Mothers

If women had no children, there would not be mothers, and there would not be children to call the women mothers. But being that God blessed women with children, regardless of whether the women considered themselves blessed or not, the children were ultimately blessed to receive life in this present world from God. Even though some mothers did/do not care for their children, the mere fact that God used them as an instrument to bring that child into the world is a blessing to the child.

In the old days, we were taught to honor our parents so that our days would be long upon the earth, which is scripture. It would be very hard for some to fulfill that command today, to look past all of the hurt and all of the pain and all of the suffering to be obedient to God. But, if you love God, and want to obey Him, He will make the honor of that parent bearable. It is a sacrifice, because you really want to repay your parent for all of the hurt that was brought upon you, but because you love God so much, you will obey Him and honor them.

To that one I talked to this week, continue to honor your parent because it is a good thing. You will be blessed by the Lord for your obedience. Look to the Lord for your strength and good health. Seek God for wisdom and understanding. Read the word of God and pray. There are a lot of things that we don't understand, and a lot of trouble that we can't figure out why we go through. Trouble don't care who he troubles; but God knows all and is willing to help us through. I am so proud of you for what you have done and what you are doing. You are setting a good example for your children. Don't give up!!

Joy in the Presence of God by mejamison

Oh, my Lord, my Lord, how can I explain?

If only I had the words to express my thoughts toward you at this moment. To be in this moment of such great unexplained joy is beyond my comprehension. I was not thinking of what you could do for me; I was not thinking about what you have done for me nor even about who you are, as great as you are. But a sudden rush of joy sprang up within me bringing forth praise toward you upon my tongue. Explosive joy that I refuse to control has overtaken me. I am overwhelmed at your presence and mere words would take away from your glory at this time, so I will let your spirit do the talking for me, I will let your spirit intercede and make utterance before you on my behalf. Thank you Lord for your presence and thank you for this incomprehensible joy.

Thanksgiving Day

A day of giving thanks to God is Thanksgiving Day. I have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful that I have a God who loved me so much that he would look past all of my faults and all of my sin, to forgive me and save me. I am thankful that He has provided me food, clothing and shelter. He has given me a wonderful family, a sound mind, health and strength to move about independently of others. There are so many things that I could go on and on and there would not be enough time to tell everything. I am thankful for my brother (Clayton) being my pastor and for my sister-in-law (Betty). I am really thankful for the new relationship that I have with my younger sister. Veronica, if you read this, know this, that I love you and I thank God for you.

George Street in Amherstburg

By mejamison

If there was anything more fun than an amusement park, I would say living on George Street in Amherstburg in the 50's. The winter provided us with an opportunity to slide down the middle of the street on homemade sleds (cardboard from boxes). In the summer, my brother Clayton and other boys in town would compete in making their own go carts. They would use wheels and axels from off the baby buggies and old wood to build their go-carts. Then they would find different things to decorate them with, like tin cans and bottle caps. Broomstick handles would be used to push the carts from behind. The kids would line the street just like it was a real race. The cart that made it to the end of the block first would win. My brother for some reason would win the majority of the time and I think because he received a few tips from my Dad or older brother(I'm not sure).
I must say that my family members were hilarious at times, (I just might do a blog on them someday) but not now.

Amherstburg: Personal and family details.

Amherstburg: Personal and family details.

The Harrises: Cousin Don and family, Uncle Howard and family, Uncle Chester and family, Grandma and Grampa all lived in their own houses down the street. Lots of Hursts lived on King Street; Stewarts on Park; Wilsons and Handsors lived behind town, McCurdy's all over town. My friends coming up in Amherstburg were Jean, Lana, Donna, Brenda, Diane, Gloria and Emily.

My father pastored a church which was one block over from our house, Mount Zion Church of God in Christ. We walked to church and everywhere else in town: school, downtown, the park, museum etc... My father also was overseer to two other churches outside of the city under the leadership of the late Bishop C.L. Morton Sr. and my mother was a missionary to the Indian Reservations. So you see, they travelled a lot and most times we little ones were with them.

