The New House

"What would you guys think about building a great big house out on the land in Gilbert and moving out there with us?" Grandpa asked suddenly.  We were all sitting around in his living room, having a quiet Sunday afternoon visit.

"Yeah!" Stephen shouted from the corner where he was playing with some toys.

"Really?"  "How soon?"  "I want to!" and "Of course!" the rest of the kids chimed in.

I looked at Dad in surprise, wondering if he was really serious.  He had bought a piece of land out in Gilbert a couple of years ago as an investment.  It was in a beautiful area, bordered on the east and north by rural subdivisions with acre or more lots and large homes, and on the south and west by corn fields.  He'd talked about subdividing the property someday, but I'd never thought Dad would consider moving there.

"I was thinking I could sell four acre lots, and still have two acres for us to build on," Dad continued, smiling at all of the excitement he was creating.  “We could build two houses, one for each of us, or one great big house with room for everyone.  Anyway, it's just a thought."

And so began a new chapter in our lives, the Gilbert years.  Dad got busy and subdivided the property, putting in a road and utilities, then sold the pieces to four wonderful families.  The proceeds were enough to pay off the land and start building the house.  In the end he designed an amazing split-level home that fit our needs perfectly.  It was really two separate houses, each with their own bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, even laundry rooms, but there was a huge adjoining living room in between, with double doors leading to each side of the house.  At Christmas and family gatherings the doors could be opened so we had lots of room for everyone, but at other times they could be closed giving each family privacy. 

It was the perfect answer for our family. Since I was a single mother with five children, it gave me a way to not be alone. Mom already babysat for me while I taught school, so living together would be easier. And we would have the blessing of having dad to take care of us, giving the children a grandfather at least, since they no longer had their dad. Hopefully, it would also be good for my parents. They were still young, but someday it might help to have me close. Plus my rent would help pay the taxes and utilities. I sure was lucky to have such wonderful parents!

Paul's New Automobile

Paul walked out of work to find a little street urchin admiring his new car. 

"Is this your car?" the lad asked with envy.

Paul nodded.  “My brother gave it to me for Christmas.”  The boy looked astounded.  “You mean your brother gave it to you, and it didn’t cost you anything?  Gosh, I wish…”

He hesitated, and Paul knew what he was going to wish.  He was going to wish that he had a brother like that.  But what the lad said jarred Paul all the say down to his heels.

“I wish,” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.”  Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively, he added, “Would you like to ride in my automobile?”

“Oh yes, I’d love that!”

After a short ride the urchin turned and with his eyes aglow said, “Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?”

Paul smiled a little He thought he knew what the lad wanted.  He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile.  But Paul was wrong again.

“Will you stop right where those steps are?” the boy asked.  He ran up the steps.  Then in a little while, Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast, he was carrying his little polio crippled brother.  He sat down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed right up against him and pointed to the car.

“There she is Buddy, just like I told you upstairs.  His brother gave it to him for Christmas, and it didn’t cost him a cent, and someday I’m gonna give you one just like it. Then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I have been trying to tell you about.”

Paul got out and lifted the little lad into the front seat of his car.  The shiny-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.

That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what Jesus meant when He said, “It is more blessed to give.”