Category: family

Come Along

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 The Message (MSG)

3-5 All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. 

Men know what a come along is – it is a hand operated winch with a ratchet used to pull objects.  It lightens the load.

We women need a come along at times too.

Many come alongs

I knew but failed to do anything.

My friend shared in church her gratitude for prayers, cards, and phone calls during the recent loss of her brother. I said a prayer for her but failed to send a card or telephone.  Not even a text!  It is not like I am so busy – my grandson would say – “you are retired Nana!”

Why do we stay so busy that we don’t do the important? 

When my husband had shoulder surgery – he received many cards and phone calls from family and friends.  Facebook was a great source to notify many both near and far.

The day of surgery I texted family and all those I could think of to let them know surgery went well.  Many don’t like the group texts so I tried to text each individually.  Most responded back that day and the next day to see how he was doing. 

Great come alongs

But by the third day there were no calls, no texts.  I was exhausted from not sleeping well for three nights and weary from my home nurse duties – making sure the meds were taken on time, he was doing the exercises and preparing meals, along with my regular household chores.

It was Saturday morning and the phone rang.  Robyn asked “How is John?”  I told her and she assured me, “We are praying for him!”  A brief conversation – but it meant the world to me.  Someone does still care.  She was volunteering at a church ball game serving food – but she took the time to call and express her concern.

It doesn’t take a great deal of effort – just a few minutes to share in someone’s world. Lord please help me to be a Robyn – she also sent a card!

Two of my favorite come alongs.

Please join me in being an encourager – a come along.  A handwritten card is great – but if you are not able to do that, at least call, send a text or message someone on Facebook. I know how an unexpected call or text can be just what someone needs to lighten their load.

Alive and Grateful

I’m thankful the word of God speaks to our needs daily.

Because of health reasons my husband does not attend church with me some Sundays.  Friends will ask, “How is John?”  Being the honest person that I am – I say, “He is hurting, he didn’t sleep last night or not too good today.”  Wanting to be more positive and encouraging to their sincere concerns, I asked the Lord for something to say to encourage them and at the same time be honest. 

While reading one morning – I came across this verse. 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  (NIV) 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

There is my answer – “Alive and Grateful” his favorite saying. He has used that for years when asked how he is doing.  My friend Helen made this plaque to put on the mantle.

Here is the verse in The Message: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 The Message (MSG)

16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

Outward perishing – inward renewed day by day!

Hallelujah, he is alive and grateful!

Soul Special

This was a gift from my first daughter-in-law on Mother’s Day. A picture of my mother and poem reflecting how special she was. Yolanda had never met my mother – I’m sure our son Johnny shared with her about what a wonderful “Nana” my mother was to him.

 

Happy Mother’s Day to both my daughters-in-law. Thank you for loving our sons and the great job you have done in raising our grandchildren.

May 2019

 

 

 

Soul Special

This was a gift from my first daughter-in-law on Mother’s Day. A picture of my mother and poem reflecting how special she was. Yolanda had never met my mother – I’m sure our son Johnny shared with her about what a wonderful “Nana” my mother was to him.

 

Happy Mother’s Day to both my daughters-in-law. Thank you for loving our sons and the great job you have done in raising our grandchildren.

May 2019

 

 

 

What’s in a Name?

Greeting a young couple in church I spoke to their baby girl and she smiled.  I asked her name.  It was Cameron.  I could remember her name because my grandson has the same name.

Eli’s daughter-in-law named her son Ichabod.  Can you imagine naming your child Ichabod???

The ark of God was captured by the Philistines, her husband and father-in-law were dead, and she was dying from childbirth.  Ichabod meant “The glory of God has departed from Israel.”

My verse for 2018 was Psalms 115:1  “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your great love and faithfulness.”

This is how the Lord impressed me to select the verse.

Home at last – after two days in the hospital.  My husband was feeling good and recovering from back surgery.  After spending three weeks in a wheel chair – it was so wonderful to see him walking without pain.

