Love Through Wrinkled Eyes

I looked at love through wrinkled eyes today. I meant to get over before Christmas but with our wacky weather and snowstorms I didn't make it until today. It's a short drive to where she lives. I walk up the gradually elevated wheelchair ramp and look in the window. When I get her attention I wave and I can always guarentee a smile and wrinkled eyes. Her name is Rose. I have known her almost 50 years although that's not really knowing her in a personal way since I was too little for a few years to "know" anyone. You see, Rose named me. She lived next door to us on the farm and was greatly perturbed that my parents brought me home from the hospital with no name. It was day after day that she would ring the party line phone and ask what my name was and finally she started tossing up names. Obviously, Marette hit a chord with both parents. I used to think life could be no better than walking up the gravel road to grandma's, crawling through the barb wire fence and walking down the "old road" to Rose and Walt's farm. If there were cattle in the field I took the highway since I was scared of the "bull". I would crawl through the fence by the big barn and go up to the house and ring the doorbell. I was always welcomed as if I was the most important visitor they had had all day. Of course I was offered food, after all that's what we did back then, but more importantly I would go in time to "help" sort eggs. I learned several lessons sorting eggs however the one I will keep forever is that it's not so important what you do as it is important that you are with people who care about you. I'm sure I was of no value sorting eggs, but I was never made to feel that way. I remember breaking one and my worth didn't go in the wastebasket with the egg. Rose has a smile that warms her entire face; wrinkles and all. Her eyes squint back as she smiles and it's love through wrinkled eyes. I pulled up a chair, tried putting in her hearing aids but ended up going and getting the aid to help. I knitted and we talked. We talked alot about things we both remembered. It was then that Rose asked me if I ever missed the old farm? "Yes," I had to admit. I wished the house and the barn were still standing and I could spend an afternoon in the woods. Our woods shared a border with their woods and we loved to wander. We tried not to go in "Walt and Rose's" woods because often their cattle were in their but there were times we'd jump the fence and go down farther where the river went around a bend.
We talked about the family, especially how my family was growing and changing. We talked how she and Walt met, when they bought the farm and how it was they ended up at the Concord Church. We talked about High School, the great depression, her playing basketball and then she'd ask again, "Do you ever miss the old farm?" We'd start all over again and about the third time around I realized that it was just like the egg sorting. This conversation wasn't going anywhere except in circles and just like I didn't really help sorting eggs it was the time spent together with people you care about that made the difference. Each time we discussed "how much we missed the old farm" it was a bit different angle and a few new memories and what God had done for our families. In the Bible if you really step back and look, it's kind of like Rose and I; the same discussion just with a different angle. People basically did the same thing in the Bible from generation to generation. We begin life, we live life, we make mistakes in life, we change life, we influence people, we make mistakes in life, we change life, we influence people, we make mistakes in life, we change life, we influence people, and the years go on. The one thing that has held our faith through generations is the love through wrinkled eyes. The love of Moses as he led the people; through wrinkled eyes. The love of Job as he started his family over again confidant God loved him; through wrinkled eyes. The love of David as he watched his grandchildren grow and as he listened to Solomon give advice to his sons; through wrinkled eyes. The love of Paul as he encouraged the churches; through wrinkled eyes. It all comes back to the questions in life that change our heart. Questions like, "Do you ever miss the old farm?" And as we share the answers with the people who care about us it's the love that comes through wrinkled eyes that give us the courage and strength to keep the faith and influence others in life. So as you make New Years Resolutions, which by the way is very Biblical except it should be daily resolutions, commit to yourself to spend time with others and bring up questions that prompt the memory and look for love; through wrinkled eyes.

Christmas Love Chapter

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style©By Sharon Jaynes

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family - It profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.Love doesn't envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust.
But giving the gift of love will endure.
Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, that starry night in Bethlehem. Like the Shepherds, I am still amazed at Your great love. May I not lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas, but celebrate Jesus' birthday with joy!In Jesus' Name, Amen