A Little Time to Reflect

Here it is Easter Sunday I’ve gotten up at 5 am to put a nice looking ham on the smoker outside. It’s a bit chilly but quite refreshing. The birds are singing a Sunday chorus, and twice I’ve heard the sound of far off Geese cackling. It’s that time of year when every living creature and seed starts its warm-up for the beautiful warm weather in the coming months. The morning sun has not yet shown it’s light, and the gray pre-dawn sky seems foreboding.

Our family has an outing planned after church services to meet at the barn and have a picnic of sorts. This time of year the mountains are burdened down with layers of snow, so our family chooses to meet at the old barn. We spread the lounge chairs, saddle the horses and mules and put the grandkids in motion while the adults renew their weekly activities. Dad will cook a nice smoked ham with all the trimmings and Mom will do her delicious potato salad and add her beautiful touch on the festivities. Just having her there along with my family is reward enough for this old Grandpa. The kids ride the horses and mules this time of year in the round pen for hours on end never tiring of the endless direction. I think it is a little therapy of sorts for all the stress our young children are under these days with our confused lifestyles.

As I am writing, I get a whiff of the smoke coming out of the smoker and man does that smell good. Ham and eggs would be the order of the day right now, but this ham has other family waiting for the delicious morsels that will come later. I guess I can tuck away my selfish thoughts of slamming down juicy forkfuls of meat with runny mouthwatering eggs, toast with strawberry jam dripping over the edges and a tall glass of sweet milk.

Ok, I’m back from the moment, and I have not forgotten the main reason for this posting. Since this is Easter Sunday and my blog, I thought I would express my thoughts on a very saddening situation that has been developing in our world as of late. I am referring to the mass bombings and wanton disregard for human life that we have witnessed on our local news stations these past few months. When I think of all the destruction in the world that is going on as I write this post, it nearly engulfs my mind. I wonder what my Father in Heaven thinks about all the sadness brought upon his children by their brothers and sisters for nothing more than a cause. I would imagine his sadness would be like mine when I’ve watched as my children have struggled through the ups and downs of life as they grew into adulthood. As a parent, we are only there for support and counsel. It is very frustrating to see them fail and then try again only to fail sometimes. When they finally get it right, we celebrate in our hearts silently and thank God for his precious blessings.

In talking with my beautiful but aging parents, they expressed the same love and frustrations in raising me. I asked my father about raising me, and he said that they did their best, but the outcome came from me. I would suppose that this is the same with God and his children. In my mind, God must be sorrowful and frustrated with some of his children on occasion as this world moves along.

Easter Sunday brings back memories of Easter baskets filled with candies and all manner of treats. Egg hunts in outdoor settings and when the weather was too cold and snowy we would look for carefully hidden eggs and treats within the confines of our warm homes in stuffed chairs, window sills, and where ever our parents might find a small hiding place. We were happy and joyful as we grew in this light and then as time allowed we made our Easter happiness for our families.

Now I see the progression in life as my children spread the love to my grandchildren, and the cycle goes on. As this day progresses into a family loving affair at the barn, I would like to express my thanks for the opportunity God has given me to live my life free and partake of my family in his outstanding world. His precious blessings upon my family and me do not go unnoticed.

Now that ham is calling my name with a thunderous roar. My stomach is growling like a big freight train rolling down a set of rusty tracks. Oh, my this will take a conscious effort, of extremely strict self-control to keep my mitts from sneaking a nice sliver of the juicy, delicious smelling meat. I hope I got my point across with how delicious this ham will be, sorry neighbors for the smell in the air if there’s any left over after I’m done your welcome to it. May God bless this nation and have a Happy Easter.