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NANA’S MEMORIES: “HEP ME MAMA, HEP ME!”

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I’m in a new season of life now. Gone are the days wrestling with three little boys. Almost gone are the days of wrestling with six fantastic little grandkids. How sad. However, the memories of stories and time spent – and the lessons learned – will last a lifetime. Join me this week as I share meaningful lessons learned from the children in my life…one of those children was even me.

 

“HEP ME MAMA, HEP ME!”

 

FALLEN_TREE_#2I met Marcus Twisdale when he was five only years old. Soon after meeting him, his mom, my close friend Mikki, told me about a Christmas story that happened when Marcus was just a toddler…a spunky, into everything, toddler, who like most, didn’t want to hear what he didn’t want to hear. And the word “no” was one he especially didn’t want to hear.

As Mikki was getting ready for work one morning close to Christmas, Marcus came barreling into the bathroom demanding, “Mom, I want to hold the ornaments and I want eggs and bacon for breakfast”.

“No Marcus”, Mikki said. I don’t’ have time to fix eggs and you don’t have time to hold the ornaments. Mama has to go to work. Now go eat your cereal.”

After the third try to get his Mama to cook bacon and eggs, and let him hold the ornaments, he ran out of the bathroom. Mikki assumed he’d finally taken no for an answer, and was eating his cereal.  Then she heard the crash that vibrated through the whole house. Running into the living room she saw the Christmas tree on the floor, ornaments smashed all around, and a tiny voice echoing from under the fallen tree saying “Hep me Mama, hep me.”

Of course she did. Just like Jesus will do for us. We sometimes make a mess of things and get into situations we can’t handle. Stuck in our disobedience, our life breaks apart just like the ornaments on the Marcus’ Christmas tree. However, God sent Jesus, His Son, to rescue us from our failures and messes, if only we will turn to Him and admit the wrong of what we’ve done. King David knew what it was like to be in a mess and need God’s rescue.  In Psalm 4:1, David cried out,

Answer me when I call to you,
    O God who declares me innocent.
Free me from my troubles.
    Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

God did just that for David. He will do it for us too. Call out to him today!

Until Next Time,

Your Traveling Partner,

Brenda

NANA’S MEMORIES: GRANNY’S FRIED CHICKEN

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I’m in a new season of life now. Gone are the days wrestling with three little boys. Almost gone are the days of wrestling with six fantastic little grandkids. How sad. However, the memories of stories and time spent – and the lessons learned – will last a lifetime. Join me this week as I share meaningful lessons learned from the children in my life…one of those children was even me.

 

GRANNY’S FRIED CHICKEN

GRANNY_S_KITCHENThe kitchen was long and narrow, the farmhouse ceiling low compared to most houses today.  Sunbeams cast a glow over my white-haired Granny as she stood at the sink washing the dinner dishes.  In those days, dinner was our mid-day meal and supper was the evening meal. Her cocker spaniel, Sydney, jumped up on me, licking me in the face. Calling my name as he stepped into the kitchen, Papa snatched me off the floor and into his arms. Immediately I announced, “I’m hungry.”

Nothing unusual there; the munchies always hit as soon as I walked through Granny’s kitchen door. That woman was one more good country cook. She offered me a leftover chicken leg, mashed potatoes and gravy, and my Papa’s mouth-watering tomatoes from the garden.

I asked for a cold biscuit instead.

“Whaaat?”, she screeched. She knew chicken legs, mashed potatoes with gravy and Papa’s tomatoes were my favorites. Using the nickname she had given me at birth she said, “What in the world is wrong with you Dinkie?” My Mama nearly fainted at my answer. “I don’t want the good stuff today” I quipped. “Just a cold biscuit”

How often we are like that in our spiritual lives. We have the fullness of the Word of God readily available every day. We can choose to be nourished with the meat of the Word, the richness of His wisdom, and freshness of His grace.  Instead, we often choose the cold biscuits this world throws us to satisfy our hunger for a rich and satisfying life, leaving us starved for answers to the struggles of life.

 Psalm 119:104-105 (Amplified) says:

Through your precepts, I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. 

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Do you see the jewel in that verse? The writer tells us the reason he hates every false way is that it robs him of understanding that gives him light to maneuver through the tough times.

Hummm…no more cold biscuits for me.

Until tomorrow,

Your Traveling Companion,

Brenda

NANA’S MEMORIES: LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

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I’m in a new season of life now. Gone are the days wrestling with three little boys. Almost gone are the days of wrestling with six fantastic little grandkids. How sad. However, the memories of stories and time spent – and the lessons learned – will last a lifetime. Join me this week as I share meaningful lessons learned from the children in my life…one of those children was even me.

 

LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

As I write this, the date is March 2, 2015. It is our granddaughter Lauren’s 13th birthday – and birthdays at Nana’s house are a big deal. As I think back to the day she was born, I can’t help but get a little teary-eyed with memories. Grandchild #5 is now a teenager. As I reminisce, I realize that even as the seasons of life change, some things never do. Take Lauren’s love of chocolate for instance.

It was Easter, 2011 and Lauren was wide-eyed with wonder and excitement. Bouncing up and down she begged to open the pink package 101_3632before her. “Give me a hint Nana”, she pleaded, “Please!” I knew what she was hoping to find inside. Our girl loves chocolate. I mean loves the stuff. She’s one of those creatures who savor every bite. One small piece can last five minutes secured snugly between the roof of her mouth and tongue. I have to admit she gets that honestly. So does her Nana. But Lauren takes it to the next level!

The first thing she spotted as she opened her Easter present was a big chocolate egg wrapped in pink cellophane. One look at that and she tore into the package, opened the egg, and proceeded to chomp away. “It smells so good Nana” she crooned, and then swiftly covered her face with it! Now that’s what I call loving chocolate!

It reminded me of the way the Lord wants us to love Him. In Mark 12:30-31(NLT) Jesus tells us,

” Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Psalm 34:8-9 reminds us,

Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.

Jesus wants us to love Him the way He loves us…wholeheartedly, without reservation, loving every minute of it!  Think on that today…

Until tomorrow,

Your Traveling Companion,

Brenda