Cherished Christmas Card and Red Velvet

All through the year, when Mother hears news of one of the “young people” from the Masham youth, she is prompted to recall good memories of those days when she and Dad were the youth leaders (teachers). The 2022 Christmas season’s mail brought a delightful surprise for Mother.

Mother opened carefully the bright red envelope. Her first response after reading it was a positive comment about the card’s focus on Jesus, the Light of the World (John 8:12). We then began discussing the card sender, Norma Nell Wheatley, the name Mother knew her by in the youth group at the Masham Baptist Church. Norma and the other girls in the youth group lived their lives as such good role models (This blog post was written the Easter before Dad died and featured Mother's memories of the Masham girls. Click on this link to access it: https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2015/04/easter-sunday-and-60-cent-trio-book.html ).

Then we recalled Norma's wedding at the little country church just days after Christmas. Norma requested Mother perform solos during the wedding ceremony when she and Dale Plank were married. She honored Linda Mitchell and me by inviting us to serve as junior bridesmaids in the wedding (The photo at the right features Norma with her bridesmaids, candle lighter, Linda (on the right) and me (on the left).What fun it was to have Grandma Gladys custom-make my red dress with a veil to match!

Angie, as a  little preschooler,  could
hardly wait to pose wearing the veil
and hold the bouquet I carried in
Norma and Dale’s wedding. 

Thoughts of Grandma, the talented seamtress, brought to mind the red velvet suit she crafted for Mother one yuletide season (The photo below shows Mother in the red suit). Grandma always bought ample yardage when sewing a new garment. Her rule to follow was – more not less in yard goods. Grandpa and Dad used the term yard goods for “fabric” and spoke it with weariness anytime Mother and Grandma spent a lengthy time in the sewing section at Ermy’s in Pawnee or Anthony’s in Fairfax or numerous places in Ponca City that sold fabric.

           

          Yet the strongest memory surrounded the tiniest garments crafted from the red velvet fabric Grandma purchased. Angie and I were astounded and surprised on a Christmas Eve a few years later when we opened packages with custom-made doll clothing. To read the blog post about those tiny red velvet surprises and view a photo of one of them, go to:   https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-gift-that-forever-changed-my.html

I recalled the astonishment when Angie and I pulled the custom-designed white evening gowns from the box we each unwrapped. As we investigated further in the gift box from my grandparents, we spotted the tiny red velvet jacket trimmed with glittery golden sequins to top the gorgeous evening gown she had created for each of our dolls. It did not bother us that the miniscule red velvet shrugs for our dolls had been made from scraps. At that moment, no royal princesses living in opulent wealth could have been as happy as Angie and I were that Christmas Eve.

                My parents and grandparents, especially our mother and Grandma Gladys, created anticipation for even the smallest event or gift. This taught us gratitude for even the slightest blessings in life. This pattern of looking for things for which to be thankful helped us develop the habit to look for the lovingkindness of God and His power at work on the behalf of those who love Him.

       David when running from King Saul wrote these words from his prayer found in Psalm 63, verses 2-5. 

So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.

Thus will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness (choice foods), and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. 

           As we enter 2023, may we look daily for God’s work in our lives, taking note of it, giving Him glory for the blessing and satisfaction (contentment), and joyfully thanking Him for how we see His hand work for us.