What do a bonsai tree, moisturizing exfoliator made with salt from the Dead Sea, a photo of the St. Louis Cathedral on a foggy night and a praline have in common? (I was going to add candied pecans and honey mustard salsa, but I thought the list was already too long.) Give up? All were items purchased by my daughter, Victoria, during a recent craft show at Oak Alley Plantation.

Way too soon after our arrival, we were loaded down with merchandise the craft vendors were anxious to part with. My mom, sister Ann, daughter Lauren and granddaughter Adeline were with us, and Adeline’s stroller quickly doubled as a shopping cart. Nevertheless, I somehow got stuck with, and by, the bonsai tree. Those little leaves are sharp! But we kept walking.

Turning the corner, we found a booth filled with wooden signs, yet Victoria and I were drawn to the same one. “Do not complain about what you permit.” We talked about it briefly, walked on, and now, days later, those words replay in my mind.

I’ve thought about how the simple message applies to raising children, choosing friends, workplace situations, and as I headed out to vote early, I realized it even applies to choices we make at the polls.

Yes, I vote. As soon as I was of age, I have exercised my civic responsibility to choose the candidate I felt was best for the job. I thought everyone did. I recently researched the topic a little and was surprised to read that 1 in 5 self-professed Christians are not registered to vote, and of those registered, only 60 percent voted. I wonder if anything would be different if all Christians participated in the voting process. Would abortion still be legal? Would the ban on prayer in schools continue?

If you haven’t seen the movie, “Monumental,” presented and produced by Kirk Cameron, you can borrow my copy. It traces America’s beginning and reveals the true “national treasure” that made our country great.

 There are many who would like to forget our Godly foundation, and remove the name and principles of God from the public arena. Voting for candidates most likely to preserve the freedoms not afforded in other countries is one small act, which when united with others of like mind, significantly affects our future, and Adeline’s.

And speaking of Adeline, thanks to yet another craft show purchase, we will be able to record her height with a pink princess growth chart. Even though she isn’t born yet, I bought one for my granddaughter, Olivia. More than 5 feet tall, those charts proved to be more awkward to carry than the bonsai tree. I guess the motto, “Do not complain about what you permit,” applies to craft show purchases, too.

Ronny may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.