The Gift Uncle Clarence's Daddy, Carolee's Granddaddy Day, was Alvan Clarence Day. Uncle Clarence’s mother, Carolee's Grandmamma Day, was Lizzie Pearl Cowart Day. Since all the grandchildren loved, loved, loved spending the night with Mama Day and Granddaddy Day, I thought I'd share why. There were many reasons. There were always kittens, sometimes a guinea pig, always a parakeet that could talk and hop along the newspaper lines to read the newspaper with Granddaddy, a camera for taking pictures, space gas heaters for warming your backside, layers of blankets for keeping you warm in the cold winter rooms, a dog, cooking with Mama Day without running to the grocery store, Dr. Pepper, pin curling Mama Day's hair, around your finger, and permission to stay up til 12:00 a.m. or after. The latest inventions weren't found there, but conversation was always prevalent! We talked. We asked questions, we listened to stories. We planted flowers, we picked figs, we shelled peas. We ate cornbread and or biscuits at every meal. Mealtime is when Granddaddy always prayed that the family circle would not be broken so we would all be together forever in heaven. At night the prayers were different. This was the probably the most life changing part about being at Mama Day's and Granddaddy Day's at night. About 9:00, Granddaddy Day would say, “Sugardoll, if you don't mind, let's turn off the TV so we can read the Bible and then ya’ll can go back to doing what you were doing.” This did not occur only if we were spending the night there. On the contrary, this was every single night, no matter the date, no matter the guests, no matter if all the extended family were there for Christmas or when your Granddaddy Clay had come down from New York, or if you were the only grandchild for the night, or if he and Mama Day were alone. Every night Granddaddy would read the Bible aloud, or ask you to read specific scriptures if you were old enough to read. He would then expound upon it, teaching its meaning. He would then kneel down beside the straight chair at the kitchen table, or in the living room if we were all gathered there. He would pray and continue to pray, until he had humbly prayed about all that was on his heart. It was never for show. On Christmas, Eve when 20 to 30 something were gathered, I am sure the Bible reading and prayer were thought to be an interruption to the fireworks and to Christmas presents we were about to receive: socks, training pants for babies, or ruffled cotton panties if you were one of the little girls, handkerchiefs, or kitchen towels. The gifts were simple, wrapped only in paper, never in a box. They were purchased from the money Mama Day earned from picking up pecans in the backyard. Like the Christmas gifts, the gift from granddaddy was simple, but his Godly leadership changed lives. You have a rich heritage. An extended family that welcomed all, that taught the truths from God's Word that would give us freedom while on earth, and a Savior who makes it possible for us to live together for all eternity. We are truly blessed! I thought your mama would want to make sure you knew. John 3: 16-17
