Uncategorized | Grandma's Ramblings

I read this story a few years ago. I do not know who wrote it. It is not original with me but at this time of Thanksgiving I think it is so appropriate.

“One afternoon a shopper at the local mall felt the need for a coffee break.  She bought herself a little bag of cookies and put them in her shopping bag.  She then got in line for coffee, found a place to sit at one of the crowded tables, and then taking the lid off her coffee and taking out a magazine she began to sip her coffee and read.  Across the table from her a man sat reading a newspaper.   After a minute or two she reached out and took a cookie.   As she did, the man seated across the table reached out and took one too.  This put her off, but she did not say anything.

A few moments later she took another cookie.  Once again the man did so too.  Now she was getting a bit upset, but still she did not say anything.  After having a couple of sips of coffee she once again took another cookie.  So did the man.  She was really upset by this – especially since now only one cookie was left.  Apparently the man also realized that only one cookie was left.  Before she could say anything he took it, broke it in half, offered half to her, and proceeded to eat the other half himself.  Then he smiled at her and, putting the paper under his arm, rose and walked off.

Was she steamed!  Her coffee break ruined, already thinking ahead of how she would tell this offense to her family, she folded her magazine, opened her shopping bag, and there discovered her own unopened bag of cookies.”

I like that story – it makes me think about how well God treats me even when I am not thinking all that kindly about him. It also makes me think about how, sometimes, I do not really appreciate what I have or act like I know where it has come from.

Our country has been so blessed – but I think we have forgotten to be thankful and to remember the God who has blessed us so.

It reminds me of the story of the Israelites as they came to the land promised to their ancestor, Abraham, years ago. Moses warned them that after they had prospered in the land they were about to enter, had eaten their fill and had fine houses and large herds with silver and gold, that:

Do not say to yourself, “my power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.”  But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, and as he swearing to you today.”

Let’s be thankful this year for all the blessings we enjoy every day. Things we take for granted. Clean water, electricity powering all our devices, comfortable bed, free public education for our children, and the list goes on and on.

Most of all, I’m thankful for the love of God that gave us Jesus Christ our Savior.

To all my followers and friends on WordPress –

Halloween decorations are off the shelf – and even before we celebrate Thanksgiving, the stores are filled with Christmas decorations and music. Many of my friends tell me they are busy with their Christmas shopping list.

It is amazing to me how much money we spend at Christmas. According to the National Retail Federation, American spent 929.5 billion on Christmas in 2022, 955.6 billion in 2023 and it is estimated to grow 2.5% to 3.5%, to a new record of between $979.5 billion and $989 billion this year.

While Halloween spending is much less, it still is amazing what we spend. Americans spent $12.2 billion on Halloween in 2023 and $10.6 billion on Halloween in 2022.

Now – I am not trying to be Scrooge. Christmas is a great holiday – and absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying all the parties, gift exchanges and family gatherings.

BUT….as you begin shopping for family and friends, may I suggest you add something to that shopping list. Find an organization that helps the homeless, those who have lost their homes in natural disasters and the many in refugee camps around the world. The list goes on and on. Check out this website to find what needs there are – both in the USA and around the world.

https://www.charitynavigator.org/discover-charities/where-to-give/

There are many local organizations that could use some help. Local food pantries, Toys for Tots, check with your local school board for church for a family that could use help.

Check out my post on Mercy Ships.

https://wordpress.com/post/barblaneblog.com/7833

Let the joy of Christmas shopping extend beyond your immediate circle.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

I’m sure many of you have heard the story behind this song “It Is Well.” But if you have not, here it is. It is an inspiring testimony of how God is present in the middle of our tragedies. That does not mean a Christian feels no pain, heartache, sorrow. Rather it proclaims that God is present with us and gives us the courage and strength we need to face the problems life sometimes brings us.

This song has been a great encouragement to me at different times in my life. If you are struggling with a problem, I hope it will also encourage you to look to God for the strength you need.

The writer of the hymn, Horatio Spafford, was a successful lawyer and real estate investor in Chicago. Along with his wife, Anna, and their five children they were active in service to their church and their community in Chicago. In 1871 their young son died of scarlet fever and the great Chicago fire destroyed their real estate properties living them in difficult financial circumstances.

Two years later, in 1873, the family planned a trip to Europe. When business required his presence in Chicago, he sent his wife and four daughters on to Europe. On the trip, the ship was struck by another ship and it sank. His wife was rescued, but all four daughters were lost.

