The Adventures of John

On January 17, 1995, my husband Curtis and I found out that we were going to be great-grandparents. Our only granddaughter, Angela was expecting a baby! On this same day I received a card that had a picture of a bird nest with three tiny eggs. Below was the caption, "Expect a Miracle." I claimed that message for this child, not knowing if it was a boy or girl. I wrote down the following prayer soon after.

May this baby have

A heart for God

A mind for God

Ears to hear His voice

Eyes to see His beauty

Hands and feet to obey His will.

September 14, 1995, a baby boy was born and now this baby had a face, a personality and a name! John not only had his mommy and daddy at the hospital, but two grandmothers, a great grandmother and a great, great grandmother, two grandfathers and a great grandfather to welcome him. The nurse at the hospital took note of the five generations standing there and asked if we would like our picture taken together.

One of the nurses bundled up little John and brought him out of the nursery and placed him in the arms of his great, great grandmother. What a beautiful scene. He will not remember the day that he was cradled in her arms, as she looked at him with such tenderness but the generations of Godly heritage will follow him all the days of his life.

The first time that Angela brought John to our house she came in the door holding her baby close and said, "Maw Maw you will have to wash your hands before you hold him." I had just taken a shower but never-the-less I washed my hands.

When John was two weeks old he was dedicated to the Lord at the First Methodist Church. The pastor took John in his arms and then went up and down the aisles so everyone could see this beautiful baby. Pictures were taken and two families merged together to share the happiness of this wonderful occasion.

Between the ages of two and four we kept little John while his mother worked. Keeping a daily journal I read to John some of the cute things that he had done or said. He listened very attentively and when I finished, he looked at me and said, "Are you reading about the adventures of John?" So that is the reason for the title of this post.

I am sharing with you some of the things that John said. . . this little boy that captured our hearts and touched our lives in a profound way. My goal is that what I have written will not only bring a smile to your face but will encourage parents or grandparents to write down the unique things that their children or grandchildren do and say. Every child is a special gift from God.

"For you created my inmost being,

You knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise You because I am fearfully

And wonderfully made;

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

When I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the

Depths of the earth,

Your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

Before one of them came to be."

Psalm 139:13-16

The entries that I am sharing were written during the year of 1998.

Apr 4 (Sat)

Curtis told John he was going to let him pick out some flowers to plant. John said that he wanted orange flowers. When we got to Builders Square, it didn't take him long to discover the rack of orange marigolds.

We came home and went to the back yard to began planting. Curtis got a shovel and told John that he had to make a bed for the flowers. John repeated, "Make a bed for the flowers?"

Curtis gave John a tool to "help" loosen the dirt. Finally the bed was all ready and Curtis began to plant the little orange marigolds. As Curt placed the flowers in the ground, John said, "Is the flowers going nite-nite?"

This afternoon we watched figure skating. When a skater would fall, John would run to the T.V. to give the skater a kiss and one time he put his little arms around the T.V. to give the fallen skater a hug.

Apr 9 (Thu)

John was holding a little stuffed rabbit - sitting in the familiar green rocker, and singing, "Jesus Loves Me."

Apr 10 (Fri)

To the tune of "Baa Baa Black Sheep" John was replacing the words with "gahh-gahh" all the way through the song. Then he wrinkled his nose and asked, 'What's a gahh-gahh?" followed with much laughter.

May 9 (Sat)

This morning John was playing with his train, as he does every day. The engine fell off the track and John said, "Engine had a wreck - fell in the water." He then picked up the engine, cradled it in his arms and began to sing, "Jesus Loves Me" as he gently rocked back and forth.

This afternoon Curtis and I took John to the library. It was gratifying to observe him playing with the blocks, etc. and watching his interaction with other children. A little girl about his age was a few feet away as both of them were playing and he looked at her and gave the sweetest little smile. One of those special moments I would have loved to had a camera but I will take a picture in my mind and heart.

May 10 (Sun)

Five of our family members ate at Steak & Ale. After we were seated and sitting around the table, John slammed both of his hands on the table and said, "Watcha doing, everybody?"

Of course we laughed and he repeated it. What a charmer he is!

May 14 (Thu)

Curtis drove by an auto repair shop and I told John that the car was making a funny noise. He repeated, "It's making a funny noise?" Then with laughter and a big smile, he said, "Silly car!"

When the repairman came to the car with grease on both hands. John was sitting in the back seat and looking right at the repairman, he said, "He needs to wash his hands!"

