Lessons from Babes

This past week, I learned a lesson while hearing two of my granchildren argue. One said to the other,"Well,I am not your cousin any more!" This remark,like the sharp barb of an arrow hit its mark: the other cousin was hurt by those words.

Seeing this, I explained to them that family (cousins,siblings and parents) was something that one could not stop being. I told them through genetics they were stuck with each other. I explained we might refuse to speak to each other,refuse to see each other and claim that we have disowned each other; but in all reality, we could not change the fact that we are kin. The unshakable fact that we belonged to each other in ways that we could not ever belong to others.

Where else can one test their theories on independence and life, but in the safety of your family? Who else will tell you all of the creepy, crazy stuff about yourself and your personality,if not your siblings who waste no words using terms of "endearments" that no one else would dare say?

Where will you find a group of people who may make fun of you; but will not allow others to do the same? Or find your best cheerleaders and comforters when you need help?

My mother used to tell us when we were kids,"Your family is something that is a part of who you are." I have come to realize this is true. No matter where you go or who you go with, your family is a big part of who your are. You often make choices in life from the things you have learned within the confines of family. For some, there is bitterness that binds their life like chains while others, there is great peace and joy by forgiving and letting go . For some, they allow themselves to be held back and defeated while others walk in victory and move forward in life.

Those who travel in bitterness do not know the renewing love of God. They have not learned to allow Jesus to come into those places of bitterness and pull in up by the root. Yes, it is a painful process! Oh, but when it is done...there is a feeling over renewal and an open door to forgive others and even recieve forgiveness.

So no matter how crazy your family might be: they are the ones that God uses to shape you into a vessel that He can use for His Kingdom. I may be a vessel that has been smashed and worn;but I hold in me the true reason for life...JESUS

This Time of Year

This time of year brings many feels to me. It is a time to be thankful for the greatest Gift given to all mankind and on a very personal level to me.: That Gift is Jesus!

In Him, we are given HOPE and a LOVE that is so overwhelming and unconditional. Yes, unconditional, for even in our foolishness and rebellion, God loves us. Like an awesome Father, He extends MERCY and FORGIVENESS when we repent and turn away from our sins.

I also think of friends that have died this time of the year. Anne O'Leary, who taught me how to see God's hand in everything and to be thankful for your trials for they will pass. But during those trial you are in excellent company: Father,Son and Holy Spirit. i cherish the days we had in prayer for the pregnant women or for the women who wanted to have a child. It is something, I still pray about often. She had a heart for not only women but for people. Though confined to her bed by MS, she was a mighty warrior and took "the land" for the KIngdom of God. In her, I saw how great God's Love is and how deep HIs mercies are.

I think of my parents: they married on this day 54 years ago. Together they have raised eight children: all with strong wills and determined spirits. They some how managed to bind these eight into a family that truly loves each other and into people who would do anything and everything possible to help each other. We may not see each other for long periods of time; but when we do we pick up in our conversations like we just saw each other the day before and we delight when one does well or is blessed.

Gifts to me do not necessarily come under the tree or wrapped in bright paper and pretty ribbons. I have been blessed with the gifts of years and the fellowship of family and friends. I have been given five wonderful children and their spouses who in turn gave me "little possiblities" who will grow up to be might men and women of God.

These "gifts of possiblities" are the owners of Big Plans authored by a Big God who loves them so much. I cannot wait to see how they will influence their sphere and the world beyond for the KIngdom of God.

Prayer and David

Today at lunch, David began to sing a prayer song that he,Will and Dylan have learned at Mothers'Day Out.

With great joy in his heart, David began singing: "God, Our Father, God, Our Father, once 'a genny', once 'a genny", we bow I heads and thank you..."

I thought how sweet that he would sing with such happiness to the Lord for his lunch. For those who do not speak four year old: "a genny" is again.

He reminded me that we should seek the kingdom of God as a child filled with expectations that it was going to be good and have a heart that is grateful for all that we have been given from the hand of God.

I will praise You more and more

Psalm 71:14: "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more"

Often I need to remind myself not to allow the events of the day or situations to overcome me. One of the things that I have been blessed with is a great imagination. I have learned that this gift can be used for good to entertain my grandchildren or for bad when I give in to fears and imagine the worse cases in a situation.

