Rev. A.J. Ogden

Born in extreme poverty and knowing not what it meant to have fruits, candy, ice cream and many goodies every day, I really appreciate a small thing, like a banana. For some reason I seemed to crave bananas. Dreaming about my favorite fruit was not unusual at all. The other boys and girls seemed to have all those things and I thought they were rich. Compared to us they were rich.

Shortly before Christmas when I was very small, I remember talking to mother, asking her if by any chance she thought that Santa Clause might bring me a little fruit, especially a banana. She looked worried and said, “He might son.” I said, “You know mother I understand you just do not have the money, but perhaps Santa Clause is rich and able to do it.”

Christmas Eve night I hung my ragged socks up on the front of the old fir:place in wild childish anticipation, and was hardly able to sleep. Somehow, some way, by making some kind of sacrifice, Santa found a way. I squealed for joy and counted my fruit, 1 apple, 2 oranges, a few grapes and, you guessed it, 1 banana. What a Christmas!

Mother and I always divided any good thing we got. But all of a sudden mother said she didn’t care for any of my banana. I knew she was going to do without so I could have it all, but I was determined to share with her. I took the banana, cut it in half to give half to mother, and it was rotten on the inside. I began to cry and mother saw my hurt and joined me for the next few minutes in tears. Perhaps many will say that was foolish. It may be so, but perhaps we would do well in this day to appreciate little things. It is so easy to take our blessing for granted isn’t it?

The psalmist speaks about the importance of being thankful for all things in Psalms 100:4-5, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” So let us be thankful for little things, big things, and all things.