Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Romans 5:14-15 (NIV)
Because I have a “guvmunt” job, I had today off work. What a treat! A day to do as I like even if some of it involved chores. I woke at the luxurious hour of eight o’clock and by 8:15 had the kiln up and running to fuse a wind chime shaped like a killer whale and a purple iridescent dish. I made a lot of dishes for Christmas gifts, but kept none for myself. This one will go in my bathroom as a place to drop my earrings and rings at the end of the day. Once I started the kiln, the horses got their late breakfast and then, I moved them up front by the house for some better grass. I spent an hour or more struggling with the checkbook. Just a few days before Christmas, I overspent. I managed to hold out and be wise about money until the very end, but a hundred dollar bill given to me by my in-laws got spent five times. I would buy something and think, “This is what I will buy with the hundred dollars,” then, would see something different and buy it too. Unfortunately, I am not Jesus and cannot multiply things like He did the five loaves and two fishes so that money had to come from somewhere else. After sweating over it, I ended up transferring money out of savings into checking. Then, I did laundry, made two pound cakes, swept and mopped the floors, cleaned out the refrigerator, went to Wal-Mart to buy youngest son some pants for EMT school, bought grain at the feed store, and came home to cut more glass. I prepped three more wind chimes, a woven square out of blue and green translucent glass, a multicolored heart and an iridescent purple and green fish. I visited with a friend and youngest son’s girlfriend who came over and put a second load in the kiln. I fixed two suppers, one for youngest son’s girlfriend who is a vegetarian, and one for the rest of us. After supper, I did dishes, changed the sheets on the bed, and folded laundry. Now, I can start the week with a clean house and empty laundry baskets. Today was a gift that I did not earn. My ancestors did not spend hundreds of years in slavery or discrimination. I did not participate in sit ins or protests to guarantee civil rights to all regardless of color. I did not give my life to ensure others could be free as did Martin Luther King nor can I say that I have spent my life in service to my country. Even if I am a government worker, I earn a fair wage to do something I love. No, I did not earn this holiday, but I did enjoy it. There is another gift that I did not earn. I deserve death, but by grace, a gift freely given, you and I can have eternal life instead.
I too used that “guvment” gift today and loved every minute of it. I visited Ola to get her gift to take to Patty, told her all about your lesson and what a blessing it truly was to me and my family. I took homemade lunch to Patty and her coworker was able to witness to her in front of her son and her employee. Patty is on the edge, call her or visit her to help her build a deck of beautiful wood on that edge. She will know what you mean, trust me. Maybe you should wait for another “guvment” day, you have a lot on your plate. I am beginning to think you are more and more like Mama than you think girlfriend. Got six letters I wrote in the mail at mailbox cuz of “guvment” day. Got some grocery shopping done, I hate to grocery shop!!!!!!!!! Got a little gift for my In Service person, got a little gift for Patty, they were both 50% off so Dave would be proud of me $9 total. Finished some laundry, well got it all folded it is up to Alana to put it all away now, humph! I ate right all day, now tell me the Holy Trinity doesn’t make miracles anymore. My beloved hubby was cleaning his ride and smoking a cigar in the garage most the day and packing for his motorcycle mens retreat that I talked him into going to with Bill. Pray for Bill’s hands to make it fine to the retreat and for him to be pain free. I tried to talk your hubby into going too but he wouldn’t budge on it. They are leaving Thursday evening or afternoon and staying at Mayo Casa that night then going on to Marianna where the retreat is for evening workshops then there all day Sat and Sun morning. Pray for their travel mercies and for me not to worry. Pray for my beloved daughter she is back with sperm donor, I didn’t call him racca is sperm donor a sin?