Security is...
A glistening snow blanket surrounded our farmhouse. Vegetable stew bubbled on the stove. A second batch of bread rose on the hearth. Pulling my chair closer to the fireplace, I settled down to read, munching an apple. The crisp sound took me back in time.
The youngest of a large, poor family which moved each year from one dreary, rented place to another, I escaped in books from the library hoping to find security by reading about it.
Sometimes we were lucky enough to have a fireplace. Occasionally, there were apples to munch. My dream was to have a fireplace of my own, plenty of books and apples.
During the hard years of single parenting, my dream kept me going. Then, I married again to a man with a similar dream.
As all families, we've had problems, but we have good health, nourishing food, a comfortable home, the ability to work for our needs, and abounding love. With a fireplace, apples and good books, what more could anyone want?
My reverie was broken when a log fell. Gazing into the flickering fire, I realized my dream had come true and thanked God for giving me the ability to work for my dream.

Of such things is security made.

We both still work hard each day, thank the Good Lord for the ability to do so, respect the rights and property of others and practice the "Golden Rule". Could this be what this mixed-up world needs today; a return to the "old-fashioned" values?
Patricia Vance, February 3, 1997


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