3rd Missouri
Helping The Needy
The most recent volunteer group (possibly
the last for this year) to help Pontotoc County Habitat for Humanity came
from Missouri. Two sponsors and five students representing the Bread Of Life
youth group from St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in the Waynesville/
St. Robert area spent a week in Pontotoc helping with tasks related to a
house under construction in Circle of Hope subdivision just off Clark Street.
Rick Vise and Nancy Tafoya led the group of teens, all young men who will
be high school seniors this fall.
Habitat for Humanity depends on volunteers from both near and far to keep
costs for homeowners limited largely to that which is required to purchase
building materials. Land is often donated and is sometimes already owned
by the family seeking to partner with Habitat for Humanity. Unlike that of
a government handout to an individual or family unit, Habitat plays the role
of the good fairy, not a dumb fairy. Habitat homeowners pay a monthly mortgage,
but the low cost of home construction makes the mortgage affordable to
individuals and families whose income is too low for them to qualify for
a conventional loan.
The need for affordable housing is such that I am of the opinion that poverty
housing, like the proverbial poor of whom Jesus spoke, will always be with
us. My opinion not withstanding, Habitat for Humanity International believes
poverty housing will one day be eradicated. While I have doubts of this
happening, I firmly believe that if Habitat for Humanity is not destined
to be the catalyst for eradicating poverty housing, then Habitat for Humanity
will certainly be a dominant force that may one day help bring about the
desired result.
Of the Missouri volunteers, only Rick, Nancy, and Jason had been here in
a similar capacity. It was, for the leaders, their third trip, but the first
for Nancy without her son Jimmy coming, also. Rick has a larger pool of
still-at-home children to draw from and brought his youngest son. It was
also a trip that almost wasn’t when a last minute effort to find a single
vehicle capable of transporting seven passengers and their luggage proved
a formidable obstacle. Yet, as is often the case where Christians are seeking
to follow God’s will, God provides all that is necessary for them to
accomplish His will.
The volunteers were allowed to use the facilities of Second Baptist Church
for their lodging needs. There they slept, prepared their breakfasts, and
packed their lunches before departing to the work site.
Churches and individuals typically prepare evening meals for the volunteers.
When my work schedule permits, I’m able to join the volunteers for supper.
I do my best to learn the names of each volunteer and try to spend some time
talking to each one during the week. Evening meals are also a good time for
me to meet members of other churches who are sponsoring a given meal.
The Bread of Life group may be the only Habitat volunteer group that I’ve
seen thank those in charge of the evening meals in a formal manner. Of course,
all volunteer groups are gracious and verbally thank their hosts. However,
the Missouri group has consistently presented a certificate of appreciation
to their hosts, and they do so by selecting a different person to make the
presentation each night. I feel this is a good experience for the youth,
and I’ve observed the pride on the part of the recipients thusly honored.
One of the churches which fed the volunteers was Selah Baptist Church, near
Ecru, MS, and one of the church members works for the same grocer that my
son, Jason, works for on a part-time basis. Sheila Grubbs invited Jason to
come to her church and eat with the group. To my surprise he did, which is
the first time I can recall having my son present for a meal with a group
of Habitat volunteers other than at our home.
On their off day, Tuesday, the group traveled to Memphis to sight-see. Because
their evening meals were provided by local church groups they planned to
be back to Pontotoc by six-thirty. However, navigation errors sent them far
out of the way, before they resorted to phoning Barbara for directions. She
was able to guide them back to the proper route, but they were more than
an hour late for supper.
Rick was the navigator for the group and took full responsibility for the
mistake. This is the same Rick, who left last year still ribbing me over
my mistake concerning what everybody else calls lemon meringue pie but which
is for me, simply, lemon icebox pie. And, I believe he broached the same
subject the first meal we shared together this year. I am proud to report
that I did not reciprocate the teasing by chastising him over the navigational
error, at least not until the day they left. I’m sure he wondered throughout
the week if I had lost my witty sarcasm. Saturday morning, the van was packed,
all the boys were inside, and only Rick and Nancy were extending to us their
last goodbyes.