We were thankful to be home just before a snow storm hit our area.

Then the power went out the next day.

No electricity means no water when you have a well.  Our son came over to start the generator (that hadn’t been used for several years).  He showed me how to start it and put gas in it.  This also involved deciphering which switch to turn off in the fuse box, so it did not pull too much power.

Finally finding the formula for water heater and running the water pump we offered neighbors a place to take a shower.  My grandson was in the shower when I was experimenting with the fuses and after he got lathered up good – I pulled the wrong switch and oops, no water. I quickly switched the water back on.

We were fortunate to have a gas cooktop and space heater to keep warm.  And plenty of oil lamps, candles and flashlights decorated my kitchen counter.

After almost a month caring for my husband who could not walk and then two days of many trips downstairs and outside to restart the generator, heating water to wash dishes, and may I remind you – my husband was recuperating from surgery and on pain meds.  He insisted he was going downstairs to work on the generator.

I was exhausted.

John’s back seemed to be swollen and bruised below the incision. John went to bed.  The generator quit.

I did not want to go outside again so decided to sit down to read.  I asked the Lord for a rhema – a specific word from him to encourage me. My strength was gone. I felt like Eli’s daughter-in-law – the glory of the Lord had departed.  But I was not delivering a baby!!

I read Proverbs 18:10 – “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe.”

The name of the Lord – when I think of the name of the Lord – it is Jesus – I claimed the name of the Lord – and I felt a surge of the Holy Spirit over me to confirm that He is in control and John was going to be ok.

Then my phone rang, and it was our son telling me that the power was on.

Wow, Lord, maybe if I had sought you this earnestly the power would have come on sooner!

I ran downstairs and turned the generator switch back to our electric company and called my neighbor to ask about turning switches back on.  Turned them all on and yes! power.  I had to run around the house turning off lights that were turned on during power failure.

That night John got up by himself for bathroom – next morning his back looked good.

We don’t have to worry about someone taking the ark of God from us.  He is always with us and willing to share his great love and faithfulness. When we run out of our strength – he takes over.

Let’s give him the glory for His great name!

Your Great Name: Natalie Grant

https://youtu.be/PasbQx0VilQ

Walk in Faith

What is the opposite of faith?  Most would say doubt or fear!

What do you fear?

 

walk
Walking in faith

If you are like me, you don’t really have any fears – you’re a stoic person.  You just trust God on the surface.  But subconsciously there is fear.  Fear of the future, fear of what if????  Fear of how well I handled that situation. Fear of that diagnosis.

Recently we planned a trip to Florida.  I was to drive, and the forecast was for heavy rain for the entire trip.  No problem, we could just go slow. In packing and planning for the trip – I experienced trouble breathing – anxiety – not sure why I was having trouble – realized subconsciously I was fearful of the trip – the rain, flooding.

For us boomers, our concern is if the retirement funds will be enough?  How long will I live?  Will I be able to take care of my spouse – or will he be able to care for me?  Who will take care of us?

Will our children take care of us like my husband took care of his parents?  Can I trust God in this situation?

I’m helpless like Elisha’s servant in II Kings 6:8-23.  The King of Aram was at war with Israel.  He sent his men by night to capture Elisha in Dothan.  (not Alabama) When Elisha’s servant got up early the next morning, he saw an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city.  “Oh, no, my lord! What shall we do?”

Elisha responded –  “Don’t be afraid those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Elisha prayed for the eyes of his servant to be opened.  The servant saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around.  Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.”  So, the Lord struck them with blindness and the army was defeated.

Am I just like Elisha’s servant who could not see the army of the Lord surrounding the camp?   – open my eyes Lord to see your ministering spirits working in my life, in my children’s lives, in my husband’s life – in my future Lord.  Help me to see and to trust you for all these situations.  Praise you Lord, your provision is enough.

