Monday Morning Memo: I Will Choose To Trust

What a crazy, fun time we had last week with our daughter being home from North Carolina and our other daughter and her two sons, ages four months and two years, also staying with us.  Our home looked like a bomb went off most of the time and I was exhausted at the end of each day…but I wouldn’t trade the moments and memories for anything.

So getting ready for church yesterday morning was difficult because I knew our time together was coming to an end.  Erica left to drive back home (in the fog…which didn’t help!) and Megan and the boys were leaving after we left for church.  When I went to give Elias, the two year old, a hug and a kiss before we walked out the door, he melted into tears.  That of course made this grandma start crying and I had to leave the room to get myself composed.  They only live 35 miles from us and I’m sure we will see them soon, but I still hate to say goodbye…especially when Elias has crocodile tears streaming down his face.

I was feeling pretty down as we drove to church and thoughts of the morning were definitely affecting my mood.  That led to thinking about some of my prayer concerns that aren’t being answered in my time.  I often think that I know better when and how things should happen and it is easy to become discouraged and frustrated when I don’t see God answering the way I think He should in the timeline that I think He should follow.  

Then a phrase started going through my mind.  I may have shared with you before something my niece used to recite to us when she was young.  Her mom had taught her to say, “I will choose to be happy today…when storm clouds come my way…I will choose to be happy today.”  What a wonderful thing to instill in a young child’s mind.

Of course as adults, we realize that we aren’t always going to be happy.  The reason is that our happiness is often dependent on our happenings…and what is going on around us isn’t always fun and games.  Life can be brutal as many face serious health conditions, marital problems, financial concerns and wayward children all in a world that seems to becoming unhinged.

We can choose though to have joy even when we are not feeling happy.   We read in Psalm 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving”.   I think the key words in this verse are “I trust him”.  When we trust the Lord completely…with everything in our life…it IS possible to choose joy even in times of distress.

We arrived at church and wouldn’t you know it; our pastor’s sermon title was “Timely Therapy for Troubled Thoughts”.  Yes, our God has a sense of humor.  I knew when I saw the outline that God was going to be speaking directly to me during the service and of course He did.  I would highly recommend that you check out this sermon at http://hopemissionarychurch.podbean.com.

So I think I will revise my niece’s saying somewhat and recite these words when I feel myself being dragged down, “I will choose to trust Him today…when storm clouds come my way…I will choose to trust Him today.”  This should be a reminder to me that it is my choice whether I will trust God with everything so that my heart will be filled with joy. 

Once I choose to trust…the joy will come…and I will want to burst out in songs of thanksgiving!  I’m guessing that will make me a much more pleasant person to be around and will help me reflect His image just a little more to those with whom I come in contact.

 “I pray that God, the source of hope,

will fill you completely with joy and peace

because you trust in him.

Then you will overflow with confident hope

 through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

Monday Morning Memo: Seeing Jesus

I am thrilled to share with you that Emma Christine Fulton made her appearance last Friday at 4:51 pm.  She weighed 6 lbs 10 oz and was 21” long.  She is absolutely gorgeous and perfect in every way and it only took me a nanosecond to fall completely in love with our little princess!

We have now tripled the number of grandchildren this year, which is just fine with me.  They sure bring light to a very dark world and hope at a time when things can seem hopeless.

Emma’s arrival has me feeling very sentimental and emotional.  I feel so blessed to be a part of these young lives and also feel a huge responsibility to be the right type of grandma.  I don’t want to be a grandma who just gives them anything they want and spoils them rotten.  Along with all the fun…I want to have a part in turning their eyes towards Jesus…showing them that there isn’t anything more important than having a relationship with my Savior.

So I feel impressed to write to these grandchildren of mine and I invite you to read along.  Some of you have been a grandparent for much longer than I have, so please feel free to share your wisdom with me.  We are all in this together…and I’m sure you also want to impact the lives of your treasured grandchildren.

Dear Elias, Ezekiel and Emma,

I was told for many years that being a grandma was something wonderful, and even though I knew that was probably true, there was no way that I could really understand until I became one.  As each of you entered the world, my heart just expanded to hold more love than I ever imagined was possible.  As I looked into your eyes, I vowed to do all I could do to be the grandma that Jesus wants me to be.