I couldn’t resist saying, "Do you need my Tennessee map to help you
find your way through Memphis?"
Rick laughed off my remark, but his expression was priceless as if to say,
"I deserved that."
I may have had the last word this year, but chances are Rick will bring another
group next year, at which time we’ll start the ribbing and teasing process
all over again.
Love And
Marriage Essay By Sarah Carter Brown
This summer has been the season of weddings. I have attended more weddings
this summer than in the last ten years. Naturally, my thoughts have turned
to truths and myths that I have discerned about love and marriage. I was
half-way through my sixth decade of life before I realized it, and I figure
I had better pass along what I have observed, not only in myself, but in
others. I felt compelled to share these thoughts with my daughter, Felicia,
when she began thinking of marriage last winter, and I shared most of them
with my son, Brett, four years ago.
If I knew thirty years ago what I know now, I would have remained unmarried.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in love and romance. I believe in the
institution of marriage, and I don’t like the idea of divorce. I
wouldn’t take a dip of snuff or a plug nickel for either of my children.
However, my parents were right when they said that you never can really know
a person until you live with that person.
Of course I knew when I decided to marry that when in love, one seeks to
impress the object of one’s affection. I just did not know what an act
that could be or how quickly the desire to impress can vanish. So having
pondered love and marriage, I have decided to dispel fifteen of the most
prevalent myths about love and marriage.
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Love is forever. Nope, sorry, it just isn’t always true. People
change. Some can’t accept adversity that besets all folks at one time
or another. Who in his/her right mind would marry thinking their love would
not last forever? Probably more literature is devoted to lost love than love
that lasts. Many waters cannot quench love, but human beings can kill it,
and it’s not as hard to do as you might think.
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If it seems right, it must be love. This idea has been around since
I was in high school and was popularized in the song, "You Light Up My Life,"
which is a dandy, toe-tapping ditty to sing along with, but is sadly lacking
in statistical proof. Actually, when you are in love, you lose your objectivity.
So, you really can’t tell if it is right.
-
The object of my affection will always understand me. Wrong, you
probably don’t understand yourself before age forty, so how can your
true love begin to know what makes you the person you are?
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Because your family and friends think you are wonderful, your true love
will too. No, no, not so. How can this person think you are great when
you are around 24-7 and all your little annoying quirks start to really be
irritating? Who knew that leaving the toothpaste top off or leaving a closet
door open could actually spark WWIII? Those things aren’t even the big
annoyances, like spending too much on clothes or a vehicle or presents for
family and friends, or missing an important event or awards ceremony. You
get the picture.
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You can be a great enough person that your true love will love you
back. Want to bet? You cannot make someone love you if they do not want
to love you. Save yourself a lot of grief and learn this lesson well. Sadly
some folks do not know the meaning of love, and mistake infatuation or a
need for security for love.
-
Just because your true love finds his/her family as annoying as you do
does not mean that he/she really dislikes his/her family. Where do you
think we got the expression, "Blood is thicker than water"? No need for further
discussion.
-
Children will bring you closer. Children will make you question why
you wanted to get married in the first place. Those little bundles of joy
are more trouble than you ever imagined. You will not get a full night’s
sleep until they go off to college, and let us not even think about the new
worries that will bring. They will bleed you dry for money, time, and attention.
If you are a good and decent parent, you will invest time and wisdom for
all the years you have with them. I’m talking a lifetime here.
-
By the time we’ve been together 10 to 15 years, we’re sure to
stay together. Where did you get those statistics? It is true that more
that half the folks who stay together 15 years usually remain married until
death parts them, but a whole lot of folks divorce after 25-30 years. Girls,
I must tell you, that sadly it is often the guy who says, "I just don’t
love you anymore." Usually at this stage, you can be pretty sure there is
another woman in the picture.
-
Folks who are married fifty years must have had something special.
I hate to break it to you, but I have been to a couple of anniversary
celebrations for folks who were civil in public, but really did not care
for the person they stayed married to all those years. That something special
may have been the will to outlive the spouse.
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Money won’t be a problem, after all two can live as cheaply as one.