Jun 1 (Mon)

John and I were in the car and as I was driving began to sing, "If you're happy and you know it. . John stopped me with, "No, mommy sings that."

So I began to sing, "You are my sunshine. . "

"No, that's mommy's song."

I said, "What do you want me to sing?" He answered, 'Little Birdie in the Tree." So I sung "Little Birdie in the Tree" and then started singing, "Oh, where, oh where has my little dog gone." Immediately John said, "No, that's what Me Maw sings."

I then sung, "How Much is that doggie in the Window" and then "Jesus Loves Me." I knew those two would pass.

John was playing and putting something together and I said, You are so smart! He continued his project and without looking up said, "Thank you!"

Jun 18 (Thu)

John attended a day care part time, and when I went to pick him up he had one shoe on. His teacher said, "Let me put your other shoe on." He said, "No! No! It's not a shoe, it's a sandal!

I told his teacher that we were going to the zoo and as we were walking out he said, "I'm going to see the animals." And he looked so happy. As we walked along he said, "Bye-bye desk, bye-bye-door, etc."

At the Zoo, John picked out the stroller he wanted to ride in. We first looked at the fish, which was in an air-conditioned building. John wanted to look at every aquarium. He would get out of the stroller and stand as close to the glass as he could get. In one of the aquariums was a large turtle resting at the bottom - the turtle began making its way to the top and when John saw this, he laughed with delight and said, "Silly turtle!"

Next we looked at birds and at every cage, John would stand up to look. Every bird that he didn't recognize, he would say, "What's it called?"

Jul 15 (Wed)

It is touching to see how John perceives the things that Curtis can do. When picking him up at the day care, some wood rafters had been placed on the cement steps coming out from the front door. When John saw them, he said, "Look what Paw Paw did!"

John was getting ready to go out of town with his grandmother, Darlene and his mommy. Just before leaving, Curtis said, "Let's have a word of prayer before you go." We gathered around in the family room but John was anxious to get on the road. As Curtis started to pray, John said, "No way, Hosea! I don't want to pray with my eyes closed!"

Sep 28 (Mon)

I gave John some rice that had bits of carrot and peas in it. He said he didn't like the rice because it had "stuff" in it. He said, "That's for bigger boys."

Sep 29 (Tue)
John has reached the age of "pretend." Today he pretended that he was the Thomas engine and I was the James engine. Going up the stairs was going up a hill. After we got upstairs, he looked around and said, "I like your room, James."

It is such fun to watch him playing with his trains. He talks for them, using two voices. One voice is high pitched and the other one very low. Sometimes he will run through the house, as he pretends he is going up hills, mountains, tunnels, and says things like, "I'm taking toys to the

boys and girls over the mountain.

Nov 11 (Wed)

I was writing and John asked, "Whatcha doing?" I answered, "I'm writing down stuff." He said, "Why don't you write up?"

John was standing on a stool in the kitchen, where I was working, and I told him that Jesus loved him and had a plan for his life. He said, "I want to be an engine. I want Jesus to come here and He will say, "Wow! Engines are nice!"

He plays "engine" all through the house - chug, chug, with his right arm going up and down while he rolls his eyes like Thomas.

Dec 16 (Wed)

We have the Christmas decorations up and John stops to look at the manger scene and enjoys my reciting scripture while he looks at the different figures on display. I recited, "And he shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger." He looked at me and asked, "Babe, the talking pig?"

This was a reminder to me that John is at the age that the secular and spiritual have no distinct difference and how important training is. I breathed a prayer, Heavenly Father, the hours that little John is in our home, may we instill Godly principles by example. . . day by day, by day.

*

2008
John is now a teenager. . . starting another chapter in his young life. May it's pages be filled with beautiful things and most of all, I pray that he will walk the pathway that God designed for him. . . even before he was born!

John, may you always be "the sweetest boy in the whole wide world!"

A Perfect Rose

A lovely poem had come in the mail written by a friend in memory of my daughter, Darlene. But the thing that really caught my eye was the beautiful rosebud and stem that went the entire length of the paper. As I looked at the rose I felt a healing in my heart and an answer to a prayer made beside Darlene's bed when she was in the hospital.

My mind did a quick replay of several scenes. The first was the day I was talking to my sister-in-law about childhood hurts as we sat on the deck in my back yard. I told her that when Darlene was born it was like God placed a beautiful and perfect rosebud in my hand to care for and watch develop into a full blossoming flower. As the years went by I became over zealous and began to pull at the petals to help form the rose. But rather than being of help I felt I had marred the beauty of the rose as I looked at the falling petals. And realizing too late that only God can make a rose.

