What's In Your Diary?

See those old diaries? They belonged to Marion Sheldon who was married to Guy, except that she always referred to him as "D" (maybe for Dear?) during the ten years which those diaries span. Guy owned a service station and also Guy's Little Gun Shop which he ran from their basement.

Marion and Guy married in 1937 and since the diaries cover the years 1944-1948 and 1954-1958, I assume they never had any children, for none are ever mentioned.

Eight years ago I bought those diaries at Marion's estate sale and I read through thousands of faded pencil entries (oh my poor eyes). What were most of the entries like? 

Saturday May 19th, 1945:  " Up 9:30. Lunch 2:00. Cleaned, washed, ironed.  Mowed in evening. "D" home 10:15. Bed 11:00."

Hmm... Hundreds and hundreds of those (hey, these only cost me $1 each, after all). But sometimes things got more exciting:

Tuesday May 20, 1946:  "Up 11:30. Rainy day. Painted. In evening "D" worked on truck. I went to cosmetic party at 'Tuts'. Home 12:30."

Heh.

Okay, to be fair, Marion did often go bowling and she speaks of shopping and sometimes seeing movies (wish she'd mentioned the titles) at the drive-in theater and visiting her mother and sister. Oh, and she and Guy did buy a house (the estate sale one) and Marion noted the details of the improvements they made. Also, for two months each year she and Guy went on the-most-boring-vacations-on-Planet-Earth. Don't ask me how or why they could be gone so long.

One huge thing happened on July 31st 1958, though.  Marion was 'hit by a tree' (her words), unconscious for ten days (!) and remained in the hospital over a month. Yikes! 

Anyway. Each time I begin rereading those "Up 10:00, shopped, "D" napped after dinner, radio, etc." entries, I start thinking, "Sigh. Dullsville." But then God reminds me that my diaries:

.... don't exactly read like Gone With The Wind. No, they're suspiciously like Marion's (although, I did put more soul into mine. You know, more feelings and beliefs).

Most of my days--probably most of everybody's days-- are average. Typical work, cook, clean, brush your teeth, watch tv, chat with your spouse, day-to-day ho-hum stuff--to some dispassionate soul reading over your shoulder, that is. 

But then I remember this verse:

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."   ... Colossians 3:17

Ah, that's what makes life memorable. When we do everything because of our love for God, because we enjoy obeying and pleasing Him, well, it all turns into a sort of high adventure, one which gives our days meaning now and for a future life in Heaven.

Obedience matters. Counting it all joy matters, too. It's all important and time-worthy and a huge learning experience which enables us to live more deeply and gratefully as our years sail by. 

At least, that's what I believe.


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 ^"Therefore if any person is in Christ he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!"   ... 2 Corinthians 5:17

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In the mood to read a vintage diary online? Here's one for you.

Here's another.

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It matters. It's important. All of it.


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Simple Encouragement

Tom and I visited two estate sales this past weekend and at one I found this pot and the small runner for just 50 cents each. I do love that mustard color.

Then, see this glass?

Back in the 90's I bought one and used it as a vase, but I gave it away when we moved from our other suburb house. Just last week I thought, "I wish I'd kept that glass now that I've returned to decorating with blue." Well, one sale this weekend had a whole set of those glasses! I bought one and thanked God for being so sweet to give it back to me. He really can make Himself obvious when we switch from fear to trust.

 The vintage tablecloth beneath it was just 50 cents. 

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Of course, there are some great quotes out there from today's people (lest, by my last post you thought I meant there are not).

For example, here are some words given by Cindy Jacobs which have been bouncing around inside my head all weekend, comforting me like crazy. May they bring comfort to you, also:

1. If you have a vision from God and it’s never opposed, it’s not a true vision from God.

2. You’re perfected through the things you suffer. Your soul may get weary and need strengthening but the perfecting is necessary.

3. Today’s tests are tomorrow’s testimonies.

4. Faith always operates in the red. When the money is in the bank, you don’t need faith. The time for faith is before you see the results.

5. What you sow, God will bank in heaven and you will reap what you sow.

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“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you.” John 15:18-20 

"Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked ^[a]by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and ^[b]that only is what he will reap."   ... Galations 6:7

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I so appreciated all the insightful dialogue in my comment box after my last post! A special thanks to each of you who contributed your thoughts.

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So You Wanna Go Back?

"So you wanna go back to Egypt, where it's warm and secure.
Are you sorry you bought the one-way ticket when you thought you were sure?
You wanted to live in the Land of Promise, but now it's getting so hard.
Are you sorry you're out here in the desert, instead of your own backyard?"   

... partial lyrics to So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt? by Keith Green

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Do you remember that song written by Keith Green in 1980?

I do, and lately, it revs up inside my head when Christians complain about Today and wax all wishful about the Good Old Days of the presidencies of Reagan, both Mr. Bush's, Clinton and even Lincoln. I've received emails from ministries quoting Reagan and Lincoln, especially, as though they had everything perfectly right and Life was just one prosperous, fun party during their reigns.

Life has never been just one prosperous, fun party during anybody's reign. To think that, is well, too Lot's-pillar-of-salt-wife for me.

The Apostle Paul had more sense:

"But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead."

The Times, they are a changin' and much of what worked in Reagan's days won't work now--and one reason why not? God wants our ears aimed at His mouth, at the 'nowness' of Him. He is I Am, a minute-by-minute God. He's not I-Used-To-Be.

(Ever found it strange that people mostly share quotes from the distant past instead of coming up with their own great quotes today? I have.)

I choose not to live on a sort of auto-pilot from The Past, walking blindfolded, all sleepy-eyed by rote, but rather, by what the Bible and God speak to me. His sheep who so needs His leadership and would rather be slaughtered than celebrate my independence like others do.

God enjoys shaking things up, moving them around. Why?  So that always we'll rely upon Him, our Father, our Provider who takes wonderful care of His children (no matter how many Christians argue with you/me otherwise). Not any President, nor the stock-market, an abundant economy, paychecks, food stamps, bonuses, windfalls, get-rich-schemes, gambling, or our birthday money, even.

Those will pass away, are temporary and were never meant to keep our hearts strong or dependent upon them. 

But God! His love, His ways are eternal. He is forever. He will always Be. And, I believe, that's what He tried to get through the Israelites' stubborn heads ... that moving along with His leadership always meant moving forward. To the next big adventure which would require hearts devoted to Him in order to survive--and even thrive.




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"Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions."   ... Ecclesiastes 7:10

"The words "still once more" reveal the removal of what is shaken—the things that are part of this creation—so that what isn't shaken will remain."   ... Hebrews 12:27

"But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”   ... Luke 21:36


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I found this interesting. I think some of you will, also.

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