A Precious Gift


     The year 1967 happened to be the roughest year our family of six had ever experienced.  My husband worked hard as a bull dozer operator, but in the late fall and early winter things slowed  down. Yet we always had enough money for groceries, so each week I traveled nine miles from Milano, TX. to Rockdale, TX. to a Brookshire's store.

     A couple of months before Christmas they had a contest giving away green stamps. One afternoon while shopping, the store manager went to the office and brought me a sealed envelope with a ticket inside.  When I went there after the contest ended, she asked,  "Have you turned your ticket in?"  Since I didn't have it with me, I answered, "No!" As she walked away, she looked back at me and said, "Be sure you do."

     When I got home, I steamed the envelope open, and inside were the words 55,000 green stamps. With excitement as quick as I could, I rushed back to the store to claim the unexpected windfall that would bless our family. That year Christmas day began with the celebration of Christ, and with the ripping of paper from the many presents under the tree.

    

A Precious Gift

The Christmas story is old I know.

Yet even today it's loved when told.

When the wise men followed a star,

They journeyed by faith from afar.

A precious gift they expected to find.

It would bring peace to all mankind.

If we take the time to kneel and pray,

The gift is true  in our lives today.

 Jesus's birth gave hope to the world.

He brought love to each boy and girl.

If you open your heart and let Him in,

The Christmas story will begin again.

                            Patricia Westbrook

"Peace, I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (Luke 14:27 KJV)

Comments

  1. UnknownDecember 21, 2020 at 2:01 PM

    Such a sweet story of God's supplying greatly your need. Lots of licking! :) Those S/G green stamps bought special items for us too during my growing up!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

He Still Loves Me

Image
   Roy Lynn Westbrook Shock is the word for what my next to the oldest son revealed to me. He said, "As a teenager, two of my friends spent the night with me. When you and dad went to bed, we decided to go to the liquor store and buy some beer. We drank the beer and decided it wasn't for us. One of the boys threw up on the couch pull out bed. Didn't you wonder why we were washing sheets the next morning? Besides mom, I felt like you would prefer for me to drink my first beer at home." I told him from now on not to tell me things he had done in the past that I would not approve of be cause I couldn't do anythin g about it now. What I would advise parents of today is n ever underestimate what your children will do while you are sleeping. He Still Loves Me God knows my past and yet he still loves me. He holds my right hand as tight as can be. He forgave all the bad things I've done, By the crucifixion of Jesus His Son. When I accepted Him by
Read more

The Joy in One's Heart

Image
Roy Westbrook      Before our trip to Tahoka, Texas for my grandfather's funeral, my son was selected to cook hamburgers for lunch since he worked at Whataburger.  He was proud to show off his cooking skills.  When the time came to eat, we all sat down at the table.  After I finished my burger, all the children began to laugh.  Confused I asked what was so funny.  One of them spoke up and said, "Roy showed us how he cooked the meat at work.  When he cooked yours, he flipped it into the air, and it stuck on the ceiling.  We had to peel it off."  Since it tasted delicious and didn't kill me, I laughed with them. The Joy in One's Heart Often things happen and others laugh at your expense. Do you grin and bear it or go on the defense? Sometimes what's going on you just can't escape. What happens if it's really more than you can take? The joy in one's heart can come from the Lord. Relax, be calm, and don't take life so hard.                        
Read more

The Marriage Song

Image
           After almost twenty-two years of marriage, my husband and I decided to get a divorce. Two years later we reconciled and decided to remarry.  Wanting to get married quickly, we asked the pastor that officiated our daughter's wedding ceremony, in Waco, Texas, if he would marry us. After he agreed, we drove to his house in Gladewater. Texas, only six miles away.      When we arrived at his home, he had us sit on his couch while he proceeded to give us forty-five minutes of marriage counseling.  We wondered why he would counsel us since it wasn't our first time to get married. Afterwards he asked, "Would you mind if my guests watch your wedding?"  My husband answered, "I'd rather they didn't."      The pastor said, "It's your daughter's in-laws.  They are taking their daughter's wedding flowers and decorations to her in Houston.  On their way, they stopped by here for a couple of days."      With a change of heart, my hus
Read more