THE GREATEST VALUE I LEARNED FROM MY PARENTS

Leonard (born in 1912) and Hazel (born in 1913) Haire were good and loving parents.  I was blessed to be the youngest of their four children [Jeannette, Ira, Beverly and me]. 

The Great Depression was from 1929-1939.  My dad would have turned seventeen in ’29. 

He quit school after the eighth grade and applied for a job with Townsend Company – lying about his age, saying he was sixteen.  My brother and I calculated that he was probably hired in 1928.  He worked for this company for forty-eight years before retiring.   Therefore, he worked consistently throughout that desperate time!  

They were married on August 17, 1934 – smack-dab in the middle of the Great Depression!  My Grandma Walton [who I never knew] gave each of her three daughters a house on Mount Washington in Beaver Falls, PA.  My parents were given her house with the condition that she would live with them until her death.  My two oldest siblings remember her.

Therefore, when they were married – in the middle of the depression – they owned a home that had been gifted to them!  Jeannette was born February, 25, 1937.  Ira was born April 10, 1940.  Beverly was born July 25, 1944.  I am the only baby boomer of the family – born in 1952. 

God was clearly watching over them throughout these challenging years! 

As best I can tell, my mother’s background was Welsh/English.  She was very frugal!  My dad was an excellent money manager.  Jeannette remembers that dad would give my mom money to use on ‘dollar days’ in Beaver Falls.  He would stash it away for these special times.  She ALWAYS used coupons and shopped on 'triple-coupon' days!  She collected books of saving's stamps and redeemed them for the things the family needed!  

Growing up, I never received gifts nor did they buy me things throughout the year.  However, at Christmas, I received everything I would need for that next year.  Mom would wrap pens, underwear, notebooks, school clothes along with toys for that special day.  It took all morning to open all my gifts! 

In 1956, they purchased a brand new home in New Brighton for $11,000.  My dad enjoyed nice cars and managed to save his savings’ bonds from work to purchase them.  They never had a problem with debt.  My first memory of eating out was at a new McDonald’s in Beaver Falls somewhere around my thirteenth birthday [you ordered at a window and ate in your car]! 

Later in life – while I was still at home - they bought a small camping trailer.  I was a little embarrassed about this ‘no-name-brand’ camper, but they absolutely loved it.  Later, they purchased a used Shasta camper and travelled widely in it.  Those in their ‘camper’s club’ had much bigger, nicer campers; but mom and dad were 100% content with their little Shasta. 

I never heard a word of envy from either of them – only gratitude to God for what they had!  THE EVENTS OF THEIR LIVES HAD TAUGHT THEM THE SECRET OF CONTENTMENT. 

I wish I could say that I learned immediately from their example, but it took me a while to discover the secret that they had learned.  Debbie and I weren’t so wise in our youth.  We made mistakes and struggled with low pay and high school debts.  But eventually, God got our attention and we began to operate according to His standards.  Life has been much better since. 

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The Apostle Paul speaks of this discipline in Philippians 4:10-14 [TM].

Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. 

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My parents had a legacy of contentment.  I now have grown into that legacy.  I owe them a great debt of gratitude for their excellent example.  I’m especially grateful for a wife who has travailed with me through rough and lean years to get to where we are today. 

Please don’t read-in what’s not here.  We’re not wealthy.  Not affluent.  Just content!  Have you learned this ‘secret’ that Paul spoke of? 

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Gracious God,

You stuck with us through our years of learning.  You gave us partners to advise us and guide us.  You sent help every time we needed it!  You delivered us time and time again!  How can we ever thank You enough?

And You don’t love us any more than the people reading this blog!  You will do for them what You’ve done for us!  Guide them through Your Word and Your Spirit.  May many of Your followers find peace even in the midst of trial and want. 

You are faithful!  And we praise You for that!  Amen!

LIKE MOM AND DAD

My Mom and Dad were frugal!  Although all four names that define my heritage (Haire, Archer, Walton and Powell) are of English derivation, I’m convinced there had to be some Scottish blood in there somewhere. 😉

At times, their frugality bothered me when I was growing up. I stated in another blog that I was 13 before I ever ate at a restarant. I wore lots of hand-me-down clothing.  There was a really cool guy at church, who was closer to my sister Bev's age, who used to point that out to the kids at church:  “Look, I told my mom to give my clothes to the Salvation Army, but it looks like she gave them to Harold Haire instead (followed by much laughter, of course)!

As a lifelong homemaker she was committed to saving money in any way possible.  She saved books of S&H Green stamps and redeemed them for our family's benefit.  She also clipped coupons and then watched for double and triple coupon days at various grocery stores!  She pinched a penny as well as anyone!  😊  Did I mention that she took me into Picway Self-Serve Shoe Mart to buy my shoes?

