THANKING GOD FOR CHRISTMAS

THANKING GOD FOR CHRISTMAS PAST, PRESENT, AND BEYOND

Friday, December 23, 2016

1Thessalonians [GW] 5:18-21 Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God's will in Christ Jesus that you do this. Don't put out the Spirit's fire. Don't despise what God has revealed. Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good.

  During WWII and “the recovery years” money was more scarce than hen’s teeth. For Christmas, most of us kids received an orange, box of raisins or hard candy, a toy of some sort, and were happy with it. Extended family gatherings were the best thing. My uncles and cousins, WWII survivors, were the greatest fun! Especially Uncle John Bullock as he kept everybody laughing with his wit . . . and often embarrassed dear Helen, his wife.

  Most people didn’t have an automobile. I was 6 or 7 when I walked with the older boys to see a neighbor’s wonderful special Christmas gift, a “New used car.” While admiring, one of the older boys snuck a touch. Fearful that the man had seen, we ran home. The tel-a-neighbor communication system of that day could have gotten the news of disrespectful behavior home before we sped around the corner. We were thankful the dreaded message didn’t come as we were concerned it may affect our Christmas.

  I only knew one older boy that got an allowance. His father was an editor for The Baltimore Sun and drove a Chrysler. Most kids didn’t have money to buy gifts. If a gift could be gotten it would be for your Mom. I remember a school teacher bringing oranges and lots of cloves to make a smell-good thing to give to our moms to put in their clothing drawer. Years later I realized the expense for the teacher. Oranges in the winter were not normal fare. We may get one in our stocking. Spices were not cheap.

  When I was 9-10 we moved from Hamilton to Dundalk. Then I began earning money selling newspapers on street cars, shining shoes on the sidewalk outside a local bar, mowing grass with reel push mower, weeding, shoveling snow, and other chores for neighbors. (Family work was family work, unpaid.)   

  A favorite winter job was tending coal furnaces for neighbors working night shift in the steel mills. I was quite good at “stoking and banking” so wives didn’t wake up freezing in the middle of the night. The pay was great. I got a whole dime each time! (Today this would be about a dollar. “Big deal.” You say? The big deal was that kids did not have money then.)

  It wasn’t long until a neighbor purchased a TV for Christmas. His wife didn’t want a bunch of kids in the house, but he allowed us to “As long as you’re quiet and don’t step on my flower beds …” watch thru the window. (His wife wasn’t happy about this arrangement either.) Summer was best because pre-AC we could hear thru the screen. Cold weather meant silent. Some of the kids got quite good at rewading lips and narrating.

  By the next cold season brother Jim and I were weary of frostbite viewing so we asked Dad if we could get a TV. He responded “Sure. Earn, save, and buy one whenever you like.” It took a lot of hustling but we finally purchased a small B&W Muntz tabletop TV. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madman_Muntz ) I think the cost was 97 dollars, equivalent to about one thousand dollars today.

  It was a wonderful life. The prevailing attitude was gratefulness.

  With GI generation determination, our nation continued prospering. Most acquired their own car and TV. AC came, and eventually became the norm for many. People spent more time in car and home “Doing their own thing.” Clotheslines disappeared for reason other than theft-by-boys for jump ropes and other important usage. Neighborly backyard, porch, and street conversations disappeared. The idea list of what is materially needed to live changed drastically. Acquiring, maintaining and securing stuff increased, now dominating much of society. Affluence brought with it neurosis with responding services in print and office, TV’s Dr. Phils soon playing an expansive role. Multitudes discovered they were poor!

  More and more, men when they knew God, glorified Him not as God, losing their sense of genuine gratitude, and their hearts were darkened as they increasingly became vainglorious in their thinking. (Rom.1:20-21)

  Lord, help us please. May Your Christmas peace rule our heart, producing godly attitude of gratitude.  EBB4