Of Linens and Legacy...

People stay at my house on a regular basis so I always try and keep the beds ready. A couple of weekends ago an evangelist friend and his wife, and also the music minister stayed with us as they conducted a cowboy camp meeting in our town. Today I was changing the linens and getting the beds back in shape for my next round, which will likely be my sister and her family this coming weekend, as the children have a 4H rifle shooting meet close to here.

I have a special way of folding my linens. I used to just hurriedly do the best I could, as I dreaded folding that pesky fitted sheet. My linen closet always looked like a storm had blown through. A few years ago one of my good friends, Mary Ann, taught me, via our mutual housekeeper, a great way to fold the sheets. I tweaked it a little, and I now have the most organized closet ever! A couple of weeks ago I was helping Mary Ann at her house because she had fallen and hurt her foot. The next day she asked me if I had folded a set of sheets. "Were they folded the way WE fold them???" I asked. " Absolutely not, she had replied. "Then I didn't do it." I went on to ask her how she ever came to fold them that way. She said the HER mother had started that in order for the sheets to stack nicely in her small closet. Last summer when I helped my son and daughter-in-law move into their new home, one of my assignments was to pack the linen closet. I grouped and folded all the sheet sets that way. Now it's passed all around!

Mother-in-law, Daughter-in-law

A few days ago I was getting a pedicure and became engaged in a lively and thought-provoking conversation. The two women, one of them the owner of the shop, I have known for many years. They are both young mothers in their early thirties. The topic was the relationship of mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. We all three asked and answered questions quite freely and candidly, and I came away with new perspectives from their open and honest comments. This was helpful, because some of that ground might not be easily covered by ones in the actual relationship because of the inherent possibility of treading on feelings.

I have two daughters-in-law. I could not have done better if God had allowed me to design them myself. They have been marvelous blessings to both my sons and me. Due to geographical differences, however, our relationships have been slow to develop. One of them I only see a couple of times a year; the other I see a somewhat more often because she lives closer. Both the young mothers in the shop live near their mothers-in-law and see them frequently. As a result, they are more accustomed to one another's qualities and idiosyncrasies. I laughed at their stories of the misunderstandings and resolutions, because I understood all too well.

Ridiculously, I wanted to be the perfect mother-in-law (I AM NOT!). I am certain that I have inadvertently offended both girls more often than I know. The times I DID know and tried to rectify I just seemed to make it worse! (Are you laughing yet? I'm certain you would never see a blog like this entitled Father-in-law, Son-in-law!!) On the other side of that, I have allowed my feelings to be hurt by what I was certain later to be a totally innocent action or comment. The point is, if we always give each other the benefit of the doubt, we would realize that never on purpose would either of us hurt the other. In John 16:1 Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you that you should not be offended." He was expounding on the love walk in John 15. That really went off inside of me as I pondered the discourse that I had had with the two young women. Another consideration was Ephesians 4:2: "Living as becomes you--with complete lowliness of mind and meekness with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another. " (Amp.)

I cannot ever recall my mother-in-law offending me even one time in twenty-one years.. That sets the bar pretty high for me. I hope that as the years go by my relationship with my daughters-in-law continues to flourish. Just because I am older does not mean I always have a better idea. There is so much for us to gain from each other. May we continue to extend the love and mercy to each other that holds us like an anchor to solid ground of mutual respect. And maybe, with their help, I'll reach that bar.

Rain, Natural and Supernatural

I woke up the other night to the sound of rainfall. I'm certain I heard the trees clapping their hands and the shrubs on the sides of our mountain rejoicing as well. The next morning, even on the backside of winter brownness, everything looked bright and colorful as the suffocating dust had been washed from the land.

All of our tanks had gone dry several weeks ago. The moisture deficit had grown crucial. Moisture is so important, whether to our land, or to our bones, or to our life walks in general. When dryness sets in, productivity and perspective decreases. Just like that dry tank bottom, from which all wildlife withdrew, aridity in our lives draws the same results.