The next scene that came to mind was when I was holding Darlene's hand as I sat by her bed in the hospital. I felt such a closeness to her and as I continued to rub and pat her hand, she looked at me and said, "Mother, God told me a couple of days ago that this was for the healing of my childhood hurts." I expressed to her how glad I was and then in silence, I prayed that God would also heal my broken heart of the hurt and guilt in everything where I had been unwise and had brought pain to her.

As I continued to look at the rose, a scripture came into my mind. "Behold I make all things new." There were no missing petals. They had all been restored. The rose that had been entrusted to me was returned to God, perfect and complete.

My beautiful rose, Darlene, was placed in her Father's hand, August 22, 2004.

*****

I would like to add that after the stormy teenage years, some of the wrong choices Darlene made worked later to her advantage in understanding and helping other young people who made unwise choices. She implemented a Young Mother's Program, Clinic and Daycare at a charter high school where she worked as an RN.

Praise Him!

I was visiting with a dear friend as she shared some of the desperation and grief that she was experiencing and said she felt it almost more than she could bear. I listened, feeling so helpless to do anything, although the thought came to my mind, "Praise Him!"

There are times when our lives are overwhelmed with problems, heartache and depression. But I know from experience that to offer God a sacrifice of praise can release His power to work in our lives in a miraculous way. Offer Him a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving even when you don't feel like praising God. . . especially when you don't feel like it!

When my oldest child was about sixteen or seventeen she became rebellious and was living a sinful lifestyle. My heart was breaking. Waves of grief would come in like the tide and I felt I would drown. I would go into my bedroom, get on my knees and open the Bible to the Psalms. I "prayed" Psalms of praise until the awful darkness lifted and I could feel God's peace and hope in my hurting heart.

When my son was killed in a car accident, I was almost numb with shock when I heard the words, "He's gone." I left the hospital waiting room and went outside, lifted my head to the sky, and began to praise God. If anyone had been watching, they would have probably thought I had lost my mind, to be praising God moments after hearing the news about my son. But the scripture says, "In all things give thanks" and that is exactly what I did! I began to praise and thank God. His power was released and a calmness took over my spirit that I can't explain. I was able to give comfort to others. I remember one of the friends of my son was almost hysterical and I put my arms around her and tried to calm her. I was in grief but I had peace, that wonderful peace that God gives in the storm. He is faithful!
But we have to look up. If we look down we will see nothing but darkness and despair. When we look up we see the stars shining in the darkness. These stars, to me, represent the beautiful, unfailing, promises of God. I praise Him for His faithfulness. . . today and every day!

The

Tree

Of Praise

The Precious

Power Of Praise!

Praise = honours God!

Praise = brings deliverance!

Praise = is the voice of faith!

Praise = is the language of Heaven!

Praise = sets the stage for God to move!

Praise = releases God's Angels to minister!

Praise = fuels joy which is our strength!

Praise = knocks down the walls of resistance!

Praise = stills the enemy and the avenger!

Praise = dispels darkness and depression!

Praise = precedes not follows blessings!

Praise = moves God's many blessings down!

Praise = brings God onto the scene!

Praise = is total acceptance of God's word!

Author

Unknown

*

After writing this post, I did not want to leave the wrong impression. There are certainly times that I have depression and the clouds hover over and I just have to wait for the sun to shine again. I was writing primarily about those things that come into our life that just overwhelm us in their severity.

**

Here is a song of praise that I love!

When you're up against a struggle

That shatters all your dreams

And your hope's been cruelly crushed

By Satan's manifested scheme

And you feel the urge within you

To submit to earthly fears

Don't let the faith your standing in seem to disappear

**
Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him

Praise the Lord for our God inhabits praise

Praise the Lord for the chains that seem to bind you

Serve only to remind you that they

Drop powerless behind you when you praise Him

**

Now Satan is a liar and he wants to make us think

That we are paupers when he knows himself we're children

of the King

Lift up the mighty shield of faith for the battle has been won

We know that Jesus Christ is risen so the work's already done

**

Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him

Praise the Lord for our God inhabits praise

Praise the Lord for the chains that seem to bind you

Serve only to remind you that they

Drop powerless behind you when you praise Him

*

author unknown

A MORNING PRAYER

Thank You for New Beginnings!

