I Wish Every Day Was Christmas

Went shopping to a major clothing chain this morning and heard upbeat Christmas music playing throughout the store. When I first became aware of the piped-in music I heard the Gary Davis song “I Wish Every Day Was Christmas”. It’s a feel-good song highlighting all the heart-warming experiences we feel during that special time of the year and would now like to capture year-round. It’s a secular song and does not dwell on the spiritual and real message of Christmas. It’s a neat song but I was compelled to take it further.

Christmas is about Jesus Christ becoming man to dwell among us for purposes of redemption. December 25th is set aside to honor and celebrate that event. But it’s not just one day and it’s over. It’s one day leading to another, Easter, and to every day. There’s no need to wish every day is Christmas because every day is already Christmas fulfilled if we call upon Jesus as Lord and Savior. He’s ready 24/7, day in, day out, year after year to hear our call.

Robert Parlante

Christmas 2017

Christmas at Ikea

Every Christmas as an adult I am reminded of a favorite gift I received as a young boy. My gift request was an  Erector Set, a toy

construction system consisting of various metal beams with hole for assembly using nuts and bolts. I wanted the premium version with its myriad of pulleys, gears and wheels, and a small electric motor.

The gift had been wrapped for several days, sitting under the Christmas tree. Every time I passed by, it felt like it was calling my name. When no one was watching I would shake the gift. I thought it felt heavy enough to be the metal construction set. I was certain I could hear the jiggle of nuts and bolts. I was convinced I was going to receive the Erector Set.

I begged my parents to let me open the gift early. The answer was always NO! That was the only gift I was receiving that year. If opened early, there would be nothing to open on Christmas morning.

Every Christmas Eve we would go to my grandparents’ house for the ‘Festa dei sette pesci’ … the Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes, a traditional fasting meal where meats were not served. My parents said I could open the gift when we returned from my grandparents. I should have stopped there. I didn’t.

I was willing to sacrifice the cod, clams, mussels and calamari. Forget the scallops, fried smelts, and pasta with seafood. I pushed one more time to open the gift. My parents finally acquiesced. They were apparently tired of hearing from their pushy son. I sacrificed the meal of seven fishes and opened the gift.

It was the best dream gift I had ever received, and I immediately began skimming through the instructions to pick my first project. By the time my parents came home, I had assembled a Ferris wheel. Even they were impressed. “Potrebbe finire per possedere un carnevale un giorno!” my father had remarked. (translation: He may end up owning a carnival someday)

Well, I never ended up owning a carnival, nor did I have any desire to own one. I am not a huge fan of Ferris wheels. But to this day, it still begged the question: Did my preference for childhood toys predict my future? Sort of, but not exactly.

I ended up with three vocations in life: engineer, minister, writer.

Certainly, the Erector Set forecasted my engineering side. The toy had little to do with my minister side which is more the call of God on one's life, but my childhood experiences always manage to weave themselves into my writing like my first novel titled A Letter From Miss Wingate. So, two out of three is not bad.

Oh, there’s one more thing. I love assembling Ikea furniture! There are not many people who can say that! It’s not a whole lot different than an Erector Set with no verbal instructions … and only pictures to lead your way. And there are always parts or a bolt-fastener left over after the job is finished.

Share a thought with me. Pick either question or both:

1.  What your best or worst experience assembling something from Ikea?

2.  Was there a favorite toy in your life that predicted your future?

Robert Parlante

Christmas 2017

Christmas Greeting

Christmas 2017

Finding Emmeline

Here's a sample of Rebecca McNutt's review of "Finding Emmeline" posted on Goodreads.com.

The adventures of Martin continue in this thrilling and captivating novel, and so far this is my absolute favourite of Robert Parlante's books, as it's definitely one of the most exciting and family/friendship oriented of them all. Always his companion in his work is Martin's wife, proving that love and companionship has no boundaries, and Finding Emmeline is also an excellent detective story with a mysterious premise. I loved this book...

Thanks Rebecca for your great review.

Robert Parlante

November 2017

Never Alone

A few years ago, a good friend honored me with a gift desktop bronze sculpture by Scott Stearman. It depicts a man holding a book and kneeling on one knee. Jesus is standing behind with both hands laying on the man’s shoulder. The artistic piece is titled “Never Alone.”

I have had the sculpture for at least fifteen years in our guest bedroom. Recently, I moved the piece to my desktop in the living room. Now I see “Never Alone” multiple times each day. It’s now a continuous reminder of my standing in Christ as a believer.

Ephesians 2:19-21 reminds us of that standing:

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (ESV)

Here’s a paraphrase (theodysseyonline.com)of those verses: Whenever you feel unloved, unimportant, or insecure, remember to whom you belong.

You are never alone when you place your trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Robert Parlante
November 2017

I Pledge Allegiance

Some years ago, a friend of ours lost her husband from dementia. He had spent years in a Veterans Administration nursing home. He had served in the military and was a feather-weight championship boxer. He was part of a diminishing group who fought hard, and even sacrificed, for our hard-earned freedoms.

I attended his memorial service, and it was one of the most touching I can recall. His grandchildren were all young adults who spoke eloquently about their relationship with their grandfather.

Particularly impressive was one of the grandkids who had moved back with his siblings into his grandparents’ home after the parents divorced. Now a young adult, he shared how his grandfather would have the young grandkids go out each morning for the raising of the American flag. They stood at attention as the flag moved up the pole, saluted and recited the pledge of allegiance. The experience had a lasting impression on the grandkids.

I respect people’s right to free speech protected under the U.S. Constitution. But every time I see our flag being disparaged, I recall this incident and the impact it had on my friend’s grandkids. It may feel old-fashioned or meaningless, especially when some flag protests feel legitimate.

Keep reminding yourself: Patriotism builds character, no matter how corny it may feel at times.

Robert Parlante

October 2017

Trading Lederhosen for a Kilt

Growing up, my parents always told me I was a “FBI” or full-blooded Italian. I’m a first-generation Italian-American on my father’s side and a second generation on my mother’s side. Both parents came from the same region in northern Italy, so both considered it was obvious I was 100% Italian heritage.

A recent television ad by ancestry.com got me thinking maybe there’s more to my genealogy story. Many readers have likely seen the ad where a male folk-dancer is wearing lederhosen Bavarian shorts, believing he was of German descent. After completing his DNA testing, he discovers he is predominantly Scottish and is now wearing a kilt, performing highland dances.

This got me thinking: What if I did my DNA testing and my genealogy turns out to be something drastically different? Will I have to trade my Italian lasagna for Greek spanakopita or Irish shepherd’s pie or French boeuf bourguignon?

For my birthday a few weeks ago, my family gave be a DNA testing kit. As much as I wanted to test, I started getting cold feet. What if I don’t like the results?

But ignoring the testing does not result in “better” DNA! I plunged ahead, spit into the vial (gross!) and sent it on its merry way.

The results are in. It turns out I am 80% Italian/Greek with the remaining 20% from different parts of west Europe. Was I disappointed? Not at all. While the results are interesting I concluded I was less interested in where I came from and what those before me went through. I am more interested in where I am going in the future because I can make choices, not so much about my DNA, but choices that leave something positive after I am gone.

For the record, my ethnicity region where my family roots are most present is predominately Umbria, Italy … land of Francis of Assisi and Perugia candies. That may be why I like dogs and Italian chocolate!

Robert Parlante
October 2017