What It Is Is Football, by Sally

Years ago Andy Griffith had a great, funny skit on Football.  The funniest line in it for me was when someone asked him if he wanted a drink and he said, "I think I will take a big orange!"  Also he explained the game in a way that a naive young man would see the game.  It was really funny.

I was born in Michigan.  Grew up in home-town Michigan.  Loved the Wolverines and the Spartans.  I also loved the Detroit Lions and the Detroit Tigers.  I remember when I was very young our family went to a Tigers game in Detroit at Tigers Stadium. And I was a cheerleader from junior high, through high school and all of my college years.  Have school spirit to spare.  In high school I went to a cheer-leading clinic in Lansing and saw a Michigan State-Cornell game.  At the half of the game we were all part of a cheer at that infamous stadium.  I love football.  Watch it a lot on TV.

When Morrey and I were in the Detroit area for training in language acquisition the group went to a Tigers game and I was surprised at how that team spirit was still there.  This little old lady was yelling and cheering on those Tigers.  The old gal still had it.

The Infamous Michigan-Ohio State game just came on.  Right now the score is tied.  I feel like I win no matter who wins the game.  I am a Michigander, but also have become a Buckeye.  I always cheer on the Wolverines and the Buckeyes when they play other teams.  As I was watching the start of the game I was greatly impelled to come write this blog.

 I have school spirit for both of these teams.  Actually, I want both of them to win.  However, it disturbs me to hear the vitriol attitude of late.

A few years ago I mistakenly attended a Michigan-Ohio game party here in Ohio.  Wrong.  I was insulted almost as I entered the home.  This is a blog entitled "Vessels and Flowers".  So this Velvet Box had a hard time receiving the hurt and getting over it.  It took me a long time to forgive and let it go.

Two more experiences bother me.  I was at a local church at the same time as one of these rival football games and a visiting guest ranted and insulted Michiganders from the pulpit.  Really??  Also I heard of folks putting out placards in front of their homes on this game day that say "Michiganders Not Invited".  Really??

Makes me wonder about Heaven.  Will there be doors that say "Only Lutherans invited here!"   Or one that says "Charismatics may not come in!!"

Perhaps I have just lost all of my friends in Ohio.  I just have not had the experience of seeing this in my Michigan family and friends.  If they do this they are wrong also.

During my college years, Northwestern was a bitter rival with Bethel College.  Our basketball games were really serious.  As a cheerleader, oh, how I cheered and rooted for my beloved Northwestern College.  But I never saw anything like this.

It has bothered me for years and I have never expressed my displeasure about it.  I have a hard time seeing this kind of behavior as any part of Christian Character.  Every time someone says insulting words about Michiganders it hurts my heart. Is this behavior really school spirit or something very unpleasant?

By the way, the name of the skit by Andy Griffith was "What It Was Was Football".  It is football.  There are nice people, even Christians on both teams.  They both want to win.  We want our team to win.  Do we really hate those on the other side???  Do we feel the same about others who don't agree with us or are other denomination??  Are we going to start putting "keep out" signs in front of our house for those who are different in any way from us???

Well, I feel better now.  I have written so many blogs with so little comments.  I quit writing blogs for a long time because it seemed that no one was out there.  Honestly, I do want your feedback on this. 

Full disclosure:  This blog is from me, Sally.  Do not blame in any way my dear Buckeye friend, Brenda.

Blessings Galore to all of you Wolverines, Buckeyes, and all of the other friends in other states.

Amazing Vessels, by Sally

I am always amazed at how accurate the Vessels are in depicting just what kind of a person we are.

If you are trying to describe someone, if you just say, "She is a Golden Pouch."  It is known that she is probably quiet, kind, and soft-spoken.   It is immediately understood just what kind of a person she is.  And that is true of all of the Vessels.  The minute you say which Vessel they are a whole list of attributes are immediately understood.


"She is a Velvet Box."  You know she is complicated and laid-back.

"She is a Pitcher."  You know she is very practical and likes things done right.

"She is a Vase."  You know she is a strong no-nonsense lady.

"She is a Basket." You know that she is fun-loving, outgoing, and loves to "swing".


When the five Vessels were chosen even Brenda and I did not completely know just how complete a description each were.  Over the years we have enjoyed seeing more and more attributes of each Vessel that so accurately depict each person.

One just needs to take care in expressing one's opinion of someone.  If others have not been aware of Vessels and Flowers they can be put off by the unknown language of it all. 

Enjoy your uniqueness.  Enjoy the wonderful world of understanding just how very special you are.