Sheltering: A Mawmaw's Way

What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies. ~Rudolph Giuliani

When Melanie asked me to care for Morgan during their trip to Africa, I was delighted.  I knew how much fun we could have in ten days.  And we are having fun!

Yesterday we went to JoAnn’s and picked out material for a skirt and nightie.  Oh my, so many choices.  Once she decided, she didn't change her mind.  Pink with aqua tea cups for the nightie and pink with ladybugs for the skirt.  When I finished the nightie this morning, her face was priceless -- all girly and joyful.

As grandmothers and grandfathers, we have a wonderful opportunity to leave a heritage for our grandchildren.  I love how I can be hemming a nightie while having a conversation with Morgan about things that please Jesus.  

Here are some principles to follow as we shelter our grandchildren:

1.  Follow Mom and Dad's rules.  I know, it's hard.  Grandmas give in much easier with grandchildren than with their own children.  If Mom says one glass of chocolate milk, don't offer two.  If bedtime is at 8:00, put them to bed at 8:00.  

Grandloving

2.  Respect the "other grandma."  I've seen too many families where the grandmothers are in competition.  Don't put your grandchildren in a place where a child has to choose one over another.  I'm privileged because my grandchildren have a lovely "Nana." But even with "not-so-lovely" grandparents, one could model disrespect if making fun or saying unkind things.

3.  Pray for your grandchildren.  One of the hardest things for me in losing my grandparents was that I knew Grandpa and Grandma Cessna prayed for me every day.  When an opening comes to talk about God, walk into it.  This morning we were talking about Shawn and Melanie being in Africa.  Morgan said, "They are working for God."  An opportunity.  When we take the opportunity to talk with them about spiritual things at Morgan's age, then they will feel free to talk to you about them when they are teenagers.  RB's mother lived with us during her last year of life.  Emily always slept with her.  Some of her favorite memories are of Grandma quoting Scripture as they went to sleep.

4.  Make time for your grandchildren.  My parents shine at this.  My girls couldn't wait until Granddad came because he read books to them.  My mother colored and had tea parties.  My father picked Emily up from school during visits to our house.  It was a treat for Emily.  The last time they were with us was in November; she lamented that she was in college now, and Granddad couldn't pick her up.

5.  Keep in touch.  If you don't live near your grandchildren, you can still influence them.  Kids love to get mail. My Grandma sent me a monkey postcard every time she went to Florida. Teenagers love mail, too, but their mail is more like a text on their phone.  A friend of ours lost his son.  In order for Grandpa (living several hundred miles away) to be a presence in their grandchildren's lives, he learned to text. Keep up with technology -- meet them where they are.

6.  Teach a skill.  My mother took Melanie with her to china painting class.  Another time she took her to a lake where they set up watercolors and painted.  We may not be an artist like my mother, as I’m keenly reminded when recalling how Ethan asked me once to draw a horse.  I asked him what I drew and he said, "I don't know, but it's not a horse."  Woodworking, needlework, cooking...whatever you like to do, they'll love to do it with you.

When I look into the eyes of my four grandchildren, I want to do my part in giving them a desire to live for God -- the God of my grandparents.  Loving them is easy.  I've felt the warmth of little arms around my neck this week and heard the whispered words, "I wike you, Mawmaw."  This Mawmaw heart 
is full of joy and oh, so blessed.

Linked to:
Thought Provoking Thursday
Thankful Thursday
Brag on God Friday

Shelter Preparedness

It's better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.  

~Jackie Kersee

Our home was a flurry of activity last night.  Suitcases were packed, snacks tucked in, 17 hours worth of  student papers downloaded on the computer.  Those of you who know RB "in real life" knows that there wasn't a detail left undone -- even preparing every paper I will ever need in a notebook for me.

This morning, passport in hand, RB left for Africa, leaving me...

happy for him
sad for me
thoughtful and a bit teary
the longest separation in 36 years
first time I can't say goodnight
determined to be joyous
counting the days until next Sunday



In the way that life sometimes spins a strange happening, on Sunday Shawn and Melanie are leaving for Africa, too.  While RB's trip is a business trip, Shawn and Melanie will be in Africa for a mission trip.  The best part is that a certain sparkly eyed, curly haired, expressive 3-year-old will be spending the week with me.  She will make my week go so much faster.  We have big plans of playing house,   sipping tea with Pinkalicious and teaching same 3-yr-old to sew.