Help me to:

Acknowledge the presence of God,

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

To claim the promises of God,

2 Cor. 1:20

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

To know the peace of God

Philippians 4:7 ]

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Then walk in the power of God.

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

One of my favorite songs regarding walking in faith is below by Greg Wilde.

 

 

Is it Ok to Argue with God?

IMG_06854 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

 

The nurse called, “Mitchell family.”  I jumped up from the hard bench I had been sleeping on and said, “Yes.”

She said coldly, “No!” and shook her head negatively.

That was the most deflating, agonizing word I’d ever heard. Just

“No,” not “I’m so sorry” or a tender look or compassionate hug.

Just “No.” And there was no one to turn to.

 

I knew Mother was gone.  My father was sleeping on the other side of the waiting room. It was my responsibility to wake him and inform him his wife did not survive the heart attack.

When my sister and her husband arrived my father said, “Let’s go into the chapel.  He asked me to say a prayer for us.

Why pray?

I wanted to argue with God.

He gave me a verse when I got on the plane that day.

Isaiah 26:3  (KJV)

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

My prayer was for mother to keep her mind on God, trust in Him and he would keep her in perfect peace.

I claimed that for my mother.  I was trusting that she would be healed.

I believed God would heal her.

I wanted to argue with God, I did not want to lead my family in prayer.  Pray for what?  She was gone.

Instead of arguing I had to trust. Trust that God would help us walk through this valley of the shadow of death, that he would be with us and comfort us.

Although my mother died thirty-three years ago, I can still feel the agonizing pain of loss.  The blur of visitation, funeral and the empty feeling at her graveside. Over the years, the loneliness of not being able to share joys and hurts with her is a walk through that valley.

Are you walking in the shadow of the valley of death?

It is ok to argue with God? Absolutely!

He wants us to be honest with him. His heart is to be with us and comfort. The rod and staff pictured in Psalm 23:4 are of the shepherd guiding and protecting his sheep.

You will never get over this – but you will get through it.

We can not fear because God is with us. He will guide and protect his sheep.

Death cannot separate us from the love of God.

IMG_0718

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

 

My Father is Perfect

My earthly father fell short of being perfect – maybe you can relate.  Possibly you don’t have good memories of sitting in your Dad’s lap, or feeling safe and secure.

My heavenly father is perfect.  He is my refuge and fortress, my protector, confidant, supporter, encourager. I can crawl into his lap and be comforted and strengthened. He’s a good, good father.

Psalm 18:30

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

He’s a good, good father.
https://youtu.be/6w_tXvrQhao

We can find that comfort and security we need by seeking the loving arms of our heavenly father and resting in him.

Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

 IMG_0375

Praise God, my husband has been a good father to our two sons.  As they saw modeled in their father, they are good fathers to their children.

father's day 2018_1

 

May their legacy continue to the next generations.

 

 

 

 

Her Hands

Proverbs 31:  30-31

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

jtsmom.collage

 

While the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord

The hands of a good woman are certainly to be adored.

 

Young hands once embraced her lover’s strong hands

as they joined in holy matrimony,

They embarked on an adventure

That built a lasting legacy and testimony.

 

Tender hands to hold the precious babies

Firm hands to administer discipline to the naughty

Loving hands to console the scraps and bruises

While always skilled hands, though never haughty.

 

Eager hands seeking God’s design for her life

Led to a life of devotion to her Savior,

The Holy Bible became her nourishment

And she desired more and more to gain His favor.

 

Strong hands contributed to the household funds

Working long hours in many different places

While sewing, serving or selecting fashion

She was a blessing to many special faces.

 

Vigorous hands displayed her devotion to her family

As unselfishly displayed in her desire to help whenever

Cleaning, folding, ironing or sewing clothes

Those diligent hands displayed a love to last forever.

 

Adventurous hands loved to play with the kids

Who says a grandmother can’t ride a trike?

