Old country folks. [Strong Christian Material!]

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The old hickory tree is still standin in the front yard of a onetime homestead. A couple big lawn chairs used to set underneath that big old shade tree 40 years ago or so. The old folks that lived there are long gone as is their big family. Six boys and 2 girls were born into this family and not a one wanted to stay on the farm! I don't recall how many of'm went to college but more than one did. Those that did made school teachers while the rest worked in factories, as I recall. City life was what they liked back about 50 years ago. After they left home and settled in the cities with jobs and families-it was too late for'm to move back home. The old folks missed'm so much and really looked forward to the summertime when grandkids would be brought to spend the summer with'm. It was a very tiresome job of takin care of those kids but the old folks wouldn't hear of them not comin.

A "church" family as some would call'm--unselfish and willing to help anybody without hesitation--no matter who needed the help. They didn't have to tell people they were Christians---they Lived it!

Those summertime visits of the grandkids became fewer and fewer each summer. The ones who did show up stayed shorter times and then finally the visits stopped entirely. The sad look in their old eyes was very noticable durin those summers. Their walk got slower and more troublesome--usually walkin with canes then walkers and finally not walkin at all. The wheelchairs were just too much trouble for'm to get in and out of from their old 1950 Chevy pickup truck. It wasn't very long until the hired help wasn't needed anymore. The old couple sold out and moved to town. They were both dissatisified with their choice but knew they didn't really have that option. Within a couple years they were not able to function without constant help. At that point they just gave up. Movin into a nursin home in the next town--HOWEVER they "got to have the same room"! They weren't impressed with that garbage but still--no other options were available to'm.

About 6 months in that nursing home and the old man died while holdin hands with his wife of almost 60 years! Six days later the old woman died. She just couldn't stand the thought of livin any longer without her lifes mate.

Their kids are scattered all over the country, never even visitin with each other the last I knew. One has to wonder just how a very close knit family in their youth could drift so far apart. I don't really know either. Our family was real close knit too but none of us have moved so far that we can't kinda "hobnob" with each other every day or two. After years and years of travelin with my job we moved back in 1975 and decided to just stay. Money was always more in the cities but the end result was the same. Only enought to get by with anyhow.

Jesus Christ died for all mankind. It seems kinda silly to me that folks reject what He has done for them. I've seen the seedy side of life, workede in it, lived it for awhile and noticed [like the prodical son] that life AIN'T better livin in the worldly fashion. After comin to that brilliant conclusion [like "duh"] it was a quick decision to come back to the fold. I did exactly that a few years ago and am still on the straight and narrow. NOTHING in hell interests me anymore. satan has NOTHIN that I want, need or will accept!! [I had a little peek into the fires of hell awhile back and it "ain't" like the old snake wants us to think.]

Jesus is comin soon for His own. I'm ready personally but many friends, acquaintances and even some relation are not ready to meet Him. How about you?

old hoot gibson. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), February 25, 2002

Answers

Its a sad fact of life now adays, the children are so busy with there own lives. My Girls all work, and my grandaughters all work,And of course there husband, They all have children of there own.Sat are spent grocery shopping, cleaning house, etc. So I quess by the time they get to Sunday, they are to tired to do anything. I cook great Sunday dinners for them, and they do come. I don"t expect them to stay, and I told them so. Come eat, rest a spell, I have always told my kids if they have something they would rather do, Please do it, I will understand. I believe it takes the pressure off them, We live in a time of extreme changes,I sometimes wish we were like when we were kids,Life was so much simpler. My daddy drove a buckboard into town for a few supplies once a month. And now look at us, We think nothing of driveing to the store every day, I also have a couple of children not saved, and I worry about that, I pray every day for there salvation, and I believe it will happen. Thank you hoot for your stories, and your faith in Jesus Christ.

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), February 25, 2002.

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