Thankfully, I have been blessed with a husband who reminds me that God is not the author of fear. I then begin to ask myself if the situation is hopeless. Of course, the answer to this question is no. I may not be able do anything about it;but I know One who can. The next question is who or what needs to change: answer is usually me and my attitude.

As a parent, I often thought what do I need to do to help one of my children. So I jumped right in trying to make them conform to what I think should happen or just fix their problem for them because I could not bear to see them suffer. I repeated this action over and over through out the years at various times with different children. And when they continued to repeat behaviors that created the situations, I would cry and ask God what do I need to do.

Because I was too busy handling the situation instead of hearing the answer to the prayer: I missed what He was trying to say to me. When I finally reached my end, I heard clearly: "You need to have hope and trust that I will do what is needed. You need to believe that I can meet your children on whatever road they have chosen to walk."

Again, I was in the way trying to fix what I had no business trying to fix. We repeated the same situations over and over because I thought I had to change things. I did have to change something;but it was me and my attitude. I had to trust that if that child suffered,God would bring healing to them and He would keep them .

Well, that child did suffer and it was painful to watch. But in the midst of that suffering God was there and He did bring healing and new life to them. Today that child has a growing relationship with Jesus and is stronger everyday. I confess too, that I always have hope and I do get to praise God more and more because of the lesson He taught me....when to let go and step out of His way.

For a parent this is one of the hardest things to do...This God understands because He let go of His Only Son so that we might have HOPE

A Heart At Peace

Proverb 14:30 a: "A heart at peace gives life to the body."

The nights here are beyond beautiful. To look at the night sky and see a myriad of stars sparkling in all their glory. There is a new appreciation for the handiwork of God.

There is a comfort in knowing that the universe is so much bigger than any problem or hassle that may have incompassed your day. There is a gratefulness that over takes you: just know that the Creator of this Universe and beyond takes the time to be mindful of you and those you hold dear.

There is an overwhelming peace that wraps itself around you and brings a certainty to your thoughts. These nights remind me that for millions of years God has been a constant and never changing. The people may change,the earth's surface may change and how we mortals look at the heavens may change: but God is constant.

In this consistentcy, I find my heart is at peace. In this peace,I find life not only to my body; but the body I call family and to the my brothers and sisters travelling this journey with me. Turmoil may be all around and life may be anything but perfect,but my heart is at peace. For the peace that my heart feels does not come from anything I do: it is a free gift from God

God Has A Plan

Jeremiah 29 tells us that God has a plan for us. It also says that He knows that the plan is for us to prosper and not to bring harm. In other words: It's Good!

A plan that has been authored by the Creator for the Creation. A plan as unique as you are. A plan chartered according to God's promise for your life. As I tell my grandchildren,"God knew you while you were in your mother's womb. He knew then who you were as He knitted you wonderfully together."

In the "knitting", God gave each talents and giftings that would be used through out their lifes, As a part of a "Tribe", they each have something so uniquely theirs that when they are together: they create a strong unbreakable bond called family.

God does not tell us the whole plan at once;but reveals pieces of the plan as we journey on. There is a comfort in knowing God has a plan because you do not have to fear the moments of uncertainty. You see,God is always aware of HIs creation and will meet them on whatever road they are travelling: there He will help and guide you toward HOME

All things begin and end in God. The plan covers that time in between. For it is in Him, we live and move and have our being: without Him and the vision His plan gives to us....we would perish

Love and forgiveness

I am always telling my husband that it was a shame that I had to go through parenthood before I could become a Granny. But now, I realize, I was given a gift from God in my five children.

I was 35 years old when I married. I had never been married and had thought that I was to remain single through out my life. I was certain that God was leading me to a life on the mission field and I had found contentment.

In the summer of 1988, I met a man (widower) and his five children. I promised to pray for him and his family. Not long after this meeting, I became their Nanny and in the Spring of 1990, I became wife and mother to this clan.

It was not all hearts and roses...there was a thorne or two along the way: but there was always love and forgiveness between us. I love my children as if I carried them within my womb and gave birth to them. I appreciate the women who did this unselfishly so that I might have the honor of watching them become men and women with families of their own.

I realize also that even though I had not given birth to them physcially: I did so spiritually. The times that I prayed for them and the hope of them even before I knew of them. God gave me a gift of five individuals with talents and gifts that vary from one end of the scale to the other. From these determined souls, I learned much more about life than I would have if I had never been blessed with them.

I confess, God and I got a whole lot closer because of them and my life is so full simply because God had a plan!