I forgot to mention that one of our friend's (Liz T's) father operated a ferry that he took back and forth to Boblo (an amusement park at that time) and sometimes he would let us ride over for free on his ferry. Lots of Detroiters would go to Boblo on the big boat, so it was very exciting and fun to go ride on the rides.

In the winter, my mother used to have us go outside and get some fresh fallen snow and she would make us snow cones. Most of the towns people were poor and these were the food services that we had in Amherstburg: milkman, iceman, vegetable man and egg lady. My father and his friends would go fishing and hunting to bring in the meats and he raised his own chickens. We would pick dandelions for greens. From time to time in the winter we would go to Bluefront Market (remember Bluefront?) to get some meats. We were flooded in the summer time with fresh fruits, fish and vegetables from the townspeople. You see, they all looked out for each other then. We got free bread and sweets and chips from the bakery. There were twelve in our family and ma would prepare food everyday to feed us, and aside from that she would bake a dessert a few times a week.

The one doctor in town (Dr. Hutchinson) would often make house calls if the patient could not come to the office.

I am once again requesting old photos: maybe of Bluefront, the Library, the theater, Park, Waterfront, Post Office, summertime photos of flowering trees, the church, high school, elementray school, family photos. Whatever you can contribute to this web will give viewers a picture of what a beautiful place Amherstburg was. Not only photos, but give descriptions of the photos and your input. Maybe you remember some things that I don't.

By mejamison

Amherstburg Fond Memories Continued

Amherstburg fond memories

I love it when fond memories return. My mind goes back to Amherstburg when they had the canning factory, and my aunt and cousin used to walk home with their aprons still on, carrying their lunch boxes. My father worked at the quarry (Brunermond) and everyday we would try to be the first to run and meet him because he always left a little of his lunch in his box. A lot of the adults either worked at the canning factory or Brunermond. Amherstburg sits right on the Detroit River across from Boblo... Hey! Remember Boblo Island? My brothers and their friends used to swim across the Detroit River to Boblo Island.

There was a museum that used to be a fort right on the waterfront with high hills that we used to run up and down; lots of trees and greenery with little steps and passages and flowers. What a beautiful place it was, especially to let your imagination run away with you. There was one public elementary and one public high school; one butcher shop, one shoe shop, one library. I think just about every child owed money to the library. There used to be a bakery and potato chip factory there and everyday they would set out barrels of day old potato chips and bread for the poor to take.

My father (Ernest Harris)would often go down to the waterfront with his minister associate and fish. Sometimes they would go to LaSalle, but we were permitted to go with him when he was in town.

I wish someone who lived in Amherstburg will find this blog and add comments and pictures to it, because there is so many good memories about Amherstburg.

By mejamison

Amherstburg As I Remember It

I think I would like to digress a little and go back to where I was born. Is there anyone from Amherstburg, Ontario reading this post? Any Burgers out there? Do you have any fond memories or photos of old Amherstburg that you would like to share?

As a child growing up in this what-was-once a small town, I have so many wonderful memories, even though I was still young when we moved from there. I remember the wonderful smell in the air in the spring with all the blossoming fruit trees; going to the convent and stealing the green apples from off of their trees, always narrowly escaping the watchful eyes of the nuns.

There was at the time one small theater and a park with a swimming pool where all the young people would go to swim or ice skate in the winter.

The population was so small that everyone knew just about everyone regardless of what race they were. I remember a house on George near Dalhousie Street (I think) hosting an ice rink in their back yard and allowing us to come and skate.

Our summer days would be filled with fun because the towns children would come over to George Street where we lived and would always be playing some sort of game or sport: hopscotch, skip, baseball; shoot the marble, drop the marble in a can, drop the knife; hide-n-go-seek, tag, or some other game like 'big step, little step' etc... We ALWAYS found some sort of way to have fun. The older children did not exclude the younger children, but we all participated in the games.

I remember the Parish Hall where once every so often there was a rummage sale and we would crowd those steps to be the first in line. I remember buying makeup and lipstick once and mother making me throw it away.

Remember Brown's Confectionary, and Bussy's Ice Cream Parlor?

