Where Do You Live?
(posted 3/13/08)  

Have you recently seen some of the large-sized homes being built in various parts of the country? They look incongruous compared to many of the homes built during part of the last century. Many remind me of castles and fortresses built along the Rhine River in Germany that have been there for centuries. But they stand empty NOW. In my area, the south, the builders had to build largely, for the people coming from the expensive north (especially New York City) had to pay more for their new house than the house they had sold up there in order to receive the tax write off. Truly, there is a big difference in the two areas of the country. 

But when did everyone think that a child had to have a room for their very own? They must have their own bathroom, too? We had two teens sleeping in several rooms in our home when I was a teen (there were five of us girls). At the time we had one bathroom for 8!!! As a young child, I remember sleeping in an iron baby bed on a sleeping porch when two whole families (six children in all) were living in our home for a short while during depression days. There were also a double bed and a small day bed out there, too. My sister, Ruth, slept in the day bed; my parents in the other. I just thought of something! Where did all of us sleep when a hurricane came? After all, there were just canvas curtains to draw up tight by a rope to the top of the screened area. Perhaps one did not come during that short time. But we did have at least one hurricane with mother carrying a bucket to each window and squeezing the water out of the rags that had been pushed on the window sill earlier. The windows fit so poorly they rattled with each gust of wind! Later Mother moved the rags to the windows on the other side of the house, for the eye had passed over our area and was now beating on that side of the house. 

Jesus was born in a place where they kept the animals (they showed us a cave when we visited Israel years ago!?!). Please remember that the shepherds were in the fields watching over their flock by night. (Read Luke 2:1-20). Tonight the winter temperature is already 32 degrees before midnight! I wouldn’t want to be out there tonight! They tell us to bring in our pets tonight. Surely, it must have been spring or summer when the shepherds were in the fields watching over their flock by night! 

I wonder how Jesus lived in Egypt! Did he have to share a room and perhaps a bed or did he sleep on the floor? It seems they left in a hurry to go there, so they probably took few things with them. Certainly we know how it was when he was teaching and healing the people during his ministry. He said he had no place to lay his head. Read Matthew 8:19-20 and Luke 9:57-58. 

The next time you pass another McMansion, pray for those that live there. Many families now, and in the near future, will have trouble paying those Mcmortgages. I shall pray that you are not one of them. 

In these perilous times coming now, ask a family to dinner a time or two; especially a large one with more children than you. With my five children, we were seldom asked to dinner by others in the congregation; sooo we had a covered dish dinner with the whole church over often!! (Read Romans 12:13). I am pleased to say (not proud, but as God said when His son was baptized-Mt. 3:15-17) that, though there were many gripes at the time, those children who are faithful are carrying on this tradition! 

How will you spend your stimulus package, IF it comes? Adding onto your home? Buying something new? Think carefully with prayer!  

Barbara Moeller
North Carolina