Thank you for your love that endures forever.

Thank you for making me clean.

May I hear your voice throughout the day and say,

"Yes, Lord, to your will and your way."

As I look to the sky,

I see the beauty of the sun reflecting on the clouds.

A New Day!

Thank You!

This prayer was written at dawn. . the most beautiful time of the day!

The Brush

Life started out like a canvas
And God started painting on me
But I took the paintbrush from Jesus
And painted what I wished to see

The colors I painted kept running
And the objects were all out of size
I had made a mess of my painting
My way now seemed so unwise

So I brought my painting to Jesus
All the colors, the pieces so wrong
In the markets of earth it was worthless
But His blood made my painting belong

He worked with no condemnation
Never mentioned the mess I had made
Then He dipped His brush in the rainbow
And He signed it, the price has been paid.

When I gave the brush back to Jesus,
When I gave the brush back to Him
He started all over life's canvas to fill
When I gave to Jesus the brush of my will.

He worked with no condemnation
Never mentioned the mess I had made
Then He dipped His brush in the rainbow
And He signed it, the price has been paid.
Chuck Milhuff

Perhaps all of us at one time or another have taken the paint brush from God's hand. Or it may be that circumstances beyond our control come into our life and we think the picture is ruined when we see a sweeping brush stroke of black right down the middle. Rather than removing the ugly black stroke, God says, "Be patient my child" as He "dips His brush in the rainbow" and continues to paint. And what seemed so offensive and out of place, now actually enhances the picture and we see that it is more beautiful than before. Only God can do that!

Hope Shines Through

Hope

Hope is a word

that every

hurting heart

understands.

Hope shines

brighter than

the brightest star

on the darkest night.

Faith is bigger than the highest mountain.

And God is greater than any obstacle in your path.

Anything can be accomplished by those who fully

put their hearts into it.

The time to start is now

the place to start is here.

May hope cast its special

light upon your path and God

bless everything you touch in the

hours, days, and moments

still to come.

Author Unknown

Hope Perseveres

But I will Hope continually, and will

yet praise thee more and more.

Psalm 71:14

Hope

Hope reaches out in darkness . . . and touches God.

I love the word HOPE!
When hope touches God, there is a peace that cannot be explained. This peace gives the faith and assurance that God is in control and that His sweet will is far better than anything we could ask for.
When my daughter was so very ill we were praying and hoping for her healing. Then came the day when hope touched God and that unexplainable peace filled my heart and mind and soul. Things did not go as I prayed, yet when God's peace came, I could lift my head and give praise and honor and glory knowixng that God "holds the whole world in His hands."
Less than a year ago my older brother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. How frightened I was when I was told the news. I prayed and hoped and prayed and hoped then once again the peace came and I knew that God's will was being done. He lived only a few weeks after the diagnosis but I had several wonderful visits and talks with him, while he was in the hospital. And even though I miss both my daughter and brother more than I can convey, the peace remains.
I have a younger brother that over three years ago, underwent surgery for a serious type of cancer on his face, close to the eye in the temple area. We were all so frightened and things looked somber but the surgery went well and the surgeon gave him as much as a 90 or 95% survival rate. Each year he has had PET Imaging and last week he had his third image. Two of the doctors had released him, and seemed confident that the cancer had been eradicated. But this PET image shows something on the brain that wasn't there before and he is scheduled for an MRI in the morning that will be more accurate in the characterization of any malignancy. We as well as the doctor was taken by surprise yet Hope remains that the MRI will not reveal cancer.
I am praying for God's will and praying for God's peace. I am not there yet. I do not have the peace that I long to have. . not yet. I am still reaching in the darkness to touch God. As I write, my heart hurts so deeply. And my brother and his wife are suffering greatly.
And so this post is just to say that I covet your prayers for my younger brother that I love so very, very much. He has been a strength and help in our family for many years and now he needs our strength and support. . . and God's peace. . . the peace that only He can give!

Here are the words of a song that keeps going through my mind.

"God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me

He will be my guide

Hold me closely to His side

With love and strength for each new day

He will make a way

He will make a way."

Don Moen

I'm holding to that!

Hope Rejoices!

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and stars,

which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

He determines the number of stars

and calls them each by name.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power.

