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12-25-2007, 02:43 PM | #1 |
Our Blessings R Many Donating Member | Please Read, So Very Special. Our daughter emailed me this and I wanted to share it with others here at YT, It is very lengthy but oh so worth the reading. As I read this it brought back the wonderful memories of my Grand Parents. I can remember my Grand Father trading their cow to a neighbor for their sewing machine, so the neighbor could have milk for their new born baby. I sat by my GrandMother many a days as she sewed on that tredle machine. That tredle sewing machine sits in our living room and I so many times remember how it came to be in my hands. Those times were so hard for so many people but one thing for sure, the love in their hearts were so abundant and neighbors cared about neighbors, how wonderful this world would be today if it were more like, back then. Patti and Jack ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving. [/CENTER] It was Christmas Eve I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa, we had already done all the chores. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the he seat, reins in hand. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood. Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood. That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon and put them in the sled. He brung back a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand "What's in the little sack?" I asked. Shoes, they're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy." ; We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp. "We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out. "We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak. My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us." ; I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it. Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes. Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine. At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. We'll be by to get you about eleven. Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will." Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been setting back a little money here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand." I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears of gratitude for my Pa. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children. For the rest of my life, Whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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12-25-2007, 07:07 PM | #2 |
♥Love My Puppies!♥ Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: US
Posts: 5,786
| This story brought tears to my eyes. Your story of your Grandmother's sewing machine was so touching. Thanks for posting!
__________________ RIP My Sweet Darling Angel Daisy 08/09/03 - 10/02/15, RIP My Sweet Baby Boy Teddy Bear 02/01/04 - 02/11/16 Photos HERE |
12-25-2007, 07:23 PM | #3 |
Mojo, LilyGrace & Me Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: cuddling with my babies<3
Posts: 17,329
| THAT WAS WONDERFUL!!!! Reminds me of my grandmother!!!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT!!!
__________________ Hi I'm Jenn Mom to..... Mojo,LilyGrace & DD Kate RIP Mojo FOREVER in our hearts! |
12-26-2007, 01:46 PM | #4 |
Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: texas
Posts: 5,272
| Thank you Patti for sharing that with us.
__________________ Decide To Make It A Good Day |
12-26-2007, 02:30 PM | #5 |
I love yorkie kisses Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 1,751
| What a great story!! |
12-26-2007, 03:36 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: upstate ny
Posts: 5,847
| That's a beautiful story. It made me cry. It really is what Christmas truly is all about, isn't it? |
12-26-2007, 04:38 PM | #7 |
Donating YT 7000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama, etc.
Posts: 9,031
| Thank you Patti ... that was beautiful! God bless you, sweet lady!
__________________ Toto's Mom - http://www.dogster.com/?206581 Yorkie Rescue Colorado - http://www.yorkierescuecolorado.com/ "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits." -- Albert Einstein |
12-23-2012, 11:09 AM | #8 |
Our Blessings R Many Donating Member | Been a long time since I first read this, once again reminding me the GREATEST GIFT OF ALL IS LOVE. I couldn't help bringing it back for others to read, very lengthy but worth time spent reading. Hugs from us both. |
12-23-2012, 08:14 PM | #9 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,866
| Thanks for bringing this back... great story!
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12-23-2012, 09:21 PM | #10 |
♥Love My 3 Furrbutts♥ Donating Member | What a wonderful story, brought tears to my eyes...thank you for sharing that!
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12-24-2012, 07:05 AM | #11 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 10,534
| Beautiful story! Last night I sat in my living room, while my 2 brothers were there, and my mom was there and I was with my 'new' husband. The fireplace was roaring, football was on, the doggys sleeping on laps, it was warm and my family was there, almost all of them. This is the happiest Christmas for me in such a long time. I'm literally bursting with it. I hope everyone has the happiest Christmas this year.
__________________ “Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” ― Dean Koontz |
12-24-2012, 07:19 AM | #12 |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with us. @Celstu1 : It seems to be that our special moments are most frequently family and friend moments - and often quiet small times - that warm our hearts and minds. Our small bit of joy yesterday, was after putting "most" not all of the gifts under the tree, in the midst of making the dressing, I saw Razzle run past with the top part of a present - a Santa Claus hat in mouth, followed by Magic with a Doggy Paws stocking in mouth
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 |
12-24-2012, 08:38 AM | #13 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: montana
Posts: 2,945
| Thanks for sharing that story. Merry Christmas everbody |
12-24-2012, 03:14 PM | #14 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | Patti that is such a heartwarming story and one everyone should read and live by. Thanks for sharing.
__________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html |
12-24-2012, 06:02 PM | #15 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA
Posts: 7,652
| beautiful!!!
__________________ The Above advice/comments/reviews are my personal opinions based on my own experience/education/investigation and research and you can take them any way you want to......Or NOT!!! |
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