So many thoughts coming to my rememberance (thank you God).

By mejamison

Babies

Today was my first day caring for a new 6 month old baby.

Babies are sheer joy...so innocent and pure. Keep them fed, changed, and burped and there's not a lot more to do but to hold and spoil them. Last year I tended to a one week old newborn, a one month old and a 1 year old at the same time. People would often ask how I was coping and my response was " love it". You don't have to be concerned with them objecting, or rebelling, or smart-mouthing. They are satisfied putting their complete trust in the one who is caring for them. I had my breaks when they napped, and they usually napped together.

At times, I would have both of the new babies in my arms at the same time feeding or just holding them. It is such a joy when they laugh or coo.

I still have the first children and I have pretty much taught them things to make my responsibility a little easier. It is a lot more of a responsibility now, but I know that if I can pretty much balance the feedings, keep their diampers changed, and keep them entertained, I won't have too much of a problem.

I'm still loving it!

By mejamison

Family

I was pleasantly surprised today to hear from a family member that I haven't heard from in quite some time. Families are tied together through bloodlines.

Thoughts:
It makes no difference whether family members are close or distant, there is still that bond through the blood. Sooo, whenever an opportunity arises to tighten that bond, one should not let it slip.

By mejamison

Gangs ( I'm Mad)

It just angers me when I hear of another intelligent young person having joined a gang. Gangs are normally for those who feel like there is no future for themselves. They are doing poorly in school; they have very little or no social skills; their level of communication is more or less limited to street vernacular. It just outright makes me mad when that young person falls from an 'A to an 'F and begins to skip classes.

Why would a young person who has the quality of becoming a giant in the business world allow themselves to make that kind of negative choice, for their life in belonging to a gang?

I have a few thoughts on the reasons, but I would like to hear from someone else.

By mejamison

Brand New Day

By Mary Elizabeth Jamison


I open my eyes to a brand new day, a day that has never been before nor will ever be again. What's in this day that is different than any other day that I have lived in previously.

I wake up in the same bed, in the same house, on the same street, in the same city. I bathe in the same tub and brush my teeth in the same sink. What's so different about this day? I put on a selection from the same wardrobe and saunter into the same kitchen to make coffee in the same coffee pot. I watch the same television and babysit the same children. I eat food from the same refridgerator prepared on the same stove. I say good morning to the same daughter and grandchildren. Oh, if I could just figure it out. Everything just seems the same as it was yesterday, what's different? I drive the same car and comb my hair the same with the same comb.

As I muse and consider what the difference is, a still small voice inside of me tells me that this day is different because it was made brand new by God and he allowed me to live in it. There are brand new blades of grass that has never sprung forth before, new dead fallen leaves that have never fell before; new babies born; new thoughts, new ideas; I have never breathed the same breath of air that I'm breathing now; I have never lived in this moment before; I have never woke up in this bed, in this house, on this street, in this city on this day before because this day was never here before. I have never ate food from my refrigerator on this day before. Everything my eyes behold and all of my actions; and all my emotions that I experience are brand new on this day because this day has never been before.

With all that in mind, I am completely grateful to God for the gift of living in this day and consider all things brand new in this brand day, thus giving God thanks.

Don't complain about this day that you are yet alive in, but rather say a prayer of thanksgiving. Please visit the Life_Reflections Group

By mejamison

email: ejamison@yahoo.com

Please visit my store.
www.ejamison59.com

ROAD TRIPS CAN BE FUN!

My family and I went on a 10 day road trip this year that turned out to be one of the best vacations that I had ever taken. One my age would think 'kids?--in the car for 10 days? - Orlando Florida?-I don't think so'. Well, I thought the same thing and hesitated before going. I thought about my health and sitting for so long a time in the same seat, and I really didn't want to go. What a mistake that would have been for me!

At the last minute I said yes and as it turns out, I'm glad I did. We took our time! The kids watched videos and played video games the whole time we were in the car - so there was never any real noise. Not once did they argue over anything. My daughter laid down the rules about the back seat before we left and they pretty much followed all the rules that she laid down. She took the two seats out of her van and so they had room to move around when they could. We stopped so many times before we actually got to our destination.