Psalm 8:3,4; 147: 4,5

Last week I was in darkness but not without hope! This week I come to you with praise on my lips and a heart that is singing with joy! The MRI that my younger brother had on Thursday, revealed no cancer! The neurologist, neurosurgeon, radiologist, etc. all agree that what was picked up by the PET image was damage from radiation treatments from 2005. My brother will be closely monitored but the team of doctors do not feel it is a life threatening problem.

The cancer was first removed in 2004 then showed cancer cells still present a year later. Just moments before the surgery in 2005, my cell phone rang. It was my older brother, reminding us that tears had gone before us. I knew that he was referring to the many prayers that our mother had prayed and that these prayers were kept in heaven. (Rev: 5:8) His voice sounded calm and confident.

This time I could not call my brother, nor could he call me, yet it seemed I could almost hear his voice, reminding me once again of those tears and prayers that had gone before us. I prayed that God would pour these prayers on my younger brother and that His will would be done, with hopes that no cancer would be found. My brother said he would be looking at six months to a year life expectancy if cancer was found on the brain. Both my brother and sister-in-law are doctors so I knew they had medical knowledge for all that was happening.

Everything that happened last week is a reminder of how fragile life is and how quickly our plans can unravel. So often, songs come to my mind when life gets tense and uncertain. Right now, I am thinking about the song, "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow."

I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day;

I don't borrow from it's sunshine

For it's skies may turn to gray.

I don't worry o'er the future, For I know what Jesus said;

And today I'll walk beside Him, For He knows what lies ahead

(chorus)

Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand,

But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.

Ira Stanphill

It is so true! We don't know what tomorrow holds but we know that God is in

every tomorrow. He will be there before we are. No surprises with God!

Isn't that good to know?

The Pathway

To Grandmother

Shattered and broken,

I lay at your feet.

No strength to go on,

too many ghosts do defeat.

Gently. . . you stroked my head.

Quietly. . . you dried my tears.

You somehow gave me courage

to face all my fears.

I looked to your face;

so gentle. . . so wise.

I leaned on the strength

that glowed in your eyes.

You shared how you too,

had once walked this road.

You knew what it felt like

to carry this load.

For years now, I've looked

to you for my strength

trusted you to help me

when I felt I might sink.

But soon now your journey

of toil will be through,

and I can't help but wonder

What will I do?

Where will I go

when my confidence wanes?

Where will I turn

when I'm broken with pain?

Seems now I hear you. . .

your voice sweet and low;

"Seek the path I have traveled

it shows where to go."

I look down that path

and I see at its end

a shadowy vision

that shows where you've been.

There in the dirt

worn down through the years

are two tiny knee prints

and a cup full of tears.

Holding the cup

sits a man robed in white.

His face wise and gentle

His eyes full of light.

I listen in awe

to the words He now speaks

for somehow He knows

the answers I seek.

"Shattered and broken

SHE lay at MY feet.

No strength to go on,

too many ghosts to defeat.

Gently. . . I stroked her head.

Quietly. . . I dried her tears

I then gave her courage

to face all her fears.

Her journey's soon over

but there's room

here for you.

She cleared the path. . .

So YOU would know what to do.

Darlene

Toward the end of my mother's life, my daughter Darlene wrote this poem for her.

Both have now completed life's journey. This same Jesus will lead each of us every step of the way. And when that last step is taken, we will be home! What a glorious day that will be!

"We'll sing and shout

and dance about

the lamb will dry our tears

We'll have a grand homecoming week

The first ten thousand years!"

R. Browning

He Cares For You

Several days ago I was at a diagnostic clinic having blood work done. Across the hall I could hear a child screaming. I then saw the toddler run out of the room, still crying and looking very frightened. He had probably had this procedure done before and knew what was coming. I felt so sorry for the little fellow because I knew he couldn't possibly understand the reason for the pain that was being inflicted on him.

Later I thought about my mother after she suffered a severe stroke. I had such a wonderful mother, who was so kind and loving throughout her life. After the stroke my husband and I both wanted to keep her in our home even though the other members of the family felt it would be too much for us because my mother had to be turned every few hours, day and night. But we wanted to give it a try. God miraculously equipped us to care for her until the end of her life. She lived about four more months.

One day we were changing mother's bed sheets and it was evident that this was bringing discomfort to her. At one point she looked up at me and with pleading eyes, said, "What did I do to deserve this?" It just about broke my heart. I loved her so much and would never bring unnecessary pain to her. I tried to explain why I needed to change the sheet and knew I had to complete the task, even though she didn't really understand. Just like the little boy that was crying and afraid didn't understand.

