Grandchildren

The last few days were spent in Nana glow in Winnipeg. There, surrounded by my three grandchildren and their parents love, I felt the contentment that we all long for. There is nothing like unconditional love to make a person feel like they have some value in this old world.



My eldest son, Mike, and his wife, Stacie, gave birth to their first son/third child. You can imagine how happy finally having a boy made Mike feel. Stacie, while happy as well was experiencing a few different emotions. This was her first boy baby. She does not have any brothers, and has no experience with boy parts. Mixed with her joy is fear of the unknown. Being an only child (with a few stepsisters who did not live nor grow up with her), she was not pushed nor pulled through a lot of new experiences by her siblings. This sharing of life experiences really does make us better prepared to handle new things.

Still, gratefully, Stacie's mom, Gayle, is still around to come to the rescue and help with the new boy baby transition. After my few days there, I could see and appreciate how much help she is being to Stacie and through that, to Mike.

All that was required of me was to spend time entertaining my eldest grandchild, Mya, who is my #1 Sweetie-pie. Being four hours away from Winnipeg, sometimes feels like forty hours away, when life and health does not allow me to visit as much as I would like.



One day, I was feeling a bit lonely so I called Stacie, just to chat. Mya answered the phone and immediately noticed that my voice sounded down. She decided to cheer me up. She got four books, put the phone on speaker, and sat and read stories to me for almost an hour. After each book, she would say, "this one will cheer you up, Nana." and be off on another story.

The last one she chose was The Cat In The Hat's Green Eggs and Ham. It was one that we always read together and had down to memory. Mya would say the query lines and I would say the responses--using the appropriate funny voices, of course. By the end of that story, we both had the giggles. Mya decided her job was finished and finally handed the phone to Stacie.

What a joy! My favorite sweetie-pie has a sense of intuitiveness where it comes to other's feelings. This and so many other things makes us kindred spirits. Even at the ripe old age of 5 years, she will give me a knowing glance when someone or something is not right, is hurting, or needs assistance. She pitches in with a cheery smile, expecting nothing in return.

Maybe I wasn't the world's best mom, but who was? Still, God has seen fit to allow me the privilege and joy of being around to share time with my grandchildren. More and more, I find that what I am most grateful for is His love, grace, and the many blessings He has placed in my life--foremost being my husband, my children, and now my grandchildren. None of this depends on whether or not I deserve this outpouring of love. He does not keep a ledger of what we have earned. He just pours it out upon us freely.

No matter what is going on in your life, my dear ones, He is pouring out many blessings as well. He loves you, unconditionally.

Be blessed,
Jude

Control issues

Aren’t children great? My children have taught me some of my most valued life lessons. For years, I was that kind of mom who would rather do things myself, than fight with the kids to get them done. At least conflict avoidance was what I thought I was practicing.

One year, I suffered several medical issues. That year, my children had to do things that I had usually done myself. A big one was making beds. I was raised that a bed had to be made a certain way—hospital corners, nice even hang on the sides, tight sheets. This strict format was not how the beds ended up after the children had made them.

I learned that the world would not stop turning if I was not in complete control of every little thing. In the face of the cancer issues, the fact that the covers on the bed were rum­pled and crooked—or the bed was not made at all—did not matter. God, through my chil­dren, had taught me a valuable lesson. There were much more important things than whether my house would pass military inspection. Oh, how He patiently frees me from my foolish pride.

Control issues are pride issues. We want to be able to stand back and pat ourselves on the back for the wonderful way we pulled it all together. However, if we are in 100% con­trol, what percentage of control is left to God? Relax dear ones. He loves you, even if your bed is not made.

What are you trying to control that should be left to God's perfect plan? Do you ever feel like you have gotten in His way? These are questions that I ask myself each time I do a personal inventory. You see, I am not completely fixed yet. God is still working on me.

And, my dear ones, He is still working on you, too. Hugs!

www.awriterstoolbox.com

Pain Relief

Another restless night with sleep broken by muscle cramps in my legs and arms; by morning, my body has finally found a comfortable position—just in time to get up. At times, I am sorely tempted to despair. I lie in bed, not wanting to move, because I know that the simple act of getting out of bed will cause increased discomfort. It usually takes a good hour before I can move without pain. By then, my meds have kicked in, and my muscles have limbered up a bit.

As I lie there, trying to will the night to come back, a voice pops into my head. The voice is that of a speaker who has faced and is facing a far more physical burden than I am.

“When I get to heaven I’m going to have a brand new body. I’m not going to walk with a limp; I’m not going to talk funny anymore; I’m going to walk and talk like Jesus. If you don’t like the way I am, hang in there. I’m still in the oven. God’s still in the kitchen. God’s still cooking on me; And when God gets finished cooking on me, God’s going to pull me out of the oven and God’s going to say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.”’

David Ring http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPQOzwaD_hk&NR=1 was born with Cerebral Palsy. He was raised in an environment of abuse, which lasted up until adulthood. He is one of the most inspiring speakers that I have ever heard.

His voice in my head reminds me that this body, which is so uncomfortable, is just a temporary dwelling place. With that reminder, I am once again, lifted beyond the present and moved to begin my day with the glorious hope of a better tomorrow encouraging me onward.

Remember, dear ones, this life and its toils are just fleeting in comparison with an everlasting promise of Heaven. When I focus on Him, I forget myself…pain and all.
What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see…What a day, what a day, that will be.

Pressing In

“I trust in your plan for my life, Lord; but please listen while I tell You what that is.”

How much do you really trust that God has a plan for your life? Do you truly believe that He is working it all out for your good?

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and eternal life.”

When we are busy telling God what the ‘plan’ is for our life, do we realize that we may be getting in God’s way? How can we possibly promise the same glorious outcome to our earthly, ignorant plans that God is promising?

It is your life. God has given you self will to make your own choices. However, knowing the weakness of the human condition, He has also provided us with an instructional guide in form of the Bible. He has furthermore provided us with personal instruction in the form of the Holy Spirit. Going one step further, He has given us the ultimate goal to strive for and a way to achieve it.

Pastor has spoken about pressing in. I have asked several Christians, of different faiths, from all around the world, what they would tell a new Christian “pressing in” meant. It surprised me to find that some had never heard that term, some did not know what it meant, and some decided to legalize the simple phrase into a very complicated discussion on religion.

How can we possibly be in step with God’s perfect plan for our lives if we do not know how to press in closer to His presence? Needless to say, my prayer list has gotten much longer with my research on the subject. For myself, though, I am going to seek Him fervently. I am going to press in so close that I may leave bruises on his ribs—such is my desire to be close to Him.

Press in, dear ones. If you are not clear on what that means, or how to accomplish it, talk to your Pastor.Remember, if you are wise enough to recognize what you do not know or understand, and intelegent enough to seek wisdom, the possibility for growth, knowledge, and understanding is greatly increased.

My challenge for this week is to purposely make time for Him. I will open my Bible and seek His company, His guidence, and His wisdom. I will press in to Him with all my might.