Fireworks Revisited

7/11/10 Last night grandson, Owen, “called” us from the Redbirds game to tell us that he was seeing BIG fireworks and that people kept saying ooh and ahh. I was a little surprised that the noise didn’t scare him but he was saying, “Look.” (We actually could see a little--thanks to the cell phone pic that arrived.) Then we heard Owen oohing and ahhing.
Tonight he called from his B.B. and Poppy’s house because he was getting to see more fireworks---really loud ones too. What joy in his voice as his dad and granddad and Memphis neighbor, Derrick, offered fireworks just for Owen. It was obvious that they delighted in delighting him.

Last Thursday, Jesus Calling mentioned fireworks. “When your Joy in Me meets My Joy in you, there are fireworks of heavenly ecstasy.” This weekend I think the Lord was oohing and aahing as He heard us (Michèle and Dotsy) joyfully celebrating seeing each other. Our joy is a result that comes from all we have in Him---a true fellowship of two believers on the same side of a MAC struggle. Celebrating life & turned toward Him.
That’s like double ecstasy---really loud oohing and aahing coming forth. Real fireworks----that will continue throughout eternity!! Heavenly ecstasy!!

FIREWORKS

7/4/10 I don’t remember fireworks as a child----maybe Hoptown was too small to have a display. I remember as a young married shooting bottle rockets off of Pop’s dock at Pickwick and watching in horror as a sparkler melted down on top of brother Buddy’s hand, which he quickly doused in the lake water.
As an expectant mother I remember baby (Buddy) jumping in utero in response to the June 1970 “Memphis in May” fireworks. Years later, celebrating the 4th as a mother on Longreen, I would hold my kids back as the Lewis’ boys, aided by their dad, John, would set off cherry bombs and firecrackers and light Roman candles and those snakey things that turned into charcoal ash and smoked and others that whistled as they snaked down the street.

This year our street will be quiet. There are only 4 children on our Longreen now---2 teens, 1 toddler and an infant. No fireworks are anticipated. We won’t even be able to see fireworks from our “treetops” bedroom because Shelby Farms no longer has fireworks.

The quiet is okay with me---it would probably “rattle” Mommar anyway. But the reason for celebrating does not diminish for me—or for the folks at Hobby Lobby. Their full page ad in this morning’s Commercial Appeal said it well. “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

IT IS THE DUTY OF ALL NATIONS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROVIDENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD, TO OBEY HIS WILL, TO BE GRATEFUL FOR HIS BENEFITS AND HUMBLY TO IMPLORE HIS PROTECTION AND FAVOR. (George Washington)

OUR CONSTITUTION WAS MADE ONLY FOR A MORAL AND RELIGIOUS PEOPLE. (John Adams)

WE’VE BEEN ASSURED IN THE SACRED WRITINGS THAT UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS THE HOUSE, THEY LABOR IN VAIN WHO BUILD IT. (Benjamin Franklin)

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. (Psalm 33:12)

These words certainly light a “spark” in my heart.