I love to think about my grandma. She was a wonderful woman who laughed a lot. One of the visual things I loved about her was her hair…it was violet-colored or purple to be exact!
Back in the days when hair color was just evolving, those with gray hair didn’t have much choice about color except a rinse that kept their gray hair from turning yellow. So my Grandma used this purple rinse every so often that turned her hair a wonderful shade of violet. I loved it. Especially when she would wear a violet-colored dress to church and violet smelling cologne, it was a sight and smell to behold! What a memory!
Some of my friends are Grandmas and they are giving me lasting memories, too. One of them is not taking grandma-hood lying down. She wears bright, colorful clothes that are teal and pink. She runs in marathons, swims, exercises daily at a gym, water skis, and works 12-hour days as a nurse. She’s amazing! She’s expecting to retire next January and I don’t think she’s going to like it. She’ll either have to get a part-time job or stay on the treadmill for a longer amount of time just to get her energy out!
So how are your grandkids going to remember you? Are you taking them out for special lunches or picnics and playing silly games? Are you hiding their PJs in the freezer when they come to spend the night? Is there a silly voice you do only for them? Are you teaching them to play funny instruments like Boom Whackers? Those kinds of fun things stick in a kid’s head long after you’re gone.
The part I’m taking seriously in my grandmother-hood is making sure my grandkids know I love the Lord with all my heart and seek to serve Him daily. They see me reading my Bible at the kitchen table with my devotional book. We do devotions together at night before we go to sleep. They see another Bible by my bed that I read if I wake up in the night and can’t sleep, and they hear Christian music when they come to visit me. We turn off the TV sometimes and just talk. Now there’s a new idea! I don’t allow iPods or MP3 players turned on in the car so we can talk there, too or maybe even sing! It’s amazing how much scenery they miss and what conversation lapses with ear buds stuck in their heads.
You are their grandparent! God placed you in their lives for a specific purpose. Make it count for Christ and meet their needs! Have fun, be silly and one more thing…love their socks off!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The Worm Hunt
When I was young we used to go fishing almost every weekend in the summer. That meant that on Saturday night, after the sun went down and the ground grew cool we’d begin the worm hunt. Now we’re talkin’!
My oldest sister never took part in it. She was too girlie or something. She didn’t fish either. What’s up with that? Me, my middle sister, and my Dad would each get a flashlight and an empty tin can and wait on the porch for just the right time. Then we’d begin walking barefooted across the cool earth. It was best when it rained for a little while then got dark. The big fat worms came out then! Quick as a flash we’d shine our lights on the ground and grab the worm wiggling out of its hiding place! They didn’t like the light and didn’t come up in the warm summer days. They loved the cool, wet nights and so did we. The worst part was asking mom if we could store the worms in the refrigerator. Now there was a test of a mother’s patience!
I loved those worm hunts. It meant we weren’t in the hot house doing chores or just watching TV. We were exploring and hunting! I don’t know too many girls who do that. Anyway, we’d go fishin’ the next day with loads of big fat worms for all the perch to bite on. It was great! One time I remember catching 72 perch. What a haul!
These days, people, especially women, don’t fish much. They’re busy doing this and that, here and there, for whatever reason. I think if I brought up the fact that I love to fish in some of the circles I’m in I think people would drop dead. I don’t look like a fisherman. I look more like the grandma, mother, Bible study leader, working woman I am. That’s a shame. I’d like to look more like a fisherman some days.
Most of all I’d like to be doing it with my Dad. He’s 86 now and doesn’t go fishing at all. That’s a shame too. He used to love to fish with us girls. Now, his hands are all gnarled with arthritis. He can hardly hold a spoon much less a fishing pole. He often repeats things and longs for the olden days. I still love him with the passion I did as a little girl. Those times running around the yard with a flashlight and a tin can were precious to me because I did them with my Dad.
So what have you done with your Dad lately? Called him? Paid him a visit? Talked about old times? Gone fishin’? Time’s flying by. Do something with your Dad today. And if he’s no longer here tell your kids and grandkids about him. It will bring back the feel of the wet grass on a cool summer night like it was yesterday.
My oldest sister never took part in it. She was too girlie or something. She didn’t fish either. What’s up with that? Me, my middle sister, and my Dad would each get a flashlight and an empty tin can and wait on the porch for just the right time. Then we’d begin walking barefooted across the cool earth. It was best when it rained for a little while then got dark. The big fat worms came out then! Quick as a flash we’d shine our lights on the ground and grab the worm wiggling out of its hiding place! They didn’t like the light and didn’t come up in the warm summer days. They loved the cool, wet nights and so did we. The worst part was asking mom if we could store the worms in the refrigerator. Now there was a test of a mother’s patience!
I loved those worm hunts. It meant we weren’t in the hot house doing chores or just watching TV. We were exploring and hunting! I don’t know too many girls who do that. Anyway, we’d go fishin’ the next day with loads of big fat worms for all the perch to bite on. It was great! One time I remember catching 72 perch. What a haul!
These days, people, especially women, don’t fish much. They’re busy doing this and that, here and there, for whatever reason. I think if I brought up the fact that I love to fish in some of the circles I’m in I think people would drop dead. I don’t look like a fisherman. I look more like the grandma, mother, Bible study leader, working woman I am. That’s a shame. I’d like to look more like a fisherman some days.
Most of all I’d like to be doing it with my Dad. He’s 86 now and doesn’t go fishing at all. That’s a shame too. He used to love to fish with us girls. Now, his hands are all gnarled with arthritis. He can hardly hold a spoon much less a fishing pole. He often repeats things and longs for the olden days. I still love him with the passion I did as a little girl. Those times running around the yard with a flashlight and a tin can were precious to me because I did them with my Dad.
