Pearl Light
by Jody Bailey Day
The light slips pearl-like
Through the window in my room,
The soft, first light of day…
Hallowed time, a moment
Before the coming noise,
The quiet, first light of day…
The Dove sings His song
Of love into my heart,
The precious, first Light of day…
Father whispers to His child
His way of life and Word,
The Holy, first Light of day.
“Shug” ~ By Jody Day
My dad sat me on his lap the night before my first day of school. “Keep your mouth shut. That way you’ll know everything you know, and everything they know, too.”
I didn’t listen. But it’s a wonder I got a word in edgewise, because he loved to talk and tell stories. Born in Louisiana, the family eventually settled in Jasper County, Texas. They had a maid named Arvetta, and she gave Daddy the nick-name “Shug” as in “Sugar.” Dad talks about being just a tyke standing on a box flipping burgers during the depression. He had an ornery streak. Their Christmas stockings were full of fruit and nuts, and maybe some penny candy. Daddy would wait until everyone ate all their goodies before he started on his. His siblings would beg for a piece, and he loved saying no and having them all watch while he ate his. Such a nut!
He had debilitating asthma but joined the army anyway during WWII. He ended up in Hawaii, where most of his pictures show him on the beach. Not bad, but they had to send him home. His brother was killed two weeks before the war was over. Daddy didn’t talk about it much.
He worked for the railroad, but multiple sclerosis made him a stay-at-home dad, while my mom worked as a telephone operator. He loved to cook and make lunch bags full of goodies for my grandchildren. He would throw his head back and sing his favorite song. “Down in old Joe’s bar room, at the corner ooooooof the square…”
My dad always told me I could do anything I wanted to do if I worked hard at it. He was right. He gave up drinking, and then smoking in his later life. He loved to freak the grandkids out by taking out his teeth. Happy Father’s Day, Daddy. We all miss you.
Red Impatiens Wait for Me
by Jody Bailey Day
The red impatiens shriveled up today
And all but gave up hope
That I’d remember.
Their leaves clung bravely to the stalk
And hopeful buds strained
To hold their color.
When I finally saw their thirsty faces
And knew that they were
Near a drying end,
I left the sustenance of squash and
The needy green tomatoes
For the water hose.
The sweet red maidens will give to me
Another day or two of glory
For my eyes
And while I tend the required food
In the square kitchen garden
I’ll remember
Used by permission Christian Devotions Ministry
Marriage Banned! By Jody Bailey Day
It’s true. Emperor Claudius the Second actually banned marriage in the third century, A.D. He thought married men made bad soldiers. The nerve!
A Roman priest, named Valentine, must have been a true romantic, or a stickler for Biblical laws. Either way, he didn’t think it was fair, and began arranging marriages in secret.
Claudius found out about it and threw the priest in jail, sentenced to death. The legend goes that Claudius fell in love with the jailor’s daughter. This doomed prison romance is the stuff of a tragic Hollywood movie.
On February 14 poor Valentine sent his love a letter as he was being led to the gallows, signed simply, “Your Valentine.” Where’s the tissue?
The regular holiday didn’t come about until the year 496. A Roman festival took place in the middle of February called Lupercalia. Boys drew names of girls from a box, and they would pair off during the festival, and sometimes they got married. Valentine would have loved it.
In later years the church wanted to make Lupercalia into a Christian celebration and combine it with a remembrance of the sainted Valentine. St. Valentine’s name became used to express affection. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Writers/Readers Quick Snack—Jody Day
Crack Crackers
1 box saltines
1 package Ranch dressing mix 1 cup vegetable or canola oil 4 TBLS. Red Pepper flakes
Place all 4 sleeves of crackers in a large bowl that has an air- tight lid. In a separate bowl, mix the oil, dressing mix, and pepper flakes, then pour over crackers. Stir well, secure the lid and turn it every few hours or so. Adjust the red pepper flakes if you don’t want it too hot.
