Remembering the "Good Old Days"
Lately I have been thinking about the “Good Old Days”. You know, those days before Covid and being politically correct but really those days long ago where life was much simpler and the biggest thing I worried about was passing the driving test. I can honestly say, I loved those days.
As you know, my daddy was a minister and I have been in church all my life. It is my second home, still is! Anyway, my memories of being in church with our church family were the happiest times ever!
For example, some of my “good old days” include:
• My best friend was named Beth and we would almost spend every Sunday afternoon together playing with Barbies.
• The church was always packed with kids, young adults, seniors and everybody enjoyed each other.
• The church Christmas plays were the best!
• The church cedar Christmas tree was 12 foot long. It was decorated with the oldest ornaments known to man, the biggest bulbs plus clumps of tinsel that the kids were allowed to throw.
• Everybody brought presents for everybody and the deacons were the only ones to hand them out.
• Fruit bags were given out every Christmas (thank goodness this tradition still goes on).
• Homecomings were a major ordeal with food spread out on wood tables for miles.
• Revivals lasted for weeks. Souls were saved every night and people were sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit.
• Mama would fix a “meat” on Sundays. All other days were vegetables and biscuits. Her famous Coconut Pineapple cake was created.
• My favorite meal was BBQ chicken, navy beans and cold slaw.
• We sat at the kitchen table for every meal. Don't even think about sitting in front of a TV!
• My favorite Sunday School teacher was named Molly and her students loved her.
• On Easter Monday, the church would go to the local park, hide Easter Eggs, play games, have a picnic and play softball.
• Mama had the Women's Auxiliary in the basement of our house and I got the food leftovers.
…and the list goes on.
This may not sound like much to you but there is a point to all this reminiscing. We long for the “Good Old Days” but what are we doing to make the present day worth remembering? Boy, have things changed. We cannot blame EVERYTHING on Covid. We can start by blaming sin and lack of a relationship with our Lord. We let the devil steal our joy, stir things up, make us sad and defeated. We stop participating in church life and then get comfortable with the “way things are”.
I say...HOGWASH!
We need to take back our lives, enjoy our life and be a blessing to others. We need to get busy working in the Kingdom of God. There is no reason not to work in the Kingdom of God. There is no reason that our church cannot be filled with kids, young adults and seniors. There is no reason why we cannot have a revival, we sure need one. There just is no reason or maybe excuse is a better word. Remember the song Excuses? Well let me remind you....
Excuses, excuses, you'll hear them every day. And the Devil he'll supply them, if the church you stay away. When people come to know the Lord, the Devil always loses So to keep them folks away from church, he offers them excuses. In the summer it's too hot. And, in the winter, it's too cold. In the spring time when the weather's just right, you find some place else to go. Well, it's up to the mountains or down to the beach or to visit some old friend. Or, to just stay home and kinda relax and hope
that some of the kinfolks will start dropping in. Well, the church benches are too hard. And, that choir sings way too loud. Boy, you know how nervous you get when you're sitting in a great big crowd. The doctor told you, "Now, you better watch them crowds. They'll set you back." But, you go to that old ball game because you say "it helps you to relax." Well, a headache Sunday morning and a backache Sunday night. But by work time Monday morning, you're feeling quite alright. While one of the children has a cold, "Pneumonia, do you suppose?" Why the whole family had to stay home, just to blow that poor kid's nose.
The day that we are living in now may be our best days. I know that is a horrid thought but maybe, just maybe, we will realize that time is precious and we need to make the most of the time we have left. Is there a wrong that needs to be made right? Do you need to ask someone for forgiveness? Do you need a closer walk with God? Do you need to develop of spirit of thankfulness? Do you need to make your way to the altar? Do it now. Make every day count. Be looking for the Eastern sky to split open and the Lord to come back. He's coming people. Live your life as if it was your last day and you would be standing before God....
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