Melanie, like her dad, is a detail person and has everything organized for home and the trip.  I thought you'd enjoy seeing how she's sheltering her children -- even though she's 17 hours away.  She wrote notes I can place in the play mailbox for Morgan.  Plus she wrapped packages for Morgan to open while she's away.  Morgan will know Melanie loves her every day.
Sometimes shelter is spur-of-the-moment; other times it takes careful planning.  One thing I've determined this year is to be more organized in my sheltering.   Jesus is always my example -- You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted, you 
encourage them and listen to 
their cry (Psalm 10:17).


I can't wait to see who God wants me to shelter this week.  How about you?

 Linked to:

Spiritual Sundays

Soli Deo Gloria

Playdates with God

Inspire Me Monday

Winsome  Wednesday

Thorn Bush Sheltering

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.

 ~Albert Schweitzer

RB called, "Meijer has blackberries for fifty cents a half pint.  Do you need any?"  Two batches of blackberry jam later, I had 19 jars of deep black-purple beauty on my kitchen counter -- sweet-tart, filled with bits of berry -- taste bud frosting on toast.

Of course, I took the easy way.  Store to home to jam.  I wasn't a part of growing or picking. I keep saying every year I'm going to plant berry bushes, but haven't. And I certainly didn't mind not getting scratched while picking those beauties.

In life, it's not that simple.  We can't just decide we want to shelter the easy people -- the people who have had their thorns sanded off.  Many times those thorny people have become prickly by having their dreams dropped, hopes bent and plans kinked.  One disappointment after another has left them frustrated with life.

A long-hoped-for event falls through.
A relationship ends.
The promotion goes to another.
An investment fails.

It makes them prickly.  Just like those who came to Jesus.

A paralytic hoped of walking, all but hidden under his mat.
Matthew, tired of taxpayers' anger when he was just doing his job.
A desperate man, haunted by demons, tired of the day-to-day struggle of living.
A father, heart twisted and pained by the death of his daughter.

These, too, had their thorns.  Yet Jesus overlooked the thorns and was filled with compassion (Matthew 9:36).

Can I overlook the thorns?  I so want my heart to be filled with compassion.  Compassion without excuses.  No, I would but... No secret thoughts of really, her, Lord? No careless I will -- later.

Henri Nouwen said, “Let us not underestimate how hard it is to be compassionate. Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to places where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken."

It can be hard. We may not want to shelter "the hard ones." But let's follow Jesus, entering into the disappointments of others. Maybe all it takes is a jar of jam and a loaf of homemade bread (wrapped with compassion) to make them feel the shade from your sheltering tree.

Who will you shelter this week?

 

Singing from the Sheltering Tree

Good cheer is something more than faith in the future, it is gratitude for the past and joy in the present. ~unknown

I love cardinals.  The brilliant red flash we see as the male flies from bird feeder to tree.  Yes, hands down, it is the male cardinal that is beautiful but wait, the female is pretty amazing, too. Yes, female cardinals dress up in dull olive or brown colors, even the red on their wings is subdued.  But, unlike most northern songbirds, this female sings!

"Cheer, Cheer, Cheer" is one of the song patterns this girl Cardinal sings. Don't you think that's one of the best songs to sing -- one of cheer?  God's Word encourages us to "Be of good cheer."

As I listened to Emily sing praise songs while preparing for her classes this morning my heart was cheered. It made me think about how important music is in the life of a family.

In my childhood memories I hear "Jesus, Lover of my Soul" sung by my pastor and his wife.  I hear my sister's voice singing "Where He leads Me I Will Follow."  I hear 17-year-old RB playing "Stepping in the Light" on the organ (both hands and both feet). I hear the choir RB led and the quartet he sang with.  All through my life, music has been with me.  I hear the Sankeys sing "We'll Be There" for Sarah's dedication and their children sing "Oh Rejoice in the Lord" for her funeral.

I see our friend and pastor singing with RB and his sister, Marsha, around the bed as my mother-in-law entered Heaven. There's 9-year-old Melanie singing for Emily's dedication and at eighteen singing, "It's a Love Letter From Me to You," to Shawn -- the song Janene wrote just for them.  Emily singing for school competitions, and with RB and Melanie down through the years.  My grandchildren singing at church...it seems like every special memory I have is crowned with music.

