Florie's Birthday Party

This is another of those old stories that come from our past.  Sometimes it's good to go over them.  I hope you enjoy the old language and the hospitality of a bygone era.

Florie Swift would 8 yrs old tomorrow, and her mother had promised her the company of 6 young friends to take dinner with her and spend the afternoon.
"You may invite whom you please," mother said.

As soon as lessons were over, the girl went out, accompanied by Ann, (the maid) to invite her guests. Ann, thought of course, that Florie would invite Fannie Morris, Jennie Snow and two or three other close playmates.  They lived in large houses on the next street, so Ann started to turn in that direction.
"Where are you going," asked Florie.  "The company I am going to invite don't live there. Those girls have many good times."

On they walked until they came to a narrow street with a non-too-inviting appearance.  "I am going to stop here," said Florie.  She opened a rickety door and began to climb the stairs. Stopping at the top of the first flight, she knocked at the door on her right.  "Come in," was faintly heard.  Florie opened the door and found a girl about her own age sitting in a chair, knitting.  This was Mary Gray, the daughter of a woman who had done sewing for Florie's mother.  The child was blind, but she held out her hand in the directions of Florie's voice.  "Mrs Gray," Florie said, "I came to see if you would allow Mary to have dinner with me tomorrow.  It is my birthday, and Mamma has promised me a little party.  I will send for Mary, If you are willing."
"How good you are, Miss Florie!" the woman replied.  "My little child has few pleasures. I know she will enjoy her visit with you."
"Thankyou," said Mary, with a wan smile.  "I'll be waiting for the party."
"I'll send for you, Mary, at 3 o'clock tomorrow."
Bidding the mother and daughter good bye, Florie went down the stairs and hurried slang to another house near by, where a least boot hung out for a sign.  Ann looked at Florie in amazement as she entered this little shop.

An old man sat mending shoes, and a little lame boy propped up in a chair was trying to amuse himself with some bits of bright coloured leather.
"Well, Miss Florie," exclaimed the child, "I am so glad you have come! Those roses you sent me a few days ago were so beautiful.  I kept them as long as I could."
"I'm glad you like them.  Jamie.  I have come to invite you to dinner tomorrow, and you shall have as many rose as you can carry home."
The little fellow glanced at his lame feet, and then at his crutches.
"Never mind, Jamie," the old shoemaker said.  "I'll carry you to Miss Florie's."

Florie now left for another home on a side street.  She stopped at the door of a shabby-looking house, which was occupied by an old woman formally a nurse in Florie's family.
"Bless you Miss Florie, it does me good to see your bright face," said the woman.  "No one has been to read the story of the Good Shepherd since you were heard, and my old eyes are of little service now."
"Well, nurse, tomorrow will be my birthday, and you are to come to dinner with me.  Then I'll read to you if you wish."
"The precious child," said the old woman, "to think of a poor old nurse!"
"Good-bye, nursie! I am not through inviting my friends yet!"

Beckoning to Ann, Florie walked on a few doors farther and stopped at another home.  A weak-looking child not much holder than Florie came to the door with a crying baby in her arms.
"Why Florie," the child exclaimed , "who ever would have thought of seeing you."
"Where is your mother, Amy?"
"She is washing.  The baby is so cross I can't do anything with him.  I could not go to church last week because he was not well."
"Do you think your mother will let you come and have dinner with me tomorrow?  It's my birthday."
By this time the woman appeared, and Florie wasted "Please, may Amy come to my house tomorrow afternoon?  It will be my birthday.  We are in the same Sunday school class and I should like to have her."
"Certainly, Miss; I have no objections."  The mother and child both seemed happier to have Florie call.

"Where to next?" asked Ann.
"To Mrs. White's " said Florie.  "I'm ging to ask her to bring little deaf - and -dumb Tommy."
Florie made her errand know to Mrs. White, and left, saying: "Bring him at 3 o'clock tomorrow please."

"Now for home!" said Florie.  She ran to her room the moment she arrived and wrote this little note: Florie Swift send her compliments to Mrs. Swift, and would be please to have her cop nay tomorrow afternoon.  "Ann, please take this to mamma, and wait for an answer."  Ann soon returned with a small piece of paper  on which was written; Mrs. Swift accepts with pleasure the invitation for tomorrow afternoon.

The next day was bright and clear, and as 3 pm drew near, Florie began to arrange her table for the guests on the green lawn.  A large dish of strawberries stood in the centre, on one side a large cake and on the other a plate of biscuits.  A small bouquet of choice flowers stood by each plate.

"Your company is coming," called Ann, who was helping Miss Florie.  Sure enough, there was old nurse with her walking stick, and Jamie on the shoemaker's back.  Blind Mary was the next to come, and soon Amy and little mute Tommy appeared.  Seating old nurse in a large chair brought out especially for her, Florie put the rest of her guests on her right and left.  Mary smelled the flowers and was delighted with them.  Mrs. Swift now came into the yard, looking somewhat astonished at the company.  She greeted each one pleasantly, sat at the head of the table.

