJAH!

"Remembering Daddy"

I remember when I was a little girl and I wondered why they called it "Father's Day".  I called my father Daddy, and loved that!  To me, Daddy meant someone who loved me, hugged me, read the Sunday comics to me while sitting on the sofa with me on one side and my brother, Donald, on the other side with Daddy in the middle. Father's Day sounded so formal to me .  Slowly as I grew up I began to realize that was the typical way a lot of fathers and sons and daughters thought of each other.  I am so glad in our family we were warm and cuddly!

I'll admit I accepted the formal mention of "Father's Day" in our culture but never accepted it personally.  I was fortunate to have a Daddy who was so proud of me when I was singing professionally as a mezzo-soprano soloist all over the US and Canada that he told his friends buttons popped off his shirt.  Yes, Daddy was very proud of me and I'll never forget that.

As we celebrate "Father's Day" this week, How do we think about Dads?  Have you had a healthy, warm relationship with your father?  Dads are so important to us.  When you think about it, when we were growing up, Dads supplied our household money to live on.  Most of us, at that time were not working mothers. We stayed home and raised our children and Daddy was the one who commuted to work every day.  Remember that time?  Of course I remember not just sitting in the house all day, but getting my own projects done.  Yes, mothers were very busy, actively contributing to improvements in the way we lived.

But I remember well also living close to our monthly budget.  One day, our son Glenn, came to me and reported how he desperately needed a new pair of sneakers.  I checked in the 'clothing' envelope......EMPTY.  So I told Glenn he would have to wait for Dad's next paycheck.  After I left Glenn checked other budget envelopes.  "Mom, there's money in the church envelope!"  An interesting conversation developed over "tithing".....what a great opportunity to teach!

How did Father's Day start? The idea first appeared in the early 1900s but never caught on until Lyndon Baines Johnson's presidential term. Amazing how long it took for the USA to realize fathers were important like mothers.  I do remember that first Father's Day.  No particular excitement but it seemed people were glad to see 'fathers' were at last recognized.

Now maybe you did not have a loving father like I did and you find it difficult in these days of loving fathers to love your father. Unfortunately there are many people who walk around with bad feelings about their dads.  In fact as I talk deeply to friends I'm amazed how many instances of bad feelings there are in families.  What do we do with those feelings?  Just push them aside and try to forget them, which  we never seem able to do?  Or do we reach out and forgive?

Forgiveness is difficult because it causes us to accept the 'words' that were spoken to us in jealousy or meanness and that hursts us. But forgiveness is vitally important to us.  If we don't forgive, the bitterness stays with us.  Many times we seek to forgive but receive ugly words and no forgiveness and understanding from the other side.  I have found forgiveness is so important to me because when I forgive, my bitterness disappears. Several years ago I reached out to a relative who had been mean to me.  The man was dying but I knew I had to say something of forgiveness.  So there he was on his deathbed and I told him I forgave him.  I told him with loving words that he was forgiven.  The relief that engulfed me was overwhelming.  Don't hesitate to forgive.  You will be doing the Lord's work and discover what forgiveness really means.

The battle between Love and Evil

We just celebrated God's message of love on Palm Sunday and Easter.  And what a life  changing message that is.  God sent His only Son to earth as a baby who grew to be our Savior, half human and half spiritually grown man.  And then He voluntarily let Himself be crucified to wipe away our sins.  A crucial, painful, horrible death.  Hands and feet nailed to a tree, body stretched so that breathing was excruciating and death coming slowly over terrorizing agony.  Because of God's incredible love, Jesus died for us.  He took our sin upon Him and fully forgave us so that we will live with God in Heaven. All we need to do is surrender our lives to Jesus, believe in Him and follow Him.  God is Love. 

Last weekend we witnessed results of purposeful evil, slaughtering thousands of innocent civilians in the city of Mariupol, Ukraine.  As we watched the TV reports we were horrified to see bodies strewn on the streets, bodies thrown into trenches, hearing reports of beheadings, civilians shot with their hands tied behind their backs.....and we wonder.  If God brought all this love to us through Jesus, why are people acting in evil ways?  When you look at history, when have we known perfect peace in our world?  Why is war, strife and evil in our world today?  When we hear details of Russia's Putin, and how he indiscriminately makes war decisions to purposely kill thousands of innocent Ukrainians, we wonder how can a man be so evil.  Putin is Evil.

That is the battle between love and evil.  The battle has been going on for years...from the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, continuing even now.  Our hearts cry out for love but evil tries to silence us.  In the meantime, we should help those in need, those who suffer from ruthless, evil warfare and help them to return to their country which they treasure and honor.

Yes, I'm talking about the Ukraine and its people.  Are we doing everything to help them in their fight against Russia?  All the pictures I have seen of Ukraine before the horrible bombings show a country with attractive buildings, classical architecture, well cared for property and homes.  The Russian bombings have devastated Ukraine, cities and homes must be rebuilt.  People have lost all they have and they need financial assistance.  Who is going to help them?   Not only is much of Ukraine already devastated, but Russia, under Putin's leadership, has placed an evil general to continue the devastation, so Ukraine will be suffering even more.  But if we honor our Lord by reaching out to people with love we have obeyed God.  Unfortunately, we are unable to make detailed decisions on a global nature but we can certainly send our messages to people in government.  Since the United States is the most powerful nation in the world, we can let our government know we need to help the small country of Ukraine with love.

Remember how we watched thousands of citizens of Ukraine gathering at train stations and bus stations, with their families of innocent babies and frightened young children pushing their belongings in small suitcases?  I remember thinking, why don't they take more clothes with them?  And then, a week or so later, their homes and apartments bombed out of existence.  Just think how those innocents felt about not only losing their life long possessions, but losing their tangible memories too.

One powerful result of watching the Ukraine tragedy is that it made me so thankful that I was born in this great free country of ours.  Born here, raised here, living here where I and my family are safe and secure makes me thank God.  How can we live in such safety and ignore the evil?  Let us conquer evil by reaching out in love.

Ukraine is not the only place that needs our love.  Unfortunately, our world has continually been in the throes of evil governments and evil rulers.  The United States of America built our country on freedom.  Let us never forget the liberty we have and pour love on those who are suffering from evil.