So what have you done with your Dad lately? Called him? Paid him a visit? Talked about old times? Gone fishin’? Time’s flying by. Do something with your Dad today. And if he’s no longer here tell your kids and grandkids about him. It will bring back the feel of the wet grass on a cool summer night like it was yesterday.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Just Smack Me!
Surely you’ve said this line before, “If I ever do that again, just smack me!” Right? Well, I have said it and I meant it. Good friends can help you not repeat bad behavior patterns, but you have to still love them after they smack you! However, if the shoe is on the other foot and someone you love is making mistakes, you wish you could correct them. Right? To pull them out of their selfish, high-minded, crazy lifestyle that is ruining their life. You just want to shake them or slap them into reality!
I’m not for violent reprimands—don’t get me wrong. This is just a figure of speech. But the reality of it is, people do dumb things that affect all those around them, but they can’t always see what they’re doing. No matter how you try to tell them they don’t see the pain they’re causing. It’s especially hard if these people are family members or (worse yet) believers in the body of Christ. Oh, there’s nothing worse than trying to make a church member see where their life is a mess. Believe me, I’ve tried. It’s only caused bad feelings and heartache. I mostly keep my mouth shut these days.
But what does Scripture say about helping a brother or sister in Christ? How do we help them see the wrong turns they’re making in life? Proverbs 10 and 12 have two verses that put God’s perspective on it all:
“He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray.” Proverbs 10:17
“Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.” Proverbs 12:1
These verses tell us that gaining instruction (from God’s Word) is what helps people stop making bad mistakes. It’s working on their personal relationship with God, reading His Word and listening to God’s directions for a life that pleases Him. It’s really up to them to make the corrective changes. There is nothing I can say that will change them until that relationship is restored, which tells me that the verbal smacking is not what they need at all. What I need to do is earnestly, faithfully pray for them to grow closer to the God who created them, loves them, and wants them to be successful in living their life. That’s my job, not giving a verbal retort.
So start praying today for those people you love who need to turn their lives around and not make crazy mistakes they’ll regret later. Oh, by the way, before you do, read Matthew 7:1-5.
I’m not for violent reprimands—don’t get me wrong. This is just a figure of speech. But the reality of it is, people do dumb things that affect all those around them, but they can’t always see what they’re doing. No matter how you try to tell them they don’t see the pain they’re causing. It’s especially hard if these people are family members or (worse yet) believers in the body of Christ. Oh, there’s nothing worse than trying to make a church member see where their life is a mess. Believe me, I’ve tried. It’s only caused bad feelings and heartache. I mostly keep my mouth shut these days.
But what does Scripture say about helping a brother or sister in Christ? How do we help them see the wrong turns they’re making in life? Proverbs 10 and 12 have two verses that put God’s perspective on it all:
“He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray.” Proverbs 10:17
“Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.” Proverbs 12:1
These verses tell us that gaining instruction (from God’s Word) is what helps people stop making bad mistakes. It’s working on their personal relationship with God, reading His Word and listening to God’s directions for a life that pleases Him. It’s really up to them to make the corrective changes. There is nothing I can say that will change them until that relationship is restored, which tells me that the verbal smacking is not what they need at all. What I need to do is earnestly, faithfully pray for them to grow closer to the God who created them, loves them, and wants them to be successful in living their life. That’s my job, not giving a verbal retort.
So start praying today for those people you love who need to turn their lives around and not make crazy mistakes they’ll regret later. Oh, by the way, before you do, read Matthew 7:1-5.
Monday, January 3, 2011
I give up!
Caught your attention didn’t I?
Here are some things I could give up:
Friends who fail me
Family members who disappoint me
Work that overwhelms me
However, these are not the things I choose to give up. I choose to keep the friends who fail me as a way to learn forgiveness and patience. I take disappointing family members as opportunities to show the kind of agape love God shows for me. And I tend to not give up on work because it actually energizes my creativity and sparks forward movement. No, I won’t be giving up on any of these things soon.
What I choose to give up:
That stinky negative attitude that creeps in when I’m weak
The unlovely part of my character that strikes out at unsuspecting subjects
Those feelings of failure that tend to bring me to the edge of “enough is enough”
Heavenly Father, I want to give up all those things that make me unlovely to you and to the ones I’m commanded to reach. I want my light to be brighter, my spirit to soar sweeter, my radiance to reflect your glory! I want all the things of my life that make me undesirable to drop like a weight that is unchained. I want You to be the governing factor of my entire life. The one who gives me purpose, strength, and courage to continue. I ask that you be those things for me today, Father!
So what do you need to give up?
Here are some things I could give up:
Friends who fail me
Family members who disappoint me
Work that overwhelms me
However, these are not the things I choose to give up. I choose to keep the friends who fail me as a way to learn forgiveness and patience. I take disappointing family members as opportunities to show the kind of agape love God shows for me. And I tend to not give up on work because it actually energizes my creativity and sparks forward movement. No, I won’t be giving up on any of these things soon.
What I choose to give up:
That stinky negative attitude that creeps in when I’m weak
The unlovely part of my character that strikes out at unsuspecting subjects
Those feelings of failure that tend to bring me to the edge of “enough is enough”
Heavenly Father, I want to give up all those things that make me unlovely to you and to the ones I’m commanded to reach. I want my light to be brighter, my spirit to soar sweeter, my radiance to reflect your glory! I want all the things of my life that make me undesirable to drop like a weight that is unchained. I want You to be the governing factor of my entire life. The one who gives me purpose, strength, and courage to continue. I ask that you be those things for me today, Father!
So what do you need to give up?
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