Mother’s Itinerary

All the beds had been stripped, and Monday was wash day using the old wringer washer, with laundry tubs for rinsing. Mother then hung the clean clothes on the line until they were dry. From a window on the laundry porch she used a pulley clothes line, but the majority of the clothing was walked down to the street level, and hung on lines which my dad had fashioned for her.

Tuesday was ironing day and also bean day. A pot of beans would be simmering on the stove as she ironed most of the day. Corn bread baked from her own recipe and usually some chard from the garden would accompany the beans. During World War II we were asked to have a meatless Tuesday because meat was scarce; and this may have been a carry over from World War I when Hoover under President Wilson asked for voluntary compliance. What ever the reason, the beans differed each week from chili, to black eyed peas, to navy and to lima beans. Our family of 5 always enjoyed Mom’s good cooking and usually there was nothing left over.

Every day was get up early for personal prayer, cook oatmeal for the children’s breakfast, make school lunches, read the Bible to the children before school, tend the vegetable garden which included feeding the chickens and collecting the eggs. Mother also raised beautiful chrysanthemums in our front yard and would bring flowers to church for the front alter.

On the 2nd and 4th Thursdays was a Women’s Ministries meeting at the church where the ladies, sewed, wrapped bandages for the lepers, and made quilts.

Once each week, Mother taught a Released Time Bible Education class for the local grade school. She would meet the children at the school gate and escort them to our home where she had set up chairs and tables for the lessons. These Bible materials are still available today for Release Time classes and VBS from the Child Evangelism Fellowship.

On Sunday my mother was the Sunday School Superintendent for many years. Mother also taught a primary Sunday School class of girls, and at one time I was in her class.

I vividly remember the Easter Story as she told of the death burial and resurrection of Jesus. That night while in my bed, I tried to remember if I had ever asked Jesus to come into my heart. No recollection caused me to make a decision right then and there to ask Jesus to save me, and I told Him that I would serve him all the days of my life. A sweet peace came over me and I rested soundly in Him.

Becoming a Christian is simple. The Bible tells us in Romans 10:9

That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

If you cannot remember ever having done so - - - Today is a good time to decide to receive Jesus into your heart. It is easy to do, just believe, and receive Him.