I'm so glad the Spirit of the living God is water on my entire being. It refreshes me from head to toe, both on the inside and out. I know that as the dryness of this world's system persists in its attempts to disrupt and invade my life that the Kingdom of God remains the same. As I myself am watered, I can water others. I had an opportunity to do that this week as some very close friends experienced a tragedy in their family. Their niece and nephew, students at a large university in Texas, were shot and killed. We prayed together, wept, and rejoiced as we knew that they moved to heaven.

May we never accept dryness as normal. May we press into the Spirit, the moisture of God, always being prepared to not just be watered, but to water, prepared to offer refreshing to others.

On The Use of Profanity

"For I tell you that on the day of judgment men will
have to give account for every idle, inoperative,
non-working word they speak."
Matt. 13:36

I did not grow up in a Christian home, but I never heard my parents use any profanity. Even though I overheard them argue often, profanity was never a part of their exchange. Profanity was never spoken on television or radio. I never heard it at school. That I can recall, none of my friends or their families used profanity. Buck Davis, married to my cousin and the only father-figure I ever knew, never once used a word of profanity. He most certainly had just cause, living with ten plus kids every summer all summer on their ranch!

I was about grown when I heard my first words of profanity. I remember the shock. (Is ANYONE shocked by ANYTHING these days???) Early in my college years I used profanity because I was around people that did that and I thought it was grown-up and cool. But I remember how I felt every time I used those words. Shortly I saw how "un-classy" it really was and stopped.

These days profanity is rampant. In fact, it is so commonplace that we have become a society callused to it. Above all else, it is a heart matter: "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matt. 13:34). Regardless of our denial of such, what we allow into our ears over and over will end up in our hearts and will come out of our mouths. Call me prudish, but every time I hear foul language, especially God's name taken in vain, it's like someone dragging their fingernails down a blackboard. Secondly, the "emphatic" use of a foul word displays such ignorance of the English language.

I am sad for our children growing up in a society that so abuses language. My friend Tina is not bashful about confronting such. She and her family were recently in a crowded restaurant. At the table behind them was a group of young people. Every other word, it seemed, was profane. Tina got up, walked over to the table, strongly expressed her disdain. The group acquiesced, and my friend and her family had a much more pleasant evening. It probably did little to change those youth, but at least Tina set an example for her own children.

We are instructed in the Bible to please God and not man. I wonder how many even consider how displeasing it is to God when foul language goes forth. Do they even think about how profanity makes others around them feel? So I leave you with this: "Let no corrupt communication proceed our of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers." (Eph. 4:29)

Texas, Our Texas!

"Texas, our Texas all hail the mighty state,
Texas, our Texas, so wonderful, so great!
Boldest and grandest, withstanding every test,
O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest!"


Marking Texas Independence today caused me to reflect on what a great state it is.

A few weeks ago, during a family gathering, we were discussing how Texas could just pull out and make it just fine on its own. I mean, really, we have ports, forests, deserts, lakes, mountains, oil, wind farms, hunting, bluebonnets, Texas Rangers, Don't Mess With Texas, and Aggies! We are one of the most fiscally independent states, being second highest in gross state product and also one of only four states that operates in the black. Texas has also been labeled the most business-friendly state.

I was born and raised in Waco, Texas. Presently, I live only a few miles from the official geographical center of Texas. I have resided in El Paso and Waco, and some places in between, including Van Horn, San Angelo, and now Brady. There's no other place on earth like Texas. Every time I travel out of state, the moment I re-enter, crossing that Red River, I say, "Oh, yeah, back home again!" Recently in the news about Texas is the border conflict at El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. State Senator Dan Patrick made several futile attempts at getting Washington to notice and take action. (I guess border conflicts don't rate in the earmark program!) Finally, Governor Perry sent in the Texas National Guard. Hey, what more do we need? After all, it's Texas.

