It’s very cold where I am
this morning. Wind chills are below zero. Despite the cold, in part because of
it, Helen and I will deliver the items from the MUSH Christmas tree at church,
to the folks who will distribute them to kids in need.
MUSH stands for mittens,
underwear, socks, and something that begins with H. Oh, hats.
It’s going to be cold out
there, taking stuff from the church to the car, and from the car to the social
agencies. It would be a lot colder without mittens and underwear and socks and
hats.
I can afford my own MUSH
items now, but there was a time I could not. I was grateful for folks who gave
me things to keep me warm, not only clothes to keep my body warm, but concern
and friendship to keep my spirit warm.
When we got married, I was
preaching at three little churches--Solsberry, Green County Chapel, and Walker’s
Chapel. That first winter of our marriage was one of the worst weather winters
around here in a long time. Walker’s Chapel had only an oil-burning stove, and
its desultory heat never reached the pulpit. One Sunday it was so cold that I preached
in a galoshes, an overcoat, a muffler, and bright green earmuffs. The worshipers huddled around the oil burner. As the preacher’s new wife, they thought Helen should
have the place of honor, closest to the stove, close enough that her pretty beige
coat got a big burn spot on the side.
We could not afford a new
coat, so Helen simply dyed the whole thing black. Sometimes you just have to
make do with what you’ve got.
She’s done that her whole
life, personally and professionally. She taught home and family management in
college and high school, teaching people how to get the most out of what they
have. I’m grateful that she has been willing to make do with what she got when
we got married. No, I’m talking about the coat…
JRMcF
johnrobertmcfarland@gmail.com
BTW, Helen says the author I quoted, "If they get me, they get me," is Joan Borysenko.
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