I want each of you to know that I will always have time for you.  Remember that grandma loves you more than you will ever know, and spending time with you is a blessing. I want to have fun with you, explore with you and laugh with you.   I want to listen to your funny stories and play make-believe.  I want to hold you, read to you and kiss your boo-boos.  And there will be times when I will just want to “be” with you…without having to do anything at all.

I will not be successful as a grandma though, if all you remember about me is that I was someone with whom you had fun.  More importantly, I want you to be able to remember me as a grandma who loved her Jesus with all her heart.  When you are with me, I want you to see Jesus.  When I talk with you, I want you to hear words from Jesus.  When we explore this great big world together…I want you to find Jesus.  When I hold you close to me…I want you to feel Jesus in a special way.

There is nothing more in this world that I want for you, than to love my Jesus with all your heart.  He will never leave you or disappoint you.  He gave everything so that you can walk with Him with every step…every day…and someday spend eternity with Him.  

Unfortunately, I’m not going to be a perfect grandma, but I hope my love for you will outshine my imperfections.   My prayer is that as we do life together, each of us will learn and grow from each other, and be better Christ-followers as a result of our relationship.

Elias, Ezekiel and Emma…there is a song that you will probably tire from hearing me sing to you…but it sums up what your presence means to me.  I love you so much and you are definitely my sunshine and you make me happy when skies are gray.  So as you roll your eyes when I sing to you once again…just remember that my heart is so full of love for you that I can’t help but let you know.  Thank you for making me a grandma…you are truly a blessing to me.

Love & Lots of Kisses,

Grandma

“But watch out! Be careful never to forget 

what you yourself have seen.

Do not let these memories escape from your mind 

as long as you live!

And be sure to pass them on to your 

children and grandchildren.”

Deuteronomy 4:9

Monday Morning Memo: Hand in Hand

I shared with you last week that we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of our granddaughter.  Well…we are still waiting!  She is taking her time entering this world and so we are learning another lesson in patience J

I love being a grandma.  People told me that it would be wonderful but I couldn’t completely grasp how great it would be until I held our first grandson.  He totally stole my heart and then his brother did the same thing less than two years later.  So I am confident that when Emma decides to make her appearance…she will also make this grandma’s heart swell and I will be totally and completely in love once again!

One of the things that makes my heart melt is when Elias, our oldest grandson, takes my hand when we are walking together.  It’s a very simple gesture…but I feel emotional every time he does it.  There is something about having his small hand in mine that makes me feel so blessed that I am able to have a part in his life.  I don’t take that opportunity lightly and I want to spend as much time with him as I can, building a relationship that will last a lifetime.

The practical positive of being hand in hand with him is that I am assured he is by my side.  As with most two year olds, his legs want to often take him where he shouldn’t go…so if I have his hand I have more control as to his path.  Even though he may not always think that is a good thing…I know it is in his best interest to stay by my side.

I was thinking about this recently when I was reading in Amos 3:3.  It asks the question, “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?”  I like the way this verse is worded in the version The Message, “Do two people walk hand in hand if they aren’t going to the same place?”  Of course this is a rhetorical question that is easy to answer.  There is no way two people can walk hand in hand and go in two different directions.  It’s just not possible. 

This is so applicable to our walk with Christ.  If we are going to go on the path that He has planned for us, we must be willing to walk with Him; hand in hand.  When we let go and think we can walk on our own…is usually when problems begin to arise and we start to lose our way.  We need to realize that even when we don’t feel like walking with Him, it is imperative that we do it anyway, because it is always in our best interest to stay by His side.

I just can’t help but believe that Christ also gets emotional when we want to take His hand and walk with Him.  He loves us so much and wants to continually work on our relationship that will last beyond our lifetime. I know how much I love my children and grandchildren…but that doesn’t even hold a candle to the love that my heavenly Father has for me.  I don’t know about you…but that thought gives me chills, makes me feel so blessed, and makes me never want to let go of His hand.

 “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,

    and this is what he requires of you:

to do what is right, to love mercy,

    and to walk humbly with your God.”

Micah 6:8