xmas thought

Some years ago I came across this- I've enjoyed the message every year since. It's taken a long time to share it but if you haven't seen it here it is

I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU 3 STORIES, I WOULD LIKE TO TELL THEM IN THE 1st PERSON, AS THOUGH IT WAS ME IN THE STORY.....AS I WAS WALKING ALONG THE ROAD ONE NIGHT A STORM OVER TOOK ME , IT TURNED COLD AND STARTED TO SNOW THE WIND WAS BLOWING AND I WRAPPED MY WORN AND TATTERED COAT AROUND ME AND KEPT WALKING AS THE CARS CONTINUED TO PASS WITH OUT EVEN SLOWING. I KEPT WALKING - AS I WALKED UP OVER A SMALL RISE I COULD SEE LIGHTS IN THE DISTANCE SO DETERMINED TO GET OUT OF TH COLD I WALKED ON I WALKED INTO A TOWN WITH ONLY A SMALL STORE AND A GAS STATION. I WALKED IN FOR THE WARMTH AND MEEKLY ASK FOR SOME THING TO EAT BUT THEY THREW ME OUT AND I WALKED ON
1ST VERSE
D Bm Em A7 D Bm C A7A
POOR WAY-FARING MAN OF GRIEF HATH OFTEN CROSSED ME ON MY WAY
D Bm Em A7
WHO SUED SO HUMBLY FOR RELIEF
D Bm Em A7 D
THAT I COULD NEVER ANSWER NAY
F#m Em A7
I HAD NOT POW’R TO ASK HIS NAME
D Bm C A7
WHERE TO HE WENT OR WHENCE HE CAME
D Bm Em A7
YET THERE WAS SOMETHING IN HIS EYE
D Bm Em A7 D
THAT WON MY LOVE I KNEW NOT WHY

ONE DAY MY OLDEST SON CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL TELLING OF AN OLD MAN WHO LIVED IN AN OLD SHACK SOME WHERE OUT WHERE NO ONE KNEW AND HE WAS A BEGGAR. THE INCIDENT WAS SHRUGGED OFF AND FORGOTTEN. IN ONE OF OUR HOME EVENING LESSONS FOR THE SEASON WE WERE DISCUSSING SERVICE AND HELPING OTHERS, WELL AS A LESSON THE FAMILY DECIDED TO HELP SOMEONE IN NEED FOR THE HOLIDAYS. NOW CAME OUR TRIAL WE COULDN'T DECIDE ON WHO TO HELP AND WHO NEEDED HELP. AND THEN- MY SON REMEMBERED THE OLD HOBO OUT IN THE STICKS. WELL THE NEXT FAMILY HOME EVENING CAME UP AND IT WAS DECIDED TO HELP THIS OLD MAN. WE DECIDED TO BAKE SOME COOKIES AND GOODIES TO GIVE TO HIM. AND WE ALL HAD GOOD TIMES IN THE BAKING AND WRAPPING OF THE GIFTS. OUR NEXT PROBLEM WAS FINDING THE OLD SHACK. IT CAME TO THE NIGHT WE HAD DESIGNATED AS THE NIGHT AND TIME TO GIVE OUR GIFTS AND AWAY WE WENT WHERE WE DIDN'T KNOW SO WE SEARCHED UP ONE ROAD DOWN ANOTHER. THEN OUT ON THE ROADS THAT SKIRTED THE TOWN. AND FINALLY THERE IN THE SNOW WERE FOOT PRINTS LEADING DOWN AN UNTRAVELED ROAD. SO WE TURNED AND FOLLOWED- COMING TO A SMALL SHACK WITH A VERY DIM LIGHT COMING FROM INSIDE. WE STOPPED AND GOT OUT , APPROACHED THE DOOR AND THEN VERY HESITANTLY AND GINGERLY I LED THE WAY UP THE WORN AND ROTTEN STEPS TO THE PORCH WHICH WAS NOT ANY BETTER. TRYING TO SIDE STEP THE HOLES I LEANED OVER AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR. A EVER SO LONG WAIT PROVED TO BE FRUITFUL AS AN OLD MAN SLOWLY OPENED THE DOOR AND HESITANTLY INVITED US IN AS WE ENTERED THE ROOM I SCANNED THE SURROUNDINGS A SMALL BLANKET BED ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROOM A TABLE AND ONE CHAIR ON THE OTHER THE TABLE HOSTING A CANDLE FROM WHICH ALL THE LIGHT AND WARMTH FOR THE ROOM WAS TAKEN. AS WE STEPPED INTO THE CABIN IT BE CAME VERY APPARENT OF HOW SMALL THE ROOM REALLY WAS. THEN FROM WHAT SEEMED LIKE AND ETERNITY I CAME TO MY SENSES AND HAD THE KIDS OFFER HIM OUR SCANTY GIFTS. FEELING OF THE SPIRIT OF THE NEED OF THIS MAN MY WIFE OFFERED TO CLEAN HIS CLOTHES AND BRING THEM BACK THE NEXT DAY
2ND VERSE
D Bm Em A7
ONCE WHEN MY SCANTY MEAL WAS SPREAD
D Bm C A7
HE ENTERED NOT A WORD HE SPAKE
D Bm Em A7
JUST PERISHING FOR WANT OF BREAD
D Bm Em A7 D
I GAVE HIM ALL HE BLESSED IT BRAKE
F#m Em A7
AND ATE BUT GAVE ME PART A GAIN
D Bm C A7
MINE WAS AN ANGLE’S POTION THEN
D Bm Em A7
FOR WHILE I FED WITH EAGER HASTE
D Bm Em A7 D
THE CRUST WAS MANNA TO MY TASTE