We stopped in Birmingham to see a friend of my daughters and spent the night at a hotel there. Then we went on to Montgomery, Alabama to see my son and grandchildren and stayed 2 nights there. He followed us to Atlanta, Georgia where we spent two nights there; went to church the 1st day and then the world's largest aquarium the next day. The following morning, we were off again en route to Orlando.

In Orlando we stayed 4 days at the Liki Tiki Hotel Resort. You should really consider staying there if you ever visit Orlando. The second day there, we went to Universal Theme Park and had the time of our lives. My family pushed me around in a wheelchair because walking would have been too much for me. They took turns and really didn't mind, so they say. But, I believe I was able to ride on all but one ride, some even twice. Two days later, we were off to come back home; however, we did not come straight home but detoured and went a different route. We stopped in St. Augustine,Florida and Charleston, North Carolina where we ate at Bubba Gumps Restaurant.

We were not worn completely out once we arrived back home, but had so much to talk about.
Again, I say it was the vacation of a lifetime.

By mejamison

TIME AND CHANGE

There was a time that I thought, in the naivety of my thinking, many years ago, that my life would always be somewhat as it was.

You know, when one is in the prime of their youth, there's the strength, the beauty, the agility, the good health, sometimes the prospect of financial security, etc... The thought at the time is that one would always be able to go and shop for whatever they would have a mind and financial means to buy. That person may never consider that these aspects of life could drastically change.

As the years go by, one by one, things begin to change in some people's lives and no matter what they try to do to rectify the changes, they can't.

I was only 37 years old when my then 14 year old daughter began to tell me that I was old. The first time she said it, I laughed, but I was sort of in shock that she would say it because I thought I still looked young. I didn't consider the fact that she had only lived a few short years of her life, so she would not think anything else other than I was old. But I'll tell you, my heart was broken.

Later, my spouse of at that time of 25 years decided that he was through with our life together and without explanation decided to move out and on with his life. When that happened, the finances began to fall through the floor and my life turned upside down. "TIME and CHANGE"! All the years prior to this, I considered myself financially secure; thinking that he would never leave me. I thought our union was the special one that would live on until one of us parted in death.

Not long after that, my health decided to go on its own path causing many illnesses. "TIME and CHANGE"! Yes, the quality of my hair changed. I would curl it one way and the locks would do what they wanted to do when I went to style my hair. My teeth are no longer my teeth. Having had 20/20 vision for so long, even it changed to where I have to wear glasses. I can't lay my glasses down because then I would forget where I laid them and find myself going back to the dollar store to buy a new pair. At one point, I had about 6 pairs of dollar store reading glasses. "TIME and CHANGE"!

Time does brings about a change. I am now 59 years old and I have been through many storms; I almost became homeless, and thanks be to God who kept me and brought me to the place of peace that I'm in right now.

Oh, I still live in the same old house; I don't get around as much as I'd like to; my hair looks wiry; I can't do my housework like I used to; I still don't have a companion; but I am in that space of peace that now makes me look back over my life and thank God for where I am at right now.

I still BELIEVE that there is nothing that I can't do, that I have a different kind of beauty and that I can go where I want to go. I'm just glad that the peace of God that I have, allows me to accept and be thankful for the changes that time has delivered to me.
Let me know how time has brought about change in your life.

This grandchild can get a prayer through!

I don't care what my problem or situation is, when my my eight year old granddaughter prays for me, God answers her prayers; whether it is pain or sickness, something lost that needs to be found, financial situations etc.. When I ask her to pray the thing gets fixed.



She loves God so much and testifies of His goodness. Her witness of Jesus and her prayers are just phenomenal. I'm so glad the Lord has blessed me with her. The other day, I was in pain and felt very weak, I needed someone to perm my hair because I was not in any condition to perm my own hair. I asked her to pray for me that the pain would go away. The next day without any medication, I got up and permed my own hair. The pain was completely gone, my strength was increased. I thanked and praised God and thanked her for praying.