Music doesn't just bring cheer; it comforts, rejoices and brings us ever closer to the God who created the  stars -- the same stars that sang together (Job 38:7).  It is rising crescendo blended together with clanging cymbals and the soulful crooning of a saxophone. It's the formal oratorio, sung in Latin, and the exuberance of tiny voices singing "Jesus Loves Me."

It's the lullaby sung by Mary to the Christ Child and the coronation of "O Worship the King." It's John Newton's "Amazing Grace" and Laura Story's "The Blessing."  This cheer is a choir accompanied by an orchestra and the A Capella Sunday morning worship voices lifted in praise to God.

It's God-given, this music we are speaking of.  Oh, the allegro, cadence, falsetto -- they are man-made words, but music is anything but man-made. It's God breathed. It's angels singing to announce Christ's birth and our voices joining in musical praise when Christ comes the second time.

So the next time you see a flash of red sitting on your bird feeder or the "cheer, cheer, cheer" of the Lady Cardinal calling to her mate, spread a little cheer.  It's as simple as singing praises to God.  Not only will God find joy in the praise, but those who live with you will be blessed, too.

* * * * *

Winter blahs settle in January.  Gifting shut-ins and young mothers with a cheer project is a perfect way to shelter. Writing the teacher resource materials for Sociology doesn't leave much time for crafting.  However, I did find a few projects for you to use in spreading cheer. We often think of cardinals as a Christmas, but with a few tweaks the projects can become winter gifts.

 Esther's Cardinal Card

Hello, My Sweet's Winter Cake

Think cupcake:  Packaging by Lisa Storm

 Martha Stewart's Winter Log

Children will love this treat-filled log.  Trade the sparrow for a cardinal.

Linked to 

Spiritual Sundays

Soli Deo Gloria

Liturgical Times

Playdates with God

Emily Diane, Christ's Delight

A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she never outgrows your heart.                                                                   ~Unknown



January 8th is a special day for RB and me.  It was the day a big 8-pound, dark-haired baby girl stole our hearts.  So perfect, so loved -- not only by us, but by her 9-year-old big sister.  And now 19 years later, she's perfect to us and still so loved.

Like Hannah, we presented our Emily at the temple, offering her to God.  And in the dedicating my heart sang with Samuel's mother, "My heart rejoices in the Lord."  I'm still singing.   I don't know all God is planning for Emily's life, but she's in the care of our Heavenly Father and that's the best place I can leave her.

There she is, Miss Emily...

There she is, Christ's delight... 

She  walks with determination to live, not for self, but with joy for her Heavenly Father,

Choosing each day to walk in obedience.

There she is, Miss Emily... 

There she is, Christ's delight...

She glows, not only in physical beauty, but from within by the Light of the World,

Until Christ, not Emily, is praised 

There she is, Miss Emily...

There she is, Christ's delight...

She steps into her 19th year full of anticipation, full of the God she loves,

Preparing, yet waiting, secure in God's plan.

* * * * *

Birthday Twins
Scroll down to hear Ethan play the piano

My oldest daughter, Melanie, also birthed a child on January 8th.  Emily thinks Ethan was the best birthday present ever!  Melanie has begun creating books for each of her children, recording special activities, cute things they say and achievements.  I wish I would have started that with my daughters.  Here are a few things I would have written in Emily's book. 

I would love to purchase this
Mother's Jounal for my daughters.

1.  Daddy was playing the organ for a funeral while I sat in Grandma Sankey's office at the hospital, waiting to check in.  Grandpa Sankey finally insisted that he finish the postlude quickly -- and head to the hospital.  

2.  I found you having your devotions just like Melanie -- only your Bible was upside down.

3.  We lost you once.  Daddy walked to church first to play the organ.  I went a bit later, thinking you had gone with him.  After a church-wide/parsonage-wide/school-wide search, we found you -- curled up in Melanie's bed fast asleep.

4.  When Daddy called Grandpa for his birthday, he had a big surprise to tell him -- a new baby was on the way.  Grandpa Kuhn said, "I knew it -- I've been praying about that."

5.  You would never play the "I love you best" game.  You'd say you loved Daddy-o, Momma and Sissy the best. When Grandma and Granddad Cessna were visiting you always included them, too.