ONE WINTER NIGHT AS I DROVE FROM WORK TO HOME BACK FROM A LONG DAY OF WORK BEING OUT OF TOWN. IT WAS LATE AND I WAS IN A HURRAY AND THE WEATHER WAS BAD THE WIND WAS BLOWING THE FALLING SNOW. IT WAS SO HARD TO SEE THE ROAD IT WAS DARK AND EVEN WHILE THE HEATER WAS RUNNING I COULD FEEL THE COLD THE DRIVE WAS SLOW AND I FELT ANGUISH TO GET HOME. AS THE WIPERS SLAPPED FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND I STRAINED TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD..... I SEEN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD A MAN, AS I SLOWED DOWN TO BE SAFE I COULD SEE HIM TRYING TO FIGHT THE WIND AND SNOW AND COLD ALL BUNDLED UP AND STAGGERING FORWARD, AND THEN I DID IT I STOPPED TO GIVE HIM A RIDE. I NEVER DO THAT. THERE'S TO MANY PROBLEMS THAT CAN COME UP. I DID I STOPPED HE OPENED THE DOOR AND STEPPED IN NOT SAYING A WORD AS HE CLOSED THE DOOR I SLOWLY MOVED THE CAR INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE AND CONTINUED ON. QUIET. MY MIND STARTED RUNNING- WAS HE DRUNK? WAS HE A DRUG ADDICT? WAS HE GOING TO ROB ME? HE DIDN'T LOOK TO CLEAN. WHERE WAS HE GOING? WHAT WAS HE DOING OUT ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS? WE TRAVELED ON. I TRIED TO STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION, THERE WAS NO ANSWER NO WILLINGNESS TO TALK BUT HE LOOKED AT ME A TIME. IT WAS LIKE HE LOOKED RIGHT THROUGH ME, HIS EYES WERE DEEP AND CLEAR ALMOST AS THOUGH HE WASN'T THERE. WE DROVE ON IN THE QUIET COLD NIGHT.
5TH VERSE
D Bm Em A7
THEN IN A MOMENT TO MY VIEW
D Bm C A7
THE STRANGER STARTED FROM DISGUISE
D Bm Em A7
THE TOKEN IN HIS HANDS I KNEW
D Bm Em A7 C
THE SAVIOR STOOD BEFORE MINE EYES
F#m Em A7
HE SPAKE AND MY POOR NAME HE NAMED
D Bm C A7
“OF ME THOU HAST NOT BEEN ASHAMED
D Bm Em A7
THESE DEEDS SHALL THY MEMORIAL BE
D BM Em A7 D
FEAR NOT THOU DIDST THEM UNTO ME”


I posted this on the old family web site I thought some would like it

Grandma Walker

It never seems to slow down... even when you want to take a breath life's tides keep crashing and swelling.Grandma is not doing so great... she is ever getting weaker. You should find time to call or visit. She would love that.We brought a Christmas tree we cut during Thanksgiving break and set it up... its like a charlie brown tree... :) cute and fun for her. Mom and I had fun spending the evening with her... we loaded the tree up with candy-canes and ornaments...I go over every Sunday, if she is up to it... and every Sunday I am in town and we sing around the piano. She sure loves to sing... and the music makes her feel better. You should find time if you can this Christmas season to come to see her, tell her you love her, and give her the gift she so much wants... you.We are all busy... and money is always tight... a phone call is cheap... and gas prices are down. She loves you and she could sure use a visit (phone or otherwise).I know Dot, Mel, Arch, Deanna, and Christy have all seen her within the last week... if we as grand kids can take a moment to love our Grandmother in more than just a Christmas card... more than ever this is the time...

