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By Ruth Gadberry
Weather, weather; it changes constantly. But that’s good, don’t you think? The same old thing every day can get boring. We’ll probably be having some of that any day now. We’ve had some hot days, but now and then along comes a day that is a delight. Cooler than yesterday, maybe a shower; anyway, a nice change from hot weather.
Yes, it is summer time in Oklahoma, as of last Saturday. Summer time means hot weather and lots of it. So, get ready.
Sunday morning Preacher Joey zoomed in on Dads since Sunday was Father’s Day. First he sweetened them up a bit by giving each Dad a candy bar. He said that the biggest percentage of people who are in prison, involved with drugs, alcohol, and all sorts of other criminal activities, come from homes without a father’s influence. No, no, no! He didn’t say that kids raised by a single mom or by grandparents would turn out to be drunks, druggies, or criminals. It’s just that a father’s influence is important in a family. Kids from a two parent family, where both parents are dedicated to Almighty God, to each other, and to their children really have a head start in life.
There were several birthdays and anniversaries celebrated Sunday morning. The coronavirus still rages, but people continue to have birthdays and anniversaries. Life goes on.
Speaking of the coronavirus, have you noticed how many new cases are being reported every day? Of course, part of that is because more people are being tested so they are discovering more new cases. People are still dying as a result of the virus. However, more people are getting over it and are back at work or doing whatever it was they did before the virus attacked them. Not everybody who has the virus is required to spend time in the hospital. Most of them are treated at home, and are quarantined for a few days and then they’re okay again.
Will the increase in numbers of infected people mean that masks must be worn when out in public? Some people are still wearing masks but many have given up on that and don’t bother with them anymore. Will masks be required again, in more places? Will places of business be closed again? Will social distancing be mandatory instead of voluntary? We kinda have to learn as we go, what the best way to handle the problem is.
Helen was back at church Sunday morning, looking great! That gal sure knows how to get people to pray for her! Remember some time back when Helen went to the doctor and they wouldn’t even let her go home but put her in the hospital immediately and did a 5-bypass surgery on her? She did great and was back at church as though nothing had happened to her? Then along came last week. Was it a daughter who looked at you Helen and declared, ‘You are going to the hospital, NOW!’ You didn’t even argue, but just went? Daughters can be awfully bossy, but sometimes it pays to listen to them.
So, what happened? It seems that the by-passes they did had clogged up and had to have stints put in the by-passes. Does that happen often? Or is Helen just unusual? Or special? Or… Anyway, it was great to have her back in church and looking fantastic. As though she just went to the hospital for a brief rest. Did you even spend the night Helen?
Lil insists she is getting better every day. Yes, she still carries a big stick but she seems to be walking quite well. No, she hasn’t been back to the golf course yet. But don’t be surprised if it’s sooner than you think.
Plans are still being made for a modified Falls Creek Youth Camp. The kids and their sponsors meet after Sunday services and are still working on plans.
Brooklyn went to ‘camp’ at her church, in Sulphur last week. Actually, it was Bible School, but it was all day for four days. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or something like that. Brooklyn loved it. That sounds like a great idea, don’t you think?
The benefit for the Zeke Sherrad family Saturday night was great. The weather cooperated; it was plenty warm but not as hot as some evenings have been. There was a delicious meal, a silent auction, a baked sale auction, and other items which were auctioned off. The money raised will be a big help to the family.
Father’s Day started out wet but the afternoon was really nice. It was a really special day for JC, for Ruth too. All their kids came after church to help him celebrate. Beth and Ray, Jan and Kenneth, Roy and Kathy. Kenneth cooked hamburgers outside and the gals put everything together inside. They ate on the front porch and then just sat around the table talking and visiting and having a great time.
Along with Kenneth and Jan, one granddaughter and three great-grandsons were there. Jaci came but her son, Rhylar, was with his Dad on Father’s day. Davin, Zane, and Max were there with Pawpaw Kenneth and Memaw Jan and Aunt Jaci. These are Jakeb and Jeannie’s boys. Jakeb and Jeannie were, well, somewhere. Anyway, it was great to have all of them.
Ruth had an opportunity to visit with Nancy Williams at the benefit Saturday evening and really enjoyed it. Nancy had some bird stories to tell and maybe you can give her some information on some of them. First of all. Nancy has a mulberry tree that was loaded with mulberries this year. That wasn’t the only thing it was loaded with. There were, as Nancy said, hundreds of birds in that tree. They must have been those painted buntings or whatever you call them. You know, those brightly colored birds with red, black, blue, purple, yellow and whatever other colored feathers you might think of. They were beautiful! They stayed for about a week and Nancy enjoyed watching them. Then all the mulberries were gone and so were the birds.