She broke her wrist while roller skating

So it was much less dangerous to ride a bike!

 

Skillful hands designed many a quilt and afghan

All were grateful for the love contained in each stitch

And Praised the Lord for the loving hands

While we snuggled neath the softness without an itch.

 

Open hands always offered a hug

She wanted to make sure that everyone heard

Of her love and God’s, praying and trusting that

All would surrender and follow His word.

 

Fragile hands no longer able to cook and clean

Still wrote those letters and many a birthday greeting

She couldn’t remember if she had sent that card

Sometimes they received more than one reading.

 

Weak hands depended on her family for strength

Too frail to breathe without the oxygen tube in her nose

Coughing increased and eating was a struggle

She moved around the house with that clear hose.

 

Determined hands instructed her son to resist delaying her

Ready to reunite with her parents in Beulah Land

She used her last breath trying to help her husband

And in the arms of her oldest son she surrendered her hand.

 

Thank you Mom, Grandmother, MeeMaw for using those beautiful hands God gave you to bless each of us!

 

Another prompting to honor another mother.

This was written in 2009 for the birthday of my husband’s mother.  She enjoyed reading my one and only attempt at poetry!!    Again I was able to express in writing what I had difficulty telling her in person.

The last two paragraphs were added after she died in 2010.

 

Dear Mother

It was Mother’s Day 1985.  Relaxing that evening, after a pleasant day with  family, my thoughts turned to my mother in Georgia.  Living In Michigan I did not have the opportunity to see her as much as I would like.  So, I decided to write her a letter.

It has not always been easy for me to express my thoughts in person.

“Dear Mother,

Last night before I fell asleep I was thinking of “Mother’s Day” and how special my mother is to me.  I don’t know if I ever called you “mom” or maybe “ma-ma” at a very young age, but “mother” just the sound of it means – comfort – especially as a child only a mother can comfort when you’re ill or hurting – I’m far from being a child- but even yet when I’m sick I want mother to know and comfort.

Mother also means encourager and helper.  I remember how you helped me can peaches in Texas for a home economics project and helped me sew my first skirt.

You encouraged me to do my best.  Mother is also an example – how you endured hardships and made the best of the circumstances you found yourself in.  You devoted yourself to your husband when some would have given up.  You devoted yourself to us in so many unselfish ways.

I remember so many outfits you sewed for me – that blue shiny dress in Columbus, Georgia with lace collar (4th or 5th grade); a lavender sundress in Texas – the royal blue dress and jacket I wore in the Cobb County Pageant; and the prom jacket with pastel sequins (which I have kept for 20 years – never worn but just something you made – I hated to part with it.)

When I think of you I think of potato salad (no one can match – even though my sister Terry says she can!); dressing, banana pudding – I could go on and on – no one can beat my mother’s cooking.

Also – how you love your grandchildren only matches your love for us.

Just a few thoughts to let you know I love you Mother.

Love & prayers,
Pat

She wrote back a simple letter:

Dear Pat,

You’re a very special daughter, you brought tears to my eyes in the letter you wrote to me on Mother’s Day.  I appreciate all the good things you remember.  I don’t dwell on the bad things cause we all make mistakes and as we grow older we mellow and learn from our mistakes. 

I love you and have a special place for you in my heart.

Love, Mother

mom.collage
My mother; Easter in TN Mom, my brother and me; Mother with four grandchildren; and Mother’s Day with the first grandchild

Now, I realize God prompted me to write this letter to my mother that May.  A simple letter but so timely as three months later my mother died suddenly of a heart attack.  I’m so glad I wrote expressing my appreciation and love for her.

And it also gave me the opportunity to hear from her.  She did not express herself very freely in person either.  So, her letter is even more precious to me. My mother valued others above herself.  She rarely complained about her struggles and forgave easily.

If your mother is still alive, please consider writing or better yet, expressing to her in person your love and appreciation.

 

Philippians 2  (NIV)
Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.