When suffering and adversity come to us, we are tempted to look up and say, "Oh, God, Why? Why? What did I do to deserve this?" And yet the pain continues. If we could see the complete picture as God sees, we would then understand His plan and purpose. We would see that something of eternal value is being done through the pain and struggle. But in our limited knowledge and small frame of reference we cannot possibly understand and what seems to us a silence from heaven is actually a time when heaven is very near. How sweet is His promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) He is there all the time.

God made this so clear to me when I was reaching out to meet the needs of my precious mother.

Sweet is the promise, "I will not forget thee,"

Nothing can molest or turn my soul away;

E'en though the night be dark within the valley,

Just beyond is shining an eternal day.

Trusting the promise, "I will not forget thee,"

Onward I will go with songs of joy and love,

Though earth despise me,

Though my friends forsake me,

I shall be remembered in my home above.

When at the golden portals I am standing,

All my tribulations, all my sorrows past;

How sweet to hear the blessed proclamation,

"Enter, faithful servant, welcome home at last."

Refrain

I will not forget thee or leave thee,

In My hands I'll hold thee,

In My arms I'll fold thee,

I will not forget thee or leave thee;

I am thy Redeemer, I will care for thee.

Charles H. Gabriel

I will not forget you!

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.

Isaiah 49:15,16

The Yellow Feather

In 1974 I suffered a serious burn and was in the hospital for five weeks. After skin grafts I had to lie perfectly still on the bed for about five or six days. During this period of time I had a vision and the message of that vision is just as clear today as it was then.

In my mind I could see turbulent waters and a little yellow feather floating unharmed in the boisterous waves. I asked God what this meant and He said that the yellow feather represented me. I asked what earthly use could there be for a yellow feather. He answered, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." I was given loving assurance that the feather belonged to Him and that its value was known only to Him. I then asked, "But why is it yellow?" He revealed that to me yellow represented fears and I had many fears.

The main thought that was left with me was to always keep my focus on His love and not look at the weakness and frailty of the feather. I did not see His eye but I could feel His eye with a love I could never, ever explain.

Through the years I have had times of feeling so fearful and inadequate and when the "yellow feather" comes to my mind, I am reminded that God loves me with an everlasting love and will protect me through all the storms of life.

There was one time in particular that I was going through a time of darkness and I received a little yellow feather in the mail from a friend that I had shared this vision with. A note was enclosed. She wrote that her young daughter found the feather on the ground and when she looked at it she thought of me. Coincidence? I think not! Rather another reminder of God's tender and compassionate love.

"His eye is on the sparrow

And I know He watches me."

Do You Love Enough?

I was listening to a speaker from New York who had experienced phenomenal growth in his church. He was telling the congregation some of the background of the church and how it came to be. At the end of his sharing he invited anyone that had a question to come to the front.

There were several people, including me, that came forward. The question I asked was how I could overcome fear in witnessing to others about Jesus. The speaker looked right into my eyes and said, "The question is not about fear. The question is, "Do you love enough?"

Immediately, like a flashback, I remembered a wreck that our family had on the freeway when moving from LA to TX. A truck did not stop at the Stop sign and side swiped our car. The breath was knocked out of our youngest son. I don't remember how we got him out of the car but we had him lying on the ground next to the pavement. Not knowing how serious his injuries might be, I dropped to my knees and began to pray. People were beginning to gather around us but I could care less what they thought of me on my knees praying. My only thought was the love and concern for my child.

The question, "Do you love enough?" is still one to be answered. Regardless of our age there is always an element of fear when stepping out in faith to witness or to be obedient to God's call for whatever it might be.

Christian author, Beth Moore, told about an experience she had in a Knoxville, Airport. She was waiting to board the plane, had her Bible in her lap, and noticed this old man humped over in a wheelchair that was "skin and bones." He had "stringy gray hair" that was long and hung well over his shoulders.

As she was reading her Bible, she had a clear impression from the Lord that He wanted her to ask the man if she could brush his hair. She more or less began arguing with God. "Oh,no, God, please no!" But she ended up brushing this old man's hair. Beth said she knew it sounded strange, but as she was brushing his hair she felt a kind of love that she had never felt for another soul in her life. She said that the emotions were so strong and so pure it was like God had completely overtaken her heart for those few minutes. Like "renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while."

It turned out that the old man was on his way to see his wife that had been too ill to come to the hospital where he had open heart surgery. He had not seen her in months. God saw his tangled and matted hair and whispered to Beth, "I want you to brush his hair."

