Old Order Mennonite Memoirs

"What Matters In A Day?" asks Margaret Peterson in her poem title and goes on to say:

"By the power of God, a day is born

With endless potential in it.

We have 'free wills' so each may choose

What to do with each minute.

"Vast may be the day's work done,

Huge the goals that are striven.

But greatest of all in the eyes of God

Is the amount of love that was given."

When I ponder on the amount of love given, I think that only God knows. He alone can tell how much love we have in our hearts as we choose with our free wills what to do with each minute. Only God can know what the motives are behind everyone's choices. That's why we..........

"Don't look for the flaws – as we go through life;

And even when we find them,

It is wise and kind to be somewhat blind,

And look for the virtue behind them;

For the cloudiest night has a tint of light

Somewhere in its shadows hiding,

It is better by far to look for a star,

Than the spots on the sun abiding.

The world will never adjust itself

To suit our whims to the letter;

Some things go wrong our whole life long

And the sooner we know it the better.

It is folly to fight with the infinite,

And go under at last in the wrestle;

The wiser man shapes into God's plan,

As water shapes into a vessel."

When I think about things going wrong last week, I see again my long-legged calf, escaped from her hutch. After a phone call to alert us of the escapee on the road, my husband and I hurried to chase her away from certain death. But although we chased her in hopes of catching her, she had other plans. After several failed attempts she ran away like a deer to the neighbors and we were left far behind. That's when our friend Dick Loose came along side us in his truck and asked what was going on. With his offer to take my husband on down the road after the calf, I went back home.

A short time later Joel Smith and his truck brought both my husband and the runaway calf back home. It was just another example of the good neighbors God has given us here along Piney Creek Road. We are unworthy of "the amount of love that was given."

Would neighbors come to my door, too, like they did for Polly Anna, if I were paralyzed on my bed? Would they tell me how I made a difference in their lives, like she did for them by teaching them the 'glad' game? Last week's phone time with my grandchildren wasn't long enough to come to the end of Polly Anna's story, so are still wondering if she could be "glad" again even if she could never walk again. I promised them I would wait and not read ahead.

Meantime, in real life is the happy news of a set of twins born to first time parents Joshua and Laura Fox. The little boy and girl are only the second set of twins that Allen and Miriam Garman claim as their great-grandchildren. Another set of great-grandparents are Paul and Mary Fox while first time grandparents are Aaron and Arlene Fox.

For the youth the Saturday singing and the Sunday supper was along Kelly Road.