By Doris Schroeder
Yes, tonight we will say goodbye to this year most of us will never forget! The year of changes and remembrances, of truth and lies, of good times and bad. I have always hated goodbyes of any kind but it is good when there is something better ahead.
From a personal vantage and in spite of many of our country’s mistakes, I must admit, there were many pleasant memories to put in my mind’s portfolio. Along with happenings we don’t enjoy, there are good things that it brings. We got to enjoy a visit from a new granddaughter, Carleigh Schroeder, our “giggling granddaughter” from Florida in April. Her parents came, however, to attend the funeral of our daughter-in-law’s mother, Alvina Siebert, which was a sad occasion. It also brought a visit from our son and his wife and that was great. The other two grandsons John Edward and Jesse, also came and it was wonderful to see them all again….It goes with the saying “Your roses may have thorns.”
In the autumn of this year, our son-in-law Stan’s mother, Ella, passed away, and it was sad to see her go. I remember my last visit with her about two years ago when we were all at Stan and Judy’s home for Christmas. She told me she didn’t know any of her grandsons anymore. That was so sad to me as our grandsons are an important part of our life even though we don’t get to see them a lot anymore. Senility is such a sad thing.
The latter part of July, our third great-grandchild was born…Maddox Juhnke. We had the pleasure of meeting him for the first time the Saturday before Christmas of this year and of course, were very impressed. Our first great grandson, Maxwell, is his older four year old brother. They were both so much fun. Max was always smiling and doing whatever we asked and little Maddox was forever watching him with deep intensity so he could learn the deep facts of life. I got to feed him, however, and he would not burp for me, although he did for Great Grandpa! I think he was just “minding his manners!” What do you think?
And so it was…the Lord took two people out and brought in two more…the way He planned the world to work. It makes me wonder, however, what kind of examples we the older generation are to these new people. Do we want our great grandchildren to emulate what we do? Or not?
From another vantage point we observe our country is changing fast…and not for the better. Our country, founded 238 years ago, was based on the belief of our founding fathers. They came to this land with the hope of living according to God’s precepts which were based on the Bible, the Word of God. America was established on that principle…as well as the way we should live. As long as that precept was adhered to, our country prospered. The citizens were happy even though very few had great riches…that does not bring joy. People were allowed to work for their dreams with God to guide them…and they were satisfied.
They were not given things without “the sweat of their brow” and so it meant more to them. It is only in the latter years that some even think that money brings happiness.
It did seem we had come a long way…perhaps not perfect but it was going well and getting better. You have to admit that good citizens were treated fairly and that is the way it was meant to be. But then greed stepped in…people wanted to be richer, more popular, more renown and they didn’t care what they had to do to get it. Greed made people fight with each other, condemn others, and live for themselves. They did not want to listen to God who only had good advice for them. Wars became the way to prove who was more powerful. The sorry part was God was left out. People did not want advice and now we have the world as it is today.
Without God there is no hope. Humans, born with a sinful nature do not adhere to each other without Him. If we truly want to be happy, we need to ask God into our lives and follow His precepts.
It is true we have a loving God. He does know, however, how we can be happy so He gave us His teaching to follow. In it we do not follow the path of selfishness or greed. We love those around us but not their sin and we love to tell them about God.
I certainly wish each of you a lovely new year! I always love hearing from each of you!