I'm so glad that Beth "loved enough!" God wants to love through each one of us in helping others. Our obedience will bring joy and satisfaction in return. How many opportunities and blessings do we miss because of fear of what people might think or by not loving enough.

"Heavenly Father, I come to you and pray that you will fill me with your love and that your perfect love will cast out my fears so that I can say, "Yes, Lord," in complete obedience to your will."

"My heart, my life, my all I bring to Christ Who loves me so.

He is my Master, Lord, and King; wherever He leads, I'll go."

"Wherever He leads, I'll go. Wherever He leads, I'll go;

I'll follow my Christ Who loves me so,

Wherever He leads, I'll go."

Philip Carter

Paw Paw Can Fix It!

When my great grandson was about two and a half years of age I picked him up from the daycare where he attended, and we started walking to the car. All of a sudden, he stopped, bent down and started picking up broken pieces of plastic from the ground. The plastic looked like a small Easter egg that had been stepped on. He carefully placed each piece in his little hand and looking up at me with such confidence on his face, said, "Paw Paw can fix it!"

Oh, how many times this scene has come back to me when I have looked at the pieces of brokenness in situations that have entered into my life and into the lives of my family. I can see that precious little boy and hear him saying, without any hesitation, "Paw Paw can fix it!"

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Is there something in your life that has been broken and shattered? Is the heartache almost more than you can bear? Place all of the pieces in the hand of your Heavenly Father and with a childlike faith and trust, believe that, "With God all things are possible." There is nothing too hard for Him. . . nothing!

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"Paw Paw can fix it!"

Endless Pattern

Visiting at my sister-in-laws house she took me to her back yard and said that she wanted to show me what "she and the Lord had done." Beautiful plants filled the yard and as we walked around she would point to different ones as she called each by name. She tenderly cares for these plants, and knows exactly what each one needs to flourish and bloom.

My mind took me to another sister-in-law that has devoted many, many hours creating and designing exquisite clothes for her dolls, dressing them with attire from the late 19th century and early 20th. The dolls and the plants are just two examples of how each one of us are being drawn to a particular interest and from this a unique and distinct pattern of creativity develops.

The achievements throughout the world that evolve from the human mind stagger the imagination. Yet God is the original creator of all things and the facets of creativity we see in human beings are sparks of energy from His Omnipotence.

We are "wonderfully and fearfully made" and God has placed within us creative desires and abilities that go beyond our scope of vision. May none of us feel that our "little design" is inferior to others but realize that we are a part of a larger design and pattern that God has conceived. Like a kaleidoscope, beautiful images continually emerge.

Thank you, Father, for allowing each of us to have a part in your workmanship. We stand in awe of its beauty. You are the one who created the heavens and the earth. You also formed each one of us, giving us different talents and gifts and wisdom to create and then to enjoy the fruit of our labor. And this creative process will continue throughout the eons of time. We give you praise, and honor and glory for everything that we behold. Marvelous are your works, oh, God.

A Miracle of Love

Christmas was on its way. The tree had been bought and readied for decorating. But the excitement of previous years was not there. I felt such grief thinking of our son Don, who had been killed in a car accident only six months before. Yet there were still reminders of our happy, laughing teen ager around the house, such as the little plastic labels with messages he'd punched out, stuck here and there.
With heavy heart, I went to the attic to get the decorations. I pulled the box to the door and, kneeling in front, removed the lid. Nostalgia hit me with such force! I just laid my head against that door and crying said, "Don, I love you, I love you, I love you."

Then to my amazement, I saw that right where my head had rested was one of those familiar plastic labels, and printed on it were the words, I LOVE YOU.

It was as if Don had broken the barrier of time and space to speak to us that day. I ran to get my husband to show him our son's message. Tears filled his eyes as we hugged, and the light and love of Christmas filled our hearts and soon was reflected on our tree and in our home, making this the most beautiful Christmas we have ever had.

We still live in the house where this incident happened and the little I LOVE YOU tape remains on the attic door.

The pictures below were taken of the door into the attic. The little plastic tape could have been there as long as two years prior to that day of discovery. My husband, Curtis, and I had been in and out of the attic, yet neither of us noticed the tape until the day my head rested on it. I love what Curtis said, "It was like God planted a seed, then hid it from view until time for it to bloom."

Love. . . has no limits. . . it transcends through time and space.

MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH LOVE!