When dinner was over, Mrs. Swift invited everyone to the parlour, where she played and sang for them.  Each one had a bouquet to take home and when they left they said "Thank you," over and over.

When they were alone Mrs. Swift asked Florie why she had invited these friends to her party.
"Mother, our teacher  told us lsat Sunday that God said "Feed the hungry, lead the lame, and help the needy;" or something like that.  Did I do right, mother?"
"Yes, daughter.  I'm happy that you thought of others.  He who gives to the poor lends to the Lord."

Lloyd, E. (1949).  Scrapbook Stories from Ellen G. White's Scrapbook.  Pacific Press Publishing Association Mountain View, California. pp.33 - 37)

The Farmhouse Kitchen

For some of you it might bring back memories.  It reminds me of going to my Aunt and Uncle's place.  The kitchen was the place where we would sit to talk and eat.  Where friends and family always come in the back door and stay for a chat.


Low-ceiled and welcoming, through the half-opened door,
You smell the bread raising - see the red-tiled floor,
A bee droning busily against muslined window-pane,
The dear farmhouse kitchen - could I enter once again!

There's a large long table, scrubbed clean and white,
Solid like the ceiled beams of oak, as black as night -
Though they come to life at seven when the fire is all aglow,
Reflecting gold and yellow of the flames that come and go.

The cat upon the "thrift" rug, with kittens close and warm,
The rug - made up of garments discarded - old and worn -
That still remember dark days of wind and frost and storm,
They whisper to the old cat of many a greying dawn!

While in and out some hungry men - hot or cold - in season,
Coming ti the kitchen for com for is the resin -
Never disappointed, food or warmth to find,
For the keep of the kitchen hurries on her mission kind!

The dear farmhouse kitchen - paint a gleaming there.
The walls austere and simple unadorned and bear.
But, oh , the smell of lavender butter cheese and cake,
That's calling from the oven - I've ready, come and take."

The clock so slowly ticking, over by the wall -
Solemn, staid and watchful he could tell you all
The happy task and busyness that kitchen surely knows,
But he only slowly moves his hands to tell us that time goes!

And like a benediction, upon the window sill,
A lovely bunch of lilac - scented- pure and still,
The licl a says quietly that God is please to wee,
A warm and homely pitch - neat and orderly.

I smell the lilac - lavender - through that half -opened doors,

Of the lovely farm house kitchen with the red-tiled floor!

(Mrs. C.L Kelly.  Selected Poems.)

A Bread & Water Diet

For my devotional time I try to read a little sections of a couple of books.  One at the moment is a history of my church and the other is Joanna's second book "Having a Mary Spirit."  This is a section that I read recently; so recent that it was this mornings.  I just had to share it with you.

Before I was afflicted I went astray

but now I obey your word.

You are good, and what you do is good;

teach me your decrees. 

Ps. 119:67, 68

Though you won't find it on the magazine stand, the most effective Flesh Women Diet I've ever tried is the regimen outline in Isaiah 30:20.  Though it limits your intake to only two kinds of food - bread and water - it is amazingly efficient in trimming lower-nature fat and building spiritual muscles.  Don't worry about shopping for the ingredients.  Life - and even God Himself- tends to drop  them at your door.

First on the Menu :- The Bread of Adversity
Adversity means "misfortune; calamity; an adverse event or circumstance." (The Hebrew word in the OT for adversity denotes anything from a tight place to a pebble in the shoe)  While adversity is not widely requested dish, God seems to use it often in the lives of His choicest people.  Adversity not only reveals what we are made of but makes us more than we were. "Because," as James 1:3-4 says, "you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance... so that you may be mature and complete."

Second Menu item:- The Water of Affliction
Affliction refers to "a distressed or painful state; misery." Hard to swallow, this is not our beverage of choice.  From the Hebrew word meaning "to force or hold fast," affliction refers to those times when life squeezes us uncomfortably even painfully.  But when we embrace affliction as an opportunity to share in the sufferings of Christ, we will also "share in His glory," Romans 8:17 tells us.  The sweetness of Christ will come out of our lives instead of bitterness.  And God will be glorified.

"Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction,: Isaiah 30:20 tells us, "your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them."  Far from punishment, adversity and affliction are designed to bring wisdom - because this food once intended for prisoners (1Kings 22:27) can help set your free from Flesh Woman's rule.

But how you receive those two gifts makes all the difference!  Adversity and affliction can either make you bitter, or they can make you better.

It's up to you.


PS.  If you want to know about Flesh Woman you will have to read the following book to find out.


Weaver, J., (2011). Having a Mary Spirit.  Allowing God to Change Us From the Inside Out. 
                                  WaterBook Press. Colorado Springs. Colorado.  p.194 -94.