Graze: To feed on growing grasses.



The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.


-Ps. 23:1-6

Growing up on a farm, I used to watch the cows, sheep & horses graze in the pasture. Each morning we would open the gate to the barnyard and they knew there was freedom from that small pen they were in. They also knew there was nice green grass beyond the barnyard. Once the gate was open, look out because those animals wanted to get where the tall, green grass grew – the pasture! They would take off sometimes even running up the old fenced lane that went up over the hill through the cornfield to the lush green pasture on the other side of the farm. There they would graze for a while then lay down and rest for a while then graze some more. They did this all day long. Come evening we would go over to the pasture’s edge and call the cows – 'come boss, 'come boss. They would gather at the pasture gate. Sometimes we would have to go round up a few stragglers and when all were accounted for, we’d open the lane gate and back over the hill they would go to the barnyard for the night. The next morning was the same routine, day after day.
What a life, huh?!

Oh that we could just graze and rest in shady green pastures all day long! But we can rest and graze in God’s green pastures and restore our souls . . . The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. (Ps. 23:1) I believe God wants us to slow down and “rest” and “graze” and “feed” on His Word. Life throws so many things our way and we are so busy – busy doing good things. But are we running on empty a good share of the time? Are we feeling stretched to extreme? Are we content with who we are in God’s divine providence? Slow down and take some time to just leisurely graze, rest a while, then graze and feed on the good things God has provided for you. Graze, rest, and enjoy the “shady green pastures” of God’s abundant love, grace, and mercy.

Friday, June 6, 2014

THE HISTORY OF APRONS


I don't think kids today know what an apron is...
 
The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect 
the dress underneath because she only had a few. It 
was also because it was easier to wash aprons than 
dresses and aprons used less material. But along 
with that, it served as a potholder for removing 
hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and 
on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying 
eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to 
be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding 
places for shy kids...

And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it 
around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, 
bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the 
kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. 
After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples 
that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was 
surprising how much furniture that old apron could 
dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the 
porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was 
time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents 
something that will replace that 'old-time apron' 
that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER...

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on 
the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set 
theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how 
many germs were on that apron. I don't think I 
ever caught anything from an apron - but love...

[forwarded by Jerry Lambert]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a bit of "priceless" wisdom filled to the brim 
with an out-pouring of love!