Graced with Grace

I thought this picture of two of my sisters was so sweet. It was actually taken about 8 years ago. I am one of those people who can have a hard time showing my love to others. I might really love someone a lot, but I just don’t know how to tell or show them or else I am too shy to. I am not speaking here necessarily of romantic love either, I am speaking of love in general; love for my siblings, my parents, my friends, and others. I have shared with you the story of my brother, Micah , and how he died and all. Just now I was thinking about him and just thinking how much I really loved him, and yet I am afraid I didn’t show him or tell him very well how much I really loved him. I am sure he knows that I loved him, yet I wish I had showed that love to him better.  I think one of the biggest reasons for not showing that love for him is that I thought he would get better. I thought I would have decades of more years with him. But no, that wasn’t God’s plan. God took him home shortly b...

We all eyed the TV screen with rapturous delight as we watched the delightful movie “Anne of Green Gables”. In the middle of watching this delightful movie, we had to bring it to a pause for a brief moment, because of a phone call from a friend. After being told by our friend about the snow they were getting, we decided to look out our window to see if we had any. Sure enough, what do we behold, but a world of white? Absolutely gorgeous! Before I go on with my narrative, I have to let you in on a secret. I’ve never been much of a lover of snow! I mean really, when it melts, it’s just one big muddy mess. Not only that, but around here, it doesn’t really snow enough to have a good sledding. Thus, cold and mucky, right? Wrong perspective, nevertheless! This winter has been pretty mild. In fact, I didn’t even think it would snow at all, which I would have been perfectly fine with. So, back to the story. It had finally snowed for the first time this winter. You know, I think I had kind of ...

Happy Valentine's Day! John 15:12-14  “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.”  2 John 6 “This is love , that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.” Matthew 22:37-39 “Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” Ephesians 3:17-19 “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love , may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height —  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imi...

When I was just a little lass, I had baby sisters to cuddle and hold, But years have passed. The youngest is now seven years old. Treasure each moment. Treasure each passing day. It wasn’t that long ago When I had four brothers around Oh, the times we had, The mysteries to solve, or treasures we found. Treasure each moment. Treasure each passing day. I once was just a little girl. I loved to make those delicious mud pies, Or relax in a puddle of goopy mud, Or run at night, after fireflies Treasure each moment. Treasure each passing day. Many years have passed. It’s not the same as it used to be. Eighteen years are flashing by. Soon even today will be history. Treasure each moment. Treasure each passing day. -Written by Hannah- February 6, 2012

When I first thought to write about this, I was going to say something like treasure each moment with your siblings while you have them. Well, I decided to broaden the category and make it every moment. It is so important that we enjoy each season of our life. It won’t last forever and someday you’ll miss it, so treasure it now while you can. Treasure those moments you have with your family because some day you’ll grow up or they’ll grow up and move out and then you’ll miss them. I have four brothers, but they’ve all moved out now. First my oldest brother moved off to college. Then my third brother, almost 16 years old, goes home to be with Jesus. Then my second brother goes to college. Lastly my fourth brother leaves the home and goes to college. I miss each one of them a lot. Treasure the times you have with your siblings. Maybe you’re a young mom with lots of crazy little children running around. Maybe you’re tired of the endless runny noses to clean or the dirty diapers to change,...

Titus 2:6-8 “Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things show yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” Young Ladies, this is the kind of man you should desire for a husband. Young Men, this is the way you should strive to live. Ladies, it says plainly right here how a godly young man is to live. He should be a man striving to live soberly. He should be setting a pattern of good works. His doctrine and speech should be sound, which means unwavering. It should be full of integrity and reverence, and without corruptness. A man whose doctrine is not soundly biblical is not a man you want to marry. How can he lead his family if he is unsure or wavering as to what is true? He must be a man who is solidly grounded in the word of God. He should speak the word with integrity and reverence. If he...

Titus 2:3-5 “The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things —  that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” I had just studied these verses and was thinking about my roll as an 18 year old woman. My first thought would be that I am a younger woman. I need to be discreet and chaste. I need to be learning from those older than me, how I can be a good wife and homemaker someday. I was reminded at the same time that I am also the older woman. I have four younger sisters. I have several friends who are younger than I. There are bloggers that are younger than I. You might be younger than me. There are so many women younger than myself. So what is my roll as an older woman? It says clearly that I am to teach the younger women. Although I am not married, th...