Were you born in a barn?

Old Fashioned Barn
courtesy photobucket.com

“Close the door please,” yelled my Dad, “Do you think you were born in a barn?”

Did you ever hear those words when you were a kid? I did many a time, but I never associated the words with a real barn.

My mother was born in a genuine barn. Yes, one end was the living quarters and the other end was where the animals were kept at night.

My Grandparents were keepers of a cow, a horse, and some chickens, and the animals were happy to be close to people. Grandpa was a share cropper and worked for a man who allowed them to live on the premises and to use the horse to plow the fields. The cow provided them with milk while the chickens contributed both eggs and meat.

Some years later, my grandfather moved his family to a ranch that God enabled him to purchase. There he raised oranges and olives for his livelihood, and a garden that produced vegetables a plenty.

Grandpa would drive his old truck to town, and sell his produce and eggs. Maneuvering his truck down the narrow alley, he would knock on his customer’s back door and call out, “Egg man, egg man.” After several hours he was able to return home with coins for his trouble.

Years later, my Mother tried to find that old barn again so she could snap a photo, but it was not to be. She did try to paint a picture from memory, and it hangs on one of my bedroom walls.

Both my parents come from humble beginnings, and work was always a part of their lives. The Bible tells us that, he who does not work, shall not eat. Oh how we need to train that concept into our young people today.

Even as young children they can perform work.

Teach your children to sort their clothes by colors, and how to do their own laundry. Include showing them how to change the sheets off their bed, and wash and dry them, and remake their bed. Teach them to dig in the yard and plant a garden, and take care of it. They can learn to use a needle, and mend their shirt where it is coming apart at the seams. Show them how to prepare a simple meal. You will be surprised how quickly children can learn to become self sufficient.

No, I was not born in a barn, but it was my grandparent’s old farm house. My dwellings have been shacks, shanties, nice apartments and grand houses, but what does it matter if I gained the whole world and lost my own soul?

Finding Jesus and inviting Him into my heart was my wisest decision, and that also means that Jesus is busy at work building me a mansion that will be mine some day.

So the question is not “Were you born in a Barn?” but the important question is:

“Have you been Born – Again?”

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

This post has been Linked to the Mama Zone at Friends Day Wednesday
 http://www.themamazone.com/2012/03/friends-day-wednesday-37.html

also is linked to Bonnie's  Faith Barista Jam  

and also linked to "Tell Me a True Story" at: http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/