This is a post by Mel Atwood on the walker family site

Grandma Walker

Well here it is today.

I went over to see Grandma Walker this last week end and found her among the living.

She had a stroke aweek ago last saturday, while at the Dr.'s office. Lucky huh! That really slowed her down for a week. She seems to be doing better now, but I do think we made her quite tired while we were there. I don't know how long she has left. I guess noone knows that kind of thing, but she is old and looks it. I will be said when the time comes for her to go, I somehow miss her already.

Aunt Chrity is staying with her 24 hrs a day now and will untill the end I guess. It takes a lot of work and patience to help others so completely.

Ya know this kind of thing makes me miss all of you out there more than the norm. Let me tell you I love you all. I don't do that much anymore, but I do.

just me to let ya know
mel

It's Coming

Well I think the world is going to make Christmas come sooner every year. Meleesa had a chance to play in the Jazz band at one of the local stores this last week. They sure seem to have fun, and they are even getting better, it's kinda neat.

Football

Last week we went to Beaver and watched a high school football game. Archie called and said he would be there with his boys. So we went and visited and watched football and then ate at Arby’s. I enjoyed the visit best.
Mel2 and I had a jam session yesterday that was fun. Boy it is tough to get in the grove when you have been out of it for a while. Does that sound familiar? It was kinda fun waylin out all that nonsense.

Sunday visitin

Sean and his Family are coming today-

Wrong Place Finger

Well Cathy smashed her finger. Yep all black and blue. One fine owee, I do believe.
Well the Horse got new shoes and toenail clipping, I think she gets more shoes than I do. But I can’t say it makes her look any better.
Yesterday I had a piano teachers meeting. Wow do they know the piano or what? They do care about the music field and want it to continue. I to think it is important, however, I never tried to promote it or make it better. They had eats and info and help I guess they had every thing but the dancing girls. Mel2 will be in the music festival in march next year. I do hope this meeting will help me teach her better, perhaps even help me in my playing.

Berry's

I just visited Cass's blog page and was reading and looking at the pic's. I remember that my Dad in his youth worked on a berry farm for a few years there in Salt Lake. Ya know that stayed with him all his life. He really enjoyed strawberrys and caring for them. I think they were some of the most flavorful I have ever eaten-
just a note-- thanks cass

Fun Fun

This has been and eventful week I think. Really it has been good. There was a Relief Society mtg for the sister in which they had an aution for services and things made like cakes and quilts and stuff like that. Cathy and Mel2 made a chocolate cake for the auction, and my Home Teaching family won it and will have it for dinner tonight ( so I've heard).
There was this night when Cathy and Mel2 spent time trying to ride or riding the horse. WOW! Now that was different. They do enjoy the horse.
Then there was this supprise visit from a creature call LISA ! (Thanks I liked that), she just droped in. and I told her some more lies and mishaps, you know the usual stuff. It is good to see and here from all of you. That is one of the reasons I read your blogs ya know.
Well this week if the festival of the balloons. They are sure neat as you can see from my pictures. you say what pictures, you know the ones I didn't take, they are really cool, the balloons are many differant colors and fill the sky in early to mid morning.
THAT'S ALL

Lawn

Well this week we finally planted lawn. that's not to bad, we've only lived here our hole life. Any way it has a nice feeling to know there will be grass growing. I'll have to work over the top of it for other things that need to be done but it will be nice to look at.
Church was good Sunday of course it was fast and testimony mgt. but more adults bore testimonies than children for the first time since I don't know when, and it was good.
This week I'll be taking Mel2 to the dr in salt lake things should be ok and maybe the last. that will we good. She is tired of the dr for her hip. however she doesn't mind the orthodontist I don't know it seems like a dr is a dr. I shy away from all of them.
It's a beautiful day a

TRYING

OK
LET'S DO THIS -----------
I'M EVEN LEARNING HOW TO DO IT. ALL IS FINE AND GOING MY WAY. IT ALWAYS GOES MY WAY.

LOVE YA ALL AND I THINK THE BLOG SITES ARE FUN TO READ AND SEE HOW YOU ALL ARE DOING.

THANK YA
MEL