Tag Archives: Children

A Rumble Seat Ride

Posted on by

Only car buffs and/or oldsters like me will know what a rumble seat is. As a youngster, it was special fun to ride in the rumble seat of my uncle’s Model A Coupe. The car was born in 1931 I think, and I came along on this day in 1937. I was all of four years old when Uncle Walter tossed me gently into the outside back seat of the car and told me to “stay put”. (And he thought I would go where?)

And now I’m in the rumble seat again, travelling the final miles on the highway of life.  Although the road has not always been smooth with its bumps, detours, hills, and valleys, it’s been a wonderful journey. I’m hoping my road map has many miles left as I coast along in the rumble seat of life.

One of my favourite scriptures is Psalm 128:6 “May you live to see your children’s children…” I have lived to see not only my children’s children but my children’s children’s children.

Little did I know that a four-year-old me would ride that rumble seat into my eighth decade of life. TYG!

Image result for rumble seat

Busy Weekend?

Posted on by

Two birthday parties beckon me this weekend…one for an eight-year-old great-granddaughter, and the other for a one-year-old great-grandson. Whatever you are up to, I hope it’s just busy enough to keep you happy and relaxing enough to give you rest. Happy

Only Time Will Tell

Posted on by

Watching my great-grandchildren scampering around with their Easter baskets, hunting for the goodies left by the bunny who hops around only once a year unlike most bunnies, I had a deja vu experience.

In my mind’s eye, I was the little hunter, then my children, and their children, and now my children’s children were gathering the hidden treasures. Had I really lived through four generations of yearly Easter egg hunts? Yes…and the realization was like Easter itself…a surge of renewal. I came alive to the sights and sounds of these delighted children and realized that because I live, they live. It was a humbling moment that carried me through the passage of time.

Will these blessed little beings one day watch their children’s children’s children share the joy of Easter? Only time will tell.

“…and may you live to see your children’s children.” Psalms 128:6

 

 

 

 

Accept, Learn, and Let Go

Posted on by

Here’s a quote that came my way yesterday. It may have made it to this blog before but, no matter, it is worth repeating:

“There are things that we don’t want to happen but have to accept, things we don’t want to know but have to learn, and people we can’t live without but have to let go.” The author is unknown.

This makes me think of a young couple who are living this quote right now, right here in Ontario, Canada. Their three precious children, ages nine, five and two years old…two sons and a daughter…and their maternal grandfather were killed when a car driven by a drunk driver crashed into this family’s minivan last September.

This young couple has to accept that their children will never return to them. They have to learn how to live the rest of their lives with this knowledge. They also have to let go of the people they can’t live without. Heartbreaking.

The quote may also apply to many of us in our day-to-day lives if we stop to think about it…really think about it. Things that we don’t want to happen to us do happen and we have to accept them; there are things we don’t want to know but have to learn; and people we can’t live without but have to let go. It’s all part of life and all life is a learning experience.

We can only hope to get it right.

 

A New Sound of Music

Posted on by

Every once in awhile something comes along to give us goose bumps, teary eyes, and gratitude for the awesome talents shared with us by others. Here is a clip from Facebook that I watch numerous times, and it never ceases to amaze me just how much God has blessed some people with incredible musicality. Please click on the link to enjoy a new sound of music.

Sharing is Caring

Posted on by

Every once in awhile I come across blogs or articles that touch me so much that I like to share them. While clearing out my “in-box”, I came across this one from UP! A Daily Devotional by Matthew Ruttan (MatthewRuttan.com/Up). It’s about Holy Spirit. Matthew talks about how Holy Spirit can be vague or confusing to some people, or indeed, many people, and then goes on to write an analogy to encourage better understanding of this spiritual being. And so I give you “Come, Holy Spirit”.

August 26, 2015

Come, Holy Spirit

Psalm 51:11
“Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me” (NIV)

Thought
The Holy Spirit doesn’t get talked about very much.