Spafford booked a ship to Europe to join his wife. As the ship neared the place where his daughters had been drowned, he wrote the words of this song.

Reading a friend’s blog today got my mind thinking about how fast this year has gone by. How fast my life is going by.

As I thought about the years already past (76) and wondered how many years lie ahead of me, I thought of the story in the Bible of Enoch.

In the genealogy of Adam, we are told:

Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.

He lived to be 365 years old, but Enoch had such a close and intimate relationship with God that one day he just vanished—God took him.

The writer of the book of Hebrews explains what it meant that “God took him.”

It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.

In my head I have this story.

Every day God and Enoch would take a walk. First, as a child Enoch no doubt had a lot of questions for God.

As their friendship grew, their walks got longer and longer. The childish questions became more difficult as Enoch became older, but God had no problem answering them. He was patient and loving. Every day Enoch would rise from his bed excited about another walk with God. He wondered what he would learn today.

Finally, after many years of shared moments with God they came to the end of their walk. God said, “Enoch, we are closer to my house than yours. Why don’t you just come on to my house with me?”

And Enoch happily said “YES!”

In good times and bad – blessed be the name of the Lord!

While in Mackinaw City for our 40th wedding anniversary, we enjoyed a ride on the Shepler’s Ferry. While we did not go the island, we chose a nighttime cruise “A Night of Falling Stars”. We boarded the ferry a little before 9:00 p.m. and enjoyed an hour and a half cruise as we counted the stars and enjoyed cruising under and around the Big Mac bridge. It was beautiful at night with all the lights.

Before 1957 the only way to reach Mackinac Island or to get from the lower peninsula to the upper peninsula was to take a ferry. The first commercial ferry service was started in 1878 by George T. Arnold and LB Coats providing service to the island. When the Grand Hotel opened and greater demand was made for service to the island, other ferry services opened up.

The Michigan State Ferry System operated from 1923 to 1957 providing car ferries to connect the lower peninsula to the upper peninsula. In the mid 1950’s the car ferries carried almost 1 million cars a year. There were times when they had five ferries running with a total capacity of 500 cars. The largest ferry could carry 150 cars. In 1957 when the “Big Mac” bridge was completed, the car ferries providing service across the straits were no longer necessary.

When the government purchased the “Mackinaw City” and the “Sainte Ignace” in 1940 for war purposes, the State obtained a Pere Marquette Railway boat for service at the Straits of Mackinac. The ferry was renamed the “City of Petoskey”. The vessel could carry 105 vehicles. In the winter of 1952, the Highway Department acquired the 10,000 horsepower “Vacationland”. Built by the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, Michigan, it cost $4,745,000 and, with a 75 foot beam and a 360 foot length, became the queen of the fleet. The “Vacationland” carried nearly 150 cars and trucks. The five-vessel fleet had a total carrying capacity of about 500 vehicles.

The Shepler Ferry is quite an operation. Along with ferries to and from the island, they offer special cruises like the one we took. They offer 3-4 hour cruises on both Lake Michigan and Lake Huron that give a great view of the many lighthouses in the area. I found it exciting to start the cruise on Lake Huron and end on Lake Michigan.

We forgot to bring any jackets, and it was a little cool out on the lake as we chose to take seats on the upper deck. The lower deck provided more protection from the wind, but your view of the stars was limited. So we just cuddled close to keep warm – and since we were celebrating our anniversary, we really did not need any excuse to do that.

After World War II, Captain William H. Shepler returned to Mackinaw. He started his business by opening a snack bar for passengers waiting for the ferry. He soon saw a need for better ferry services to Mackinac Island. Thus the Shepler Ferry line was born. Over the years they have added more ferries and built a large area for customers to park and to wait for the ferries. There is parking for those who are only taking a cruise on the lake or to and from the island. There is also overnight parking for those who are going to stay on the island since there are no vehicles allowed on the island. It was fascinating to watch the employees as they quickly loaded the people who were staying on the island and all their luggage.

While I enjoyed the ferry ride and the historic fort, I must admit I would not make a return trip to Mackinaw City. For me, there was too much “tourist trap” atmosphere. Lots and lots of t-shirts shops, souvenir shops and restaurants. Too many crowds.

(Pictures of old ferries: https://northernmichiganhistory.com/)