CNJ+ April 2026

PRECIOUS BE, THY ELDER FAMILY MEMBERS By Richard Mabey Jr.

When I was a little boy, under the age of five, we lived in Clifton. My dad and his brother, Edward, owned their own truck ing company, which was based in Paterson. Every Saturday morning, Mom, Dad, my sister Patti and I would visit the old Mabey Homestead in Lincoln Park. It was a very spe cial time, a magical era, enchanted years of joy, wonder, charm and at times the sorrow of the passing of an elderly fam ily member. I was a sensitive child. I was painfully shy. I re member, oh so well, how much I loved those visits to the old Mabey Home stead. My great grand mother, Dora Mabey, was a great influence upon my thinking and developing, as well as in helping me to understand what is re ally important in life.

ways look over me. I remember that I would instinctively know when Grandma Dora was coming to a close with her earnest prayer. For we both would shout “Amen” when Grand ma finished her prayer, with the words, “in Jesus’ name I pray.” I am immensely grate ful to all the veterans who gave of their time, their talents, and to those brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our great na tion. When I turned 18, I had intended to join the service. Even if I was going to college, to join the National Guard. But my childhood bout with Rheumatic Fever left me with a severe heart mur mur, from having a dam aged Mitral Valve. Now at 72, and fighting this horrible heart disease known as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, I find myself dreaming about Great Grandma Mabey, quit a lot. I believe Great Grandma Dora is one of my angels, preparing me for my journey Home to be with the Lord. If I may share these words with you, my friends. Love the ones that God has given unto you, in your family. For give, forgive, forgive and then forgive again the

Great Grandma had a set of Lincoln Logs, that legend had it had belonged to my dad. I remember sitting at the floor of the great big, enclosed front porch of the old Mabey Home stead, playing with those Lincoln Logs in my very early childhood. Great Grandma would be near me, rocking on her big rocking chair. Grandma Dora, as we all called her, would knit or crochet as she slowly rocked on her rocking chair. She would beautifully sing the old hymns to me.

Yours truly at three years old, sitting upon the outside side steps of the old Mabey Homestead.

wrongs that family members may have done unto you. Love your family with all your heart, mind and soul. Life is short. None of us have a guaran teed that we will see tomorrow’s morning sun. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has recently had two books pub lished. He currently hosts a YouTube Channel entitled, “Richard Mabey Pres ents.” Richard may be contacted at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

I was only about four years old at the time, but Grandma Dora would tell me about how her son, Earl, had been killed in action in France during World War I. I remember this, oh so very well, as if it were just yesterday. Grandma Dora would pray over me, as I played with my Lincoln Logs. She would pray that I would never have to go to war, ever. That God would al

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