And yet…

The Holy Spirit is God, a part of the Trinity, the Lord’s renovating personality and power… but we shy away from talking about him.

Why?

To some people the Holy Spirit seems vague or confusing—and so, not knowing much about him, they stop inquiring.

So today I want to encourage you like this:

Imagine I’m walking down the street with my son, Benjamin. Then I pick him up in my arms, tell him I love him, and hug him. We just enjoy each other’s company for a few minutes. Then I put him down and we keep walking.

Was Benjamin more my son when I held him in my arms than he was when he was just walking along? Of course not. But in terms of his awareness, there definitely was a difference. No question.

Why?

Because in my arms, he was directly aware of and experiencing his relationship with me.

This analogy comes from a 17th century pastor named Thomas Goodwin. And I love it. Here’s how it applies to you.

When the Holy Spirit becomes a part of your life, you can sense the embrace and love of your true Father. You are aware that you are his child. Therefore, you develop intimacy with him.

Today, why not invite the Holy Spirit inside of you, and ask him to make you aware of the embrace, love and steady guidance of your strong Father in every step.

It’s not necessarily a feeling—but it is a personal awareness.

Is that missing in your life right now?

If you’re standing in a room in the dark, the dimensions and furniture remain the same. But everything changes when you turn on the light.

Come, Holy Spirit…

by Matthew Ruttan

I invite you to extend the invitation…you won’t be disappointed.

Reflections on The Honest Serving Men

Posted on by

Here are the answers I came up with after reflecting on my existence and applying Rudyard Kipling’s What, Why, When, How, Where and Who questions in September 3rd’s post, The Honest Serving Men.

Who am I?

I am a child of God. “…I have made you and I will carry you…” (Isaiah 46:4) I am also a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend…

Why am I here?

I am here to help with earth’s population.  “Be fruitful and multiply…” (Genesis 1:28) My contribution has been five children, fourteen grandchildren, and six (soon to be seven) great-grandchildren. I was given good seed!

What is the purpose of my life?

I am here to serve God and his people.  “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.” (Titus 3:14)

Where is my life taking me?

Back to God. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

When will I arrive?

When I die. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…” (Psalm 23;4)

How will I know the answers?

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

This was a fun and enlightening exercise for me; I can always find answers in the Bible and this time was no exception.

Comments?

The Power of a Six-Year-Old

Posted on by

A few days ago I posted “Call on the Power Inherent in You”. It wasn’t among the most popular posts and I wondered why. Perhaps owning our power is a little hard to understand. Perhaps we don’t know how to go about it. Yesterday, I found the following on the internet. It is about a six-year-old little boy using his power to make people smile. Just click on the link and find yourself smiling and crying at the same time. God bless his little self! https://www.facebook.com/doc.hallenstein/videos/10206458106986026/

Buyer Beware Part Two

Posted on by

It happened in a supermarket. My eleven-year-old grandson had accompanied me on a short shopping trip for a few groceries.

“Look, Nana, these chocolate bars are only sixty-nine cents!” He was old enough to know the price of candy. What are grandmas for if not to treat their grandchildren once in awhile, so I told him to get one each for himself and younger brother, and one for me.

We went through the checkout and Liam had scarfed his bar down before we had left the store.

I always check my receipts and was surprised to see that the candy bars had cost a dollar-twenty-five instead of the sixty-nine cents advertised.

There was nothing I could do about Liam’s bar but I took the other two back to the store and presented the cashier with the difference in prices and was told it was not these bars on sale but another brand.  And it was indeed the case when I checked the display. The sale price was in bold letters and the brand on sale was in fine print. Our chocolate bars, a different brand, were smack in the middle of the display, and not on sale.

I told the clerk that an eleven-year-old wasn’t about to read the fine print on a candy sale sign and that the non-sale candy should not have been on that display. I asked for and received a refund. The amount was less than two dollars but the lesson to all concerned was invaluable.

Leviticus 19:11 says in part, “Do not deceive one another.”

Again, buyer beware.