Dear editor,
It’s Christmas once again and time to reflect upon the past. The presents, food, and family gathering are ever-present. Have I been good enough and wise in my decisions this year? What about my family and ancestors? How have their decisions affected me as well? Daddy, back on the farm in Alabama, used to say, "What comes around, goes around." It pays to be generous.
Of course, that saying’s not unique, but it’s good to think about it this time of the year. When we give to those less fortunate, it does come back to us when we least expect it.
I’m remembering when my friend and I, at the age of 12, tried to get this 8-year-old to touch an electric fence around our neighbor’s house and field. This little kid just walked right up and fully grabbed the wire with no effect what so ever. We were astonished. So then I grabbed it and got the devil shocked out of me. Looking back, it was a good lesson to learn. The neighbor must have been watching us and turned off the electricity when the 8-year-old touched the wire?
At Christmas, I’m also remembering the Bible words about righteousness and sin. I’m recalling the "Original Sin" and how Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. However, from daddy’s wisdom, I learned that Adam sinned even before that. When God asks Adam about a mate to keep him company. Adam wanted a mate to feed him, love him, care for him, and obey him. God said, "that’ll cost you an arm and a leg." Adam responded, "what can I get for a rib?" Kidding of course, but it’s not the time of the year to be stingy.
Merry Christmas to all, especially the less fortunate, our better halves, our families and our community.
BILL CALFEE
Milton
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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: It pays to be generous