August 20, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Wednesday, August 20.
Do you like to shop? Is shopping your life? Are you a “shopaholic?” Well, then you’ll be interested to know that during this week of August in 1872, something happened that would drastically change the world of shopping forever. (Drum Roll Please) Montgomery Ward sent out the first retail catalog! It was only one page and featured only 163 items, but it made an immediate impression on the buying public. Just five years later, the “Wish Book” had grown to 150 pages and boasted over 3,000 products. Americans could use the mail order catalog to purchase clothing, toys, tools, cars, musical instruments, even entire houses. And consumers were promised “satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.” Wards invented that slogan.
I have a 1902 Ward’s catalog in my library. Every once in a while, I’ll pull it off the shelf and thumb through it. It’s a piece of history. It’s an interesting curiosity. But, if I was to tear out the order page and mail it in, I wouldn’t expect to receive anything in return. Montgomery Ward discontinued its catalog 40 years ago, and closed its last store in 2001. Oh, I forgot to mention another item that was featured - right up front - in the Ward’s catalog... Bibles. Have you got one in your house? Of course you do, probably several copies, everybody does. But, unfortunately, many now view the Bible as just a piece of history, an interesting curiosity. And they don’t expect to receive anything from it.
The words of Psalm 119:18 are a prayer - “Open my eyes, Lord, that I may behold your wondrous Word.” God hasn’t closed down His business, and His Word is still relevant, still useful, still powerful.
Satisfaction guaranteed.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