When I was a young teen, they went from old, canvas tent camping to the purchase of an off-brand, used, hard-top camper. They were so proud of it!  It was very small and shaped like the old Scottie campers.  They joined a camper’s club called “The Happy Wanderers” and enjoyed many wonderful weekends with couples who had MUCH BIGGER AND NICER campers. But my folks pulled in with pride and had as much (or more) fun than anyone!

When I was in high school, they bought a Shasta trailer that was newer and a bit larger. They were SO EXCITED!! By then, I was driving and didn’t camp much with them.   During this season of life they lost the cabin they had used for years at the Tri State Camp in East Liverpool. No problem;  they simply lived in their campers (on the same site that Charlie and Laurie Mahosky presently use).  🙂

They had each been raised through the Great Depression. As a result, they had cultivated a phenomenal capacity for being content with what they had. I can only imagine their joy in 1957, when they moved from Beaver Falls into a brand new home in New Brighton!  I was four-and-a-half years old. They paid $11,000!!  They lived in that house until thy died (Mom in 1981, and Dad in 1992).

Although at times I was embarrassed, I always knew that they had a quality that I also wanted to have. In addition, they practiced extreme generosity toward the church and missions!  And somehow, Dad always managed to squirrel away some money to give Mom when ‘Dollar Days’ came in Beaver Falls. 😉

I inadvertently hurt my Dad shortly after we were married. We had come home from Kentucky where  I was attending Asbury Seminary. I was working as a part time unloader at UPS and the union had been on strike seeking increased pay for part time workers. I excitedly told Dad that I would be making $4.70/hour upon my return to work (an exceptional pay for part time work in 1974).  I was disappointed that he didn’t seem to share my joy.  Before leaving, I brought it up again and asked him why he wasn’t excited about my raise. He responded:  “Son, I’ve worked for Townsend Company for forty-seven years (pause), and I’ve never made $4.70 an hour”.

But, he was content.

Like my Dad, I’ve never made big money either. I realize now that I probably would have been better off financially if I had stayed in the Pittsburgh Conference. Superintendents where I served didn’t advocate for pastor’s salaries while Pittsburgh Conference leaders (particularly Superintendent Jim Jobes) did!

Add to that the fact that my Dad and Mom did not deliberately pass on their wisdom about finances,  and Debbie and I were set up for trouble. Before too many years of marriage passed, we were in debt. Growing our family, low wages, financing two masters degrees and unwise financial management eventually led to chronic depression for me and a distinct lack of joy accompanied by a constant burden of stress due to our debt.

However, God intervened in our lives and used some instrumental people to set in motion a long-term plan to enable us to eliminate our substantial debt!  PTL!!!  Today, we own our home and our vehicles and have no debt!  Thanks be to God. And, like my parents, we are able to be generous with the church and missions (as well as others).

All these thoughts are triggered as I sit looking out over Pymatuning Lake! Debbie and I are here trying out our new camper!  After 45 years of camping in tents and pop-up campers, we have recently purchased a used 5th-wheel camper (2002)and a used Ford F-250 (2008) to pull it. We own them both!  😊  We’re pretty excited about it!

I guess, after all these years, a little of Mom and Dad did rub off!

THE SECRET OF CONTENTMENT

"I have learned that if you have something to eat, a roof overhead and clean water, you should be most grateful - you number among the world's most blessed."  [Luke Crisp's Diary, Lost December, by Richard Paul Evans, p. 197]

I visited Marie in the hospital yesterday.  She attends Free Methodist Community Church - where I serve as pastor.  She is in her eighties and is known in our congregation as 'Mom-Marie', because for decades she cared for our littlest members in the nursery.  She is universally loved and respected - along with her husband, Jim.

In typical fashion, she greeted me with her beautiful smile and a big hug.  Marie frequently enfolds me, then clasping my hand in hers looks me in the eye and tells me how much she loves and appreciates me.  I know she means it.

We sat and talked.  She spoke with gratitude for all that God has given her in life.  She talked about growing up on the farm.  "We didn't have anything.  But we weren't poor."  Then she told me of a puzzle that she had as a child.  With a twinkle in her eyes she told me of putting that puzzle together over and over and over again.  One puzzle.

She reflected that her parents rarely went to the store.  They grew everything they needed.  She seemed partly present and partly somewhere else as she remembered helping her mom can eighty jars of peaches to see the family through the winter and spring. 

It occurred to me as we spoke that Marie was content!  She has so much more than she ever dreamed possible.  She wants for nothing except salvation and peace for some of her family. Marie is one of the most wonderful people I know;  she reminds me of my own mother.

In a culture that is deeply invested in the belief that material things can satisfy, it is rare to find someone who truly understands Philippians 4:11 (NASB).

I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.