6.  You and Grandma Kuhn had a special bond.  You were born right after Grandpa Kuhn died and you were a comfort to her.  

7.  You always loved to shelter.  Sweet notes and verbal encouragement were your trademark.

Linked to:

Spiritual Sundays

Play Dates with God

Liturgical Times

Soli Deo Gloria 

My 2012 Word

Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing. 

~Redd Foxx

First of all, I hope you do not take this post as complaining.  It’s simply and sincerely meant as an explanation of where I’m coming from in choosing my 2012 word: Healthy. I feel God’s blessing on my chosen word–and have sensed an urging for a couple months.

 

Healthy.  This may seem like an unusual word to claim for the year, but my health keeps me from ministry activities.  There are times when I force myself to do what is asked, then spend the next three days dealing with the extra pain it caused.

Healthy—what does that mean?  I’ve been exploring what all it entails ever since God presented it to me.  It’s not a word that I’d think would describe me.  Migraines, diabetes, fibromyalgia, hypertension, and continuous muscle pain would put me in the unhealthy group.

I’m not talking about dieting, increasing therapy, or exercising to lose weight (but I wouldn’t mind losing).  It’s researching the best foods for my health issues then using that information to eat healthier.  It’s drinking a full glass of water when taking pills, working toward kidney health.  It’s getting enough sleep so my body is rested.  It’s exercising through the pain (for greater mobility), taking vitamins and learning to say no to some things.

Names of God Study Bible
Gift from RB

Healthy is working towards mental health: writing in my journal every day, dealing with procrastination and memorizing more Scripture to meditate on.  It’s spending time with healthy and positive people who give me energy, and limiting my time with those whose hobby is complaining. 

Added to that is spiritual health by spending more time reading and studying Scripture. It’s keeping in an attitude of prayer throughout the day even though I’ve spent concentrated time with God the Father through Jesus the Son. It’s living Philippians 4:8 by doing my best to fill my mind and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious---the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not to things to curse.

It’s time– time to begin praying for a miracle. I feel like I cannot ask God for a health miracle without doing my part to lead a healthier life.   

I’ve always felt unworthy to ask God for a miracle -- unworthiness because I didn’t pray enough, share the Gospel frequently enough, give enough…all those enoughs and many more reasons.  But my Bible tells me that Jesus will do anything I ask in His name—because it will bring glory to the Father.  That includes enabling me to do my part towards living healthier. 

There’s my word: Healthy.  I’d love to share a grandiose word like intentional, renewal or perseverance.  But God gave me healthy and in my obedience it will become grandiose.  I’m determined to do my part and if God (Who knows my future) chooses not to heal me, next year’s word could be acceptance. 

So with joy, anticipation and peace I embrace my 2012 word: Healthy.

Linked to:

Spiritual Sundays

Soli Deo Gloria

Playdates with God
Liturgical Time

Light, Shining Through Light

For light I go directly to the Source of light, not to any of the reflections. ~Peace Pilgrim

Into the inky darkness of Bethlehem a light appeared.  A light in the form of a baby, swaddled by Mary and cradled in a manger. Joseph, His earthly father, knew He was the Son of God. His mother, Mary, knew it. Even the shepherds knew it.  Herod might not have admitted it, but he knew, too.

And although so many knew it, their understanding of God's plan was limited by their humanness.  Peter, John, and the other disciples didn't realize what a big part they would play in spreading the light.

• Saul, guarding the coats as Stephen was stoned to death -- soon would shine.
• Peter, in spite of his impetuousness, was a light.
• The blind man, given his sight by the Light of the world, shone.
• A woman, burdened by her promiscuity, met Jesus at the well and another light was lit.

All throughout history men and women met Jesus, and each meeting added light to our world.  And now it's our turn to send luminous rays of light into the darkness.

• Are we shining in our dark world?  Are we praying for persecuted Christians -- for the "Sauls" to whom they minister to be changed by the Light.  
• Do we allow Jesus to work on our weaknesses so, like Peter, we can shine.  
• Will we share what Jesus has done for our blinded hearts, letting our light shine on others?  
• Do we praise the Light of the World for delivering us from a life of sin, inviting others to come to the Light?

"Like a little candle, shining in the dark..." we can shine -- should shine -- because of the Light shining in our hearts.  Light -- shining through light.

                                   These are my grandchildren: Ethan, Landon and Morgan

 

Linked to:

Spiritual Sunday

Soli Deo Gloria

On In and Around Mondays

Playdateswith God