Holidays

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday May 11, 2006

Our family was poor and made even poorer by what we called drunkenness. We now know that term was misnomer as Dr. U.R. Nut has pointed out that drunkenness is not a sin, but is really a disease. I suppose new translations will use such terms as 'Seldom Sober Disease' instead of the callous, Drunkard. According to modern shrinks, God seems to be so unfeeling.

One of my memories of childhood is the amazing attempts by my mother to make a way where there seemed to be no way. Now please understand my Mom was not a high society animal, but basically an unwanted child who was farmed to neighbors to raise as little more than a white child slave who never learned to read and write until after the birth of six children and she was in her thirties, an impoverished widow. Now, in her nineties, her hand is more legible than mine though I do type rather clearly.

I recall Mom sending my little sister Bertie and me to the creek bank to gather Poke. If you don't know what Poke is, count yourself blessed. The myth is that if you cut the tops from smaller plants of Poke, you get a veggie that is as tasteful, actually better for you than Spinach. I thought that would rev up your motor. Mom prepared many concoctions for which there was and thankfully there is no recipe. And if God be in a gracious mood, no one will ever again eat such meals. But, these 'meals' were the modest fare of my youth. I often thought that I wish I had the courage to starve to death!

A statement by Calvin Trillin set me to pondering about today's ruminations:

"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found."

Mothers have an innate meal creativity about them and Joyce, the mother of our children is no exception. I recall a time during the early days of my ministry. We were out of everything including money. The Mother of our children committed with me that we would not let the trials of pastoring a then struggling church and trying to feed at that time three children with little or no money drive us from our calling. What memories our children must have of those days. It never reached the point of going down to the creek to look for Poke, but it sure came close. Our youngest at that time, Dawn, at less than a year old, ate so many beans, that I recall one suppertime she looked at her plate, and started to cry. But, oh, when Christ brought us through, talk about shouting! Joyce tried to alleviate the monotonous meals by calling breakfast Pinto Beans, lunch was Black Eyed Peas and supper was termed 'Combined Pinto/Blackeyed Collage.' I really preferred supper.

I don't know what sort of background you carry around, but it would be a good thing to let Mom know you appreciate her on this coming Sunday. If she has left this globe, say a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord Jesus for putting her in your life.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit.

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