Don

I could write a book about the antics of my youngest son, Don. I feel confident that he would have been diagnosed with ADD but I don't think Attention Deficit Disorder was even on the books fifty years ago. Not only was Don's attention span very short but he was perpetual motion. . .even before he was born I felt like I had butterflies in my stomach.

One day when Don was just a toddler I put him in his bed for a nap and later opened his bedroom door to check on him. The bed was empty and the window was open! Don was gone! I ran outside and found him rolling a garbage can several times larger than he was, right down the middle of the street!

At about the same age Don and I were in the front yard when my next door neighbor came out. I went over to talk with her for a few minutes and in the length of time my head was turned, Don had turned on the water hose and was filling the back seat of our car with water! He seemed to be having such a grand time. My neighbor commented on how much patience I had. I told her I had to or I would go crazy!

I had a gas stove in the kitchen and Don discovered that if he threw something up on the burner that it would catch on fire. One day he threw one of my good shoes on the flame so I had to watch closely when cooking. I don't think Don was intentionally being bad rather he was just curious and "inventive."

Our house was on an incline and one day I looked out the window and in horror watched my car backing down the drive way, then on across the street, and finally stopping within a few feet of smashing into the window of the neighbors house. Don was in the car! He had somehow dislodged the brake and the car took off!

This story now brings a smile. Our church was in a revival and had chosen our family to represent an "ideal" Christian family. There we were, husband and wife with our three little darlings standing on the platform. That was the same day that I received a phone call from my neighbor, "Mrs. McFatter, your house is on fire!" I ran out and sure enough I saw flames on the fence right next to the eaves of the roof. My husband and I picked up blankets and started beating the flames out and I was hollering the whole time at Don. But then at church that night there we stood smiling and looking like that "perfect" family.

The reason for the fire? Don said that he was killing mosquitoes!!

There are many more stories that I could tell but when Don was about sixteen he finally "grew out" of being so hyper. He grew up to have such a sweet and loving nature. I can't count the times that before going to bed he would say, "I love you, mom. I love you, dad." And when he was a little younger, he and Curtis had a routine that they went through just about every night. Curtis would start singing from his bed, "I love you a bushel and a peck" and from Don's bedroom he would answer with the next line, "A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck." Then Curtis with, "A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap", and Don would complete with, "A barrel and a heap and I'm talking in my sleep about you. They would then go back and forth with, "About you", until Don would drift off to sleep.

This incident still touches my heart. When Don was a teen I had a serious burn and was in the hospital for five weeks. I had to have skin grafts and some days I was pretty sedated. I had asked Curtis to bring me a milk shake. Later I called the house and Don answered. I said, "Your dad was supposed to bring me a milk shake." Curtis was not home and it wasn't long until Don came running through my door. The hospital was about eight or ten blocks from our house and Don ran all the way after picking up the shake from McDonald's. He was panting and was

almost breathless.

Thank you, sweet Don, for the love you showed that day. It will live in my heart always.

In 1976 Don was killed instantly in a car accident. And the last thing that Curtis did was to sing the little song, in a whisper, "I love you a bushel and a peck" as we said our final "good bye" to our youngest son, the sunshine of our life!

On Don's birthday, each year, I write him a letter as this makes me feel closer to him. I would like to share the letter that I wrote March 20, 2000. And, incidentally, March 20th is the first day of Spring!

Dear Don,

The calendar says that you would have been forty-two years old today. But God has allowed us to keep you eighteen - always! After all these years, I can still see you sitting on the couch, putting your shoes on, flashing that beautiful smile and expressing your joy of having your own car, your own job to pay for it, and a CB with a handle of "Cracker Jack Kid."

School had been difficult in many ways and you were just weeks away from graduating and then suddenly you were gone! Everything was dark for a long time but day always follows the night. And, now, I find it so comforting to be able to keep you young, laughing, and happy!

The scripture on today's calendar is:

"Save your people and bless your inheritance

Be their shepherd and carry them forever."

Psalm 28:9

Don, if I could go back there are many things I would wish to do different but one thing I would never change - to teach you about Jesus the Good Shepherd. Each day brings me closer home where more and more of our loved ones have gone on before. When I finally make it home, I want to see Jesus - then you, precious Don - then mother and dad and then family and friends.

Love,

Mother

Don's memory is like a beautiful flower in my heart with a sweet, sweet fragrance. On the next post I will share a remarkable story of love concerning Don.

The picture above was one of our favorite pictures of Don.