Reflections

I've had so many thoughts running through my head, but haven't had a chance to sit down and flush them out.  I should really just get up in the middle of the night when I'm writing a blog entry in my head when I can't fall asleep. 
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
I've never really understood the need to have this as a federal holiday.  Growing up my school district never observed it.  To this day, they don't.  They just have a teacher in-service so kids don't have school. 

Another reason I've never understood it is because I've never known discrimination.  I was taught to love everyone, regardless of skin color.  We sang the song Jesus Loves the Little Children:

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

This year I was at the dentist on MLK day.  Not really a big deal except my dentist and his staff are African American.  It made for an interesting reflection on the anniversary of the holiday.
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Grandma Goentzel
 January 24th is my Grandma Goentzel's birthday.  She was born in 1913.  She died four years ago.  It's sad to think my children, and even my husband never knew her.  Granted, she was never the "fun" grandma.  Always serious.  I guess my grandpa was the one who loosened her up and he was gone by the time I was five, so I have few memories of him or them together.

Grandma was always teaching us something and she loved the outdoors.  Her greatest fear was being sent to a nursing home and being forced to sit in front of a television all day long.  My funniest memory is her lesson on abstinence.  What possibly could bring up such a taboo topic?  Christmas.  I. Kid.  You.  Not.  Mary's virgin birth was the basis for a sex talk. She also used Christmas as a time to work on Bible memorization. 

The shepherds were watching their flocks by night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today, in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you. You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger."  And suddenly there was a multitude of heavenly hosts saying, "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to men"...  But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:9-15 & 19 KJV, Stacey paraphrase

I can't believe I can remember all those verses even now so many years later.  They always return to me at Christmas time, along with a chuckle about a Christmas sex talk!
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More deep thoughts later.  By the way, do you remember Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handy?  I guess that's a topic for another day.