Dear Paul, Melanie, Rob, and Roice,
cc: file, Diane Cluff, Darrell and Nancy Krueger, Sara and Des Penny, Grandma Hafen via Tony Hafen, and Lloyd and Luana Warner.
Welcome to "Thoughtlets." This is a weekly review of an idea, belief,
thought, or words that will hopefully be of some benefit to you, my
children, with an electronic copy to on-line extended family members.
Any of you can ask me not to clutter your mail box at any time.
"Tonight Ben, Melanie, Rob, and Joe Amason came over for dinner. I did
Dutch Oven potatoes, carrots, and hamburger and a peach-pineapple cobbler.
Larry fixed a salad with apples and celery. Sister Lunt had made some
Banana Nut Bread and Sister Feil a candy tray (Floyd and Steve are my
Home Teachers). It was a nice dinner and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
Melanie had to leave early for a Christmas Party. I read the Nativity
Story to her from Luke 2 and bore my testimony how central those 21 verses
are to all aspects of life from geology to psychology. She asked me for
a father's blessing before she goes back to school. I cried inside for
joy. After dinner I read the same verses to Ben, Rob, Joe, and Larry,
while Rob acted out the scene with the olive wood nativity set from Israel.
There are sometimes when I wonder if anything I say makes it past ear drums.
I hope it does and so I will keep sharing those things which I have found
to be important because of this hope. For those who are not here for me
to read the Nativity to (and for those who are reading this Thoughtlet at
some other place in time and space) I would like to quote those 21 verses
from the second chapter of Luke in The New Testament:
<![CDATA[ `And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first
made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every
one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the
city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed
with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that,
while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be
delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for
them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping
watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon
them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore
afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is
born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven,
the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and
see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto
us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe
lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the
saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard
it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But
Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the
shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that
they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days
were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called
JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.'
]]>
As I said, sitting in front of the television, with the christmas tree on
the right, Ben on the couch on the left, Rob on the couch across from me,
Larry on a kitchen chair in the kitchen entrance, and Joe in the blue
chair: `These 21 simple verses are important! They announce the message
key to all recorded history, the promise of eternal life. I hope and pray
each of you will someday come to know, as I know, how special and how
important this message is.'
I love each of you and want nothing except the very best for each of you.
I am angry about not being allowed to spend Christmas with you, my children.
The other times in our country's history loving fathers have been legally
separated from their families were during the slave auctions in the south
and during the pursuit of Mormon Polygamists in the mid to late 1800's.
However, I readily admit I am a better person for having gone through the
last year, and I know the whole story has not yet played out. Just because
there are times which are no fun at all, and times when we can be very
angry because we do not see the whole picture in all of time and space, it
does not mean there is not a God, nor that he does not love us. In fact,
I expect we will look back and realize how much he loves us and how much
he wants the very best for each of us. Just as I desire the very best for
each of you."
I'm interested in sharing weekly a "thoughtlet" (little statements of big thoughts which mean a lot to me) with you because I know how important the written word can be. I am concerned about how easy it is to drift and forget our roots and our potential among all of distractions of daily life. If you ever want to download any of these thoughtlets, they are posted at http://www.walden3d.com/hrnmen or you can e-mail me at rnelson@walden3d.com.
With all my love,
Dad
(H. Roice Nelson, Jr.)