Don’t make me laugh. Two can live as cheaply as two, and don’t
you forget it. Money will be your biggest problem, and don’t forget
that either.
-
The best is yet to be. Maybe, maybe not. You know that line about
for better or worse? You’ll be surprised at how much worse it can get,
and how quickly it can happen. The better and better and happily ever after
bit is, after all, the stuff from which fairy tales are made. Try to remember
that.
-
We will stay together because I’m committed to the relationship.
Great, but what about your partner’s level of commitment? If he/she
decides to bail out, you won’t be able to do much about it. It may take
two to tango, but it only takes one person to break up the marriage, and
don’t let anyone tell you differently. Make sure it is not you who breaks
the bond. You’ll like yourself better that way.
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My true love will make me happy. Actually, true happiness comes from
within. Another person can’t make you happy all the time. Trust me,
if you are miserable, no person can make you happy. Only you can do that,
and it’s usually because you got outside your selfishness.
-
I can’t live without him/her. Sure you can, you just don’t
want to right now. I don’t want to live without my dishwasher, but I
can. I am of the opinion that if you can’t make it on your own, you
don’t need to embroil someone else in your ineptitude. Did you sleep
through Emerson’s Self Reliance?
-
I don’t want to be alone. Why not? Singleness is not loneliness
if you like yourself. If you can’t create your own sense of self worth,
what makes you think someone else can? Learn to like yourself, and then think
about allowing someone else into your life.
Just because, I only stayed married for close to twenty years, does not mean
that I am advocating staying single. It just means that I think you need
to be sure that you are doing the right thing. You can talk yourself into
anything and this is no myth.
The writer of Proverbs came up with that idea long before me when he said,
"All a man’s ways seem innocent to him."
The desire to establish a marriage is innate for most members of the Western
world. The majority of people I know really do want to procreate and have
their own little piece of immortality. Few people want to grow old without
a spouse. So, look before you leap, and be sure you love your own true love
and that he/she loves you.
How will you really know if you are in love? You will know, and you won’t
need anyone to explain it to you. Just be sure you are grown up enough to
handle marriage, or be prepared to grow up fast.
Go ahead, shoot for happily ever after. Some folks find it, maybe you will
too. Remember that one person may hold a marriage together, but it takes
two to make it work.
Bodock Beau Sing
Me A Country Song
They are found here as a joke. However, the following Country song titles
have an authentic ring to them:
Nashville's Top Ten Songs
1. How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away?
2. If The Phone Doesn't Ring, You'll Know It's Me
3. When You Leave, Walk Out Backwards So I'll Think You're Coming In
4. If I'd Shot You When I Wanted To, I'd Be Out By Now
5. If You Won't Leave Me Alone, I'll Find Someone Who Will
6. I'm So Miserable Without You, It's Almost Like Having You Here
7. I'm Sorry I Made You Cry, But At Least Your Face Is Clean
8. Take Me Out To The Cornfield, Honey, And I'll Kiss You Between The Ears
9. The Oil Is All In Texas, But The Dipsticks Are In D.C.
10. If My Nose Was Running Money, I'd Blow It All On You (But, Honey, It's
Not)
Shared by Ralph Jones
Hairy Problem
After a particularly long-winded Sunday service, the minister approached
a parishioner who had left during the sermon and later returned.
"Where did you go?" asked the minister.
"To the barber for a haircut," said the man.
"Why didn’t you do that before you came?" asked the minister.
"Well, I didn’t need one then," said the man.
Pulling His Leg
A man went to his doctor complaining of a sore leg.
"Doc, I’ve tried all kinds of salves and ointments, and it’s just
not getting any better."
After examining him, the doctor said, "I’m sorry, but there’s nothing
I can do. It’s just old age you’re feeling."
"But, Doc," said the man, "my other leg doesn’t hurt, and it’s
the same age."
Longtime Friends
Two old friends decided to have lunch together.
After finishing their meal, one woman confessed, "You know, I just can’t
remember your name."
Her friend hesitated a moment before she responded, "How soon do you need
to know?"
Source - Laugh Letter Newsletter - July 2007
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