59........,,,for now!

So it is just a birthday, right? No big deal turning 60! After all dozens of people turn 60 every hour! You are never alone. Senior citizens will surround you with love, encouragement and medical histories no matter where you are. It will be a tale worth telling should you choose to repeat it. Of course in time you will develop your own chapter in the book of advanced age. The wonderful thing is .....hmm.....I am sure it is there......ah, yes. You will awake each day living out your own version of 50 First Dates. New every morning. How wonderful to know you will be delighted each day by yesterday's news.

Ok, sounds a bit harsh, but, truth be told I too will one day cross the threshold of 60. Of course you will be much older when I arrive but will be the voice of reason and experience. I am so glad YOU will lead the way into the 'mist' of time (it might be cataracts but it makes the sky look foggy .....or romantic)!

The 60 Days of Dale

I love a good story, especially when it delves deep into the history of the world. The very foundation of time and dirt. There are so few things that can be connected to the moment God placed Adam on the earth, but there is one that remains. ONE that can recall days of stick ball, black and white television, radio, 45's, books reading! It would be Dale. And it is coming quickly when '60' will be but a memory (should that remain). Time will no longer have meaning and supper will be eaten before noon! His mind will no longer be consumed with whens and ifs but the 'who and what' are you thoughts. I am certain that even now he is declaring he has no recollection of the tales I can spin. And who knows, I might embellish a fact or two. But here it comes the big count down to 60! So on this very day, 60 long, exhausting years ago, this is what bedazzled the people of the land.



The world moved along at it's own rhythm never suspecting the arrival of DALE. The sun rose and set as if nothing special was about to occur. The bees buzzed and the ducks quacked (in an animated way) never suspecting HE would arrive at any moment. Had they known, they could have sought cover, but no. They would choose to meet him face on. They would be victorious, singing at to him  to welcome him to the world. HE would arrive and news would travel......eventually......by several ponies and a bicycle...... to tell the others. But that would not be for 59 more days. Only time would tell what would arrive with that stork. After all women did not get pregnant then and men did not watch way back then. Truth be told we don't really know just exactly how he arrived.....hmmmm
 
 
  

The Past

Have you ever held something in your hand that is old? I don't mean that green supper in the back of the refrigerator but I mean something that is older than yourself, perhaps older than your parents. I love hand me downs, antiques, treasures. Mine or not, they call up images of times gone by and my imagination conjures what life may have been for those attached to the item.

These loaf pans are part of my family treasures. Seems a bit crazy, two glass dishes yellowed by time and use. But they each hold keys to a past, having attended many meals and gatherings. They have served 100's of meals and provided structure to a recipe permitting the perfect guest at the family table.
The smaller one is 100 years old. What I know is my grandmother cooked for church functions, family functions and often prepared pies and meatloaf. That is what I use this pan for as well. The larger one is nearly 80 years old and likely did much of the same work, but belonged to my mother and would have served an extended group of hungry guests.

I just made some meatloaf in these and as I held them wondered whose hands had used these before? How often were they used? Who helped in the kitchen? Did they get borrowed or shared? Were there other things they were used for? Seems a bit silly some but then I thought was the food prayed over while in these vessels? Was there a meal prepared for an ailing friend or neighbor? Had there been a treat prepared for a wedding? Had it been used to teach or reward?

So often we have in our hands a bit of our heritage. Not just the physical family line, but our spiritual past. Do we do things now because they are newly learnt behaviors or because they are time honored examples of family and faith? Do you ever think about the WHY we do things and WHO is responsible for that action? Have we learned to bury our treasure or share it? Have we learned to hand down our wisdom or is it buried in the ground with the bones from this life?

I have found lists and journals and letters and notes that talk about the life of my northern grandmother though she was alone with small children during the wars. I have heard countless stories of the kindness and constant labor of love from my southern grandmother who always smiled despite the loss of two homes form fire. What I know is that I am privileged to have as my heritage two God following, generous and tough women. Both known for their gifts from the kitchen and from the heart. Both known to share what little they had, inviting strangers to the table and giving anything needed away. Heritage, passed down in life lessons and loaf pans. From their hands, skillfully preparing a simple meal, seeking a blessing from the Father now to the modern day table, eager to share a treat mixed and prepared while begging God's awesome grace to give it exceptional flavor.

The question may be, are you learning from the past? Are you holding on to values and servants heart handed down with the loaf pans in your life? I can not wait to learned more!