I have a special interest in Texas Indepedence. My great-great grandfather on my father's side, Stephen Williams, fought in not only the Revolutionary War, but also in the Texas Revolution. He aided in the capture of San Antonio in 1835. Recently, it was brought to my attention, through an article in Texas Monthly, that he is buried in Austin the congressional cemetery. I am excited to share that with my grandchildren and take them to visit there someday. It is as though a part of Texas legacy is just for me and mine.

I guess every state has some claim to fame, but I say, Texas, Our Texas all hail the mighty state!

Wilbur, Orville, and Flight 1549

"My entire life was a preparation for that landing.
My dad flew fighters in the Navy. He imparted upon
me a sort of responsibility of leadership creed.
That's really what kicked in when I was up there
and both engines went out."

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger



Currently I am reading The Bishop's Boys, a biography about the Wright brothers. Although I am not into aviation, it is a fascinating book.

A traveling circuit preacher with the United Brethren Church, Milton Wright was a very involved and caring father. A firm believer in the educational value of toys, Bishop Wright took genuine delight in selecting things that would stimulate the imagination of his children and inspire their curiosity. At eleven and seven, Wilbur and Orville were the recipients of one such gift: a toy helicopter. From their mother, who had considerable mechanical aptitude gained through working in her father's carriage shop, the boys also knew a love of tinkering; they often went to their mother for assistance and advice, as Susan had designed and built simple household appliances and toys herself. Couple these important traits and the stage is set for what would become the most important invention in modern history: the airplane.

Although flight had been contemplated for centuries, little advance was made until the Wright brothers. Hot air balloons and crude gliders were about the extent. But with the Wrights' ingenuous science of wing-warping and and wind-tunneling experiments, theirs was the first truly successful glider. They worked on these techniques for several years until the turn of the century. Then, at 10:35 a.m. December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, NC, the first airplane took off and moved forward under it's own power and landed---all under complete control of the pilot. It only flew a few feet, but later that afternoon, Orville covered 852 feet in 59 seconds, demonstrating beyond a shadow of a doubt that sustained mechanical flight was indeed possible. For the next few years, Wilbur and Orville gained patents, worked on contracts with the U.S. Army and the French military, and fought patent infringers in court, winning nearly every battle. In 1909 The Wright Company was formed, and by then worldwide credit was given where credit was due. These two amazing young men, who did not smoke, drink alcohol, gamble or pursue women, worked side by side, although not always agreeing, to create an invention that would change the world forever.

Fast forward almost 100 years to the year: January 15, 2009. Flight is taken for granted, and in fact, many could not conduct successful business without this modern-day technology. There is hardly anyone who has not flown at least once. Air travel is said to be much safer even than automobile. On this day, one hundred fifty-five people board a routine flight orginating in New York and bound for Charlotte, NC. The captain is Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. Only moments in the air, the jet engines collide with and ingest birds from a flock of geese and both engines shut down. Sully makes life-altering decisions in only a few seconds. The jet becomes a glider, and he lands it safely in the Hudson River.

Now what are the odds that he, in particular, would be an expert glider pilot? About a trillion to one. In one of the interviews he said this: "The way I describe it is for forty-two years I had made small regular deposits of education, training, and experience, and the experience balance was sufficient that on January 15 I could make a sudden, large withdrawal." As the world looked on and cheered, this humble man reduced the heroism to simply a job done in the course of a day's work. One passenger expressed his thanks to the crew and made this remark: "I think that the crew saved not only 155 people but all their descendants, and their descendants' descendants, so there will be a lot more than 155 people who lived because of your actions."

Wilbur and Orville would have been proud. I somehow think the glider techniques used for Flight 1549 and those invented and incorporated by the Wrights might not be so different. Did they have any idea what a legacy they were leaving? Does Captain Sully? I believe President Taft's remark about the Wrights could apply to all three men: "These were good American boys, who put business before pleasure. The brothers were proof that the old virtues of family solidarity and commitment, hard work, and perseverance, retained their validity in the new century."