Nancy is also wondering about song birds in this part of Oklahoma. What is a songbird? Does it really sing instead of just chirping?
Nancy has seen two teeny- tiny, itty-bitty birds in her yard. They are very small, kinda brown in color. And they sing! She wonders if maybe they might be wrens. Do wrens sing? Someone told her that if they sing and dance they are wrens. Well, she has heard them sing but hasn’t seen them dance as yet. Not the waltz, polka. Fox-trot; she hasn’t even seen them do-si-do or swing their partner! They aren’t canaries so, what are they? Can you help Nancy figure it out? Anyway, Nancy hopes they will set up housekeeping and hatch some more itty-bitty song birds.
Zack and Amber, Brooklyn and Carter visited JC and Ruth last week and brought visitors; a pony and two longhorn steers. They set up a corral out in the pasture in front of the house so Ruth could sit on her front porch and watch them. She likes longhorns but JC doesn’t trust them and wouldn’t let her have any, even when Kenneth wanted to give her one. Oh well.
Just why did Zack bring those animals to visit? Well, one of the longhorns had a cough and a runny nose so they took him to the Vet. No, he didn’t have the coronavirus but just an allergy after moving to Oklahoma from Texas.
Okay, what in the world is Zack doing with a pony and two longhorn steers? Well, see, it’s like this. They went to Texas to check on a pony for Brooklyn and Carter. And when the kids met Cocoa if was love at first sight. And then they visited with the young lady who was selling Cocoa and she told them about the steers. The black one is Dude and the red one is Mr. Goodbar. Both look as though they had a can of white paint splattered on them. They were her show animals and so gentle they could be led with a halter and a child could sit on their backs with no problems.
Why was she selling her animals? She had outgrown Cocoa and wanted to sell her and the steers and buy a bigger horse that she could ride and also show in stock shows instead of the longhorns. And Zack, being an Ag teacher, just had to buy all of them so she can get her bigger horse. Maybe Brooklyn will show them. Maybe one of his FFA students will show them. But it’s hard to find a longhorn show in Oklahoma. That is sort of a Texas type show.
Zack said it was quite interesting when they went to the Vet Clinic and he told them he had two longhorn steers in the trailer. They started rushing around, getting fence panels, chutes; all that stuff. Then Zack walked out of the stock trailer they were riding in, leading both steers with halters. The Vet people were, well, amazed. Zack said they took lots of pictures of those big animals who were so gentle kids could ride them.
Dude is two years old and Mr. Goodbar is just a year old. They are big boys and still have a lot of growing to do.
Cocoa is just right for Brooklyn and Carter. She is very gentle and the kids love her. She has a sorta dark coat and her main and tail are almost white. Her main and tail are long and flowing without a tangle or burr in them. She is beautiful!
Barney, the donkey, came to the corral to meet Dude, Mr. Goodbar, and Cocoa. He was very interested in Cocoa and hoped she would stay around longer but, no, they took her away.
If you’ve watched the news at all you know our Nation is under attack. Riots, destruction, killings, chaos everywhere. There are people who are trying to destroy our Nation and they will use whatever means and people they can to make it happen. They are trying to destroy History by removing all reminders of what our Nation was built on. Destroying national monuments, statues, churches, and all in the name of racism. Race has nothing to do with it. America is home to many, many good people of all races. They are loved, accepted, and respected because of who they are, not what color they happen to be.
We stood by and did nothing when they took prayer out of the public schools. We didn’t object much when they removed the Ten Commandments from the courthouse square. We let them burn our flag and show disrespect for our Nation by refusing to stand for the National Anthem. It’s time for us to stand up and not allow these things to happen. What about our rights? If those who insist on showing disrespect for our Nation and what it represents, well, maybe it’s time for them to apply for a change of address and go to a nation they can respect. Or, more likely, a nation who won’t allow them to show disrespect.
Monday Washington D.C. was under attack. What will we do about it? If we do nothing we will be destroyed as a nation. Must we fight violence with violence? How can we handle this situation? What if it were another nation attacking us; would we give up without a fight? What’s the difference?
It’s time for all Christians to stand up and be counted and take a stand for what’s right. Preachers, are you leading your churches to pray for God’s guidance in this matter? Are we asking God ‘what can I do?’ and then doing it? Maybe it’s as simple as consistent prayer for our Nation. Maybe it means parting with some of our money to help those on the front lines in their battle for our Nation. If we’ve ever needed to turn to God – or re-turn to God – it’s now. Our Nation is in big trouble and we need God!
Prayer changes people and people change things.
