December first.  Anna Ruth, as always, is up at 6:15, had her shower and dressed, then out to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.  It was my time to stir, which I did with joy, pulling on my house coat and slipping into my slippers I joined her at the table now holding my five or so pills and toast, jams and coffee.  The toast was from Anna Ruth’s bread baking yesterday, delicious and nourishing.

Joining hands, a lovely habit, we thanked God for life, for the new day and food, of course.  The toast was especially good this morning.  Anna Ruth has perfected the art of bread-making.  While eating we got caught up on the morning news.  President George Bush died.  A great man.

As we sipped our coffee we turned to prayer, our usual Don/Anna Ruth morning prayer.  It is Saturday, so Chestnut Hill Church, as usual, is where we concentrate our attention.  And the Daily Light reading topped it off, with the assurance that the present earth will pass away but a new one will appear, so praise God that all is well even though the battle rages, for now.  At our age we are comforted by knowing that our lives are in the hands of our Lord who has all under his control.  Our prayers centered on the needs of our congregation, and our own family stretched from here to Australia, Honduras and all over the States.  We carry each member of our family close to our hearts.  May they all embrace Jesus Christ, that is our ultimate prayer for them.

After breakfast, I retire to the parlor to sip what is left of my coffee.   As I sit and look around so many memories rush in that I can barely keep up.  As I settle in for my few moments of meditation, three clocks strike the hour of 8, one the hundred-year old Charles mantle clock with old mechanical works and two more modern clocks, powered with batteries, one a gift from EMU and the other from Victor and Viola Dorsch.  So many memories!  As they strike on the hour, I am in another world – a world of humbling reflection.  I was reflecting on what the “new heavens and new earth” might be like.  Thrilling, indeed.  Revelation 21.  Each morning I focus on what God has spoken or did.

The bright morning sun did not only brighten the room but set alight the white window frames of our bay windows, an amazing sight.  I was sitting on one of the two rockers from the set of Anna Ruth’s parents.  Made about 1916.  Mission oak.  I rocked a bit in a moment of contentment and joy.  God is good, for sure.  On the window sill sat cloisonné that I brought from China, two small red vases.  On the round table there stood a marvelous crafted plover, a gift from Jeff and Heather years ago, still precious. And a few pieces from Africa, including a drummer whose haunting music was not seen but heard, in the spirit.  He beat the drums with spindly arms, expressing his enthusiasm.

The tick-tock sound of the old clock connected us with our past and future.  For now, time is important. That will be superseded by forever time!

Thank you, Lord, for your precious morning thoughts.  I embrace them with all my being.