Blessing of two Grandmothers

Growing up I was fortunate to have two grandmothers.  They shared the same name, Inez, but had complete different personalities.  Until last year, I was very blessed to have both of them still living. I know not many 50 years old can make that claim.

One of them is very outspoken and independent (She has mellowed in age).  Her independence though, is probably what allows her to still live alone in the country at 96.  My other Grandmother, who passed away about this time last year was very soft spoken, and never learned to drive.

Despite their differences, I love both of my grandmas very much.  I have made the comment on different occasions, "God, please let me inherit my Grandma Scarbrough's genes, of good health and bones, and let me inherit my Grandma Hanks's gentle spirit."  So far I have been lucky with good health, so maybe I got that, but I don't think you inherit the other one.  I think God is showing me, that is a fruit of godly living and may be a little harder to obtain.

I have been thinking about those qualities of my Grandma Hanks this week, and wishing I had spent more time with her. Wishing I had spent more time listening, and learning about how she developed those fruits of the spirit in her life.

But, I did luckily spend enough time with her growing up to make some observations about her life.

My Grandmother never had a lot, but she was very generous with what little she had.  If you were at my Grandma's house you were guaranteed a great home cooked meal.  Nothing fancy, but good comfort food.  My Grandma made the best fried chicken, and bread and gravy.  It took me a long time to master her chicken gravy but I finally did.  I think of her every time I make it.  I wish I had learned how to make her big fluffy yeast rolls.

I think that gentle, calm spirit of hers came from being content. Content with what she had.  I never heard her ask for or want anything in her life.  I think like Paul she was content.  Philippians 4: 10-13 reads "For I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."  I believe my Grandma knew what it was to be content in the strength that comes from God and God alone.

I also think her soft spoken, quiet spirit, came from Psalm 46:10. That ability to be able to be still and know that I am God.  There were times in her later years if you stopped by her house, she might be just sitting, quietly in the living room on her couch.  No TV or radio on, no book to read, just sitting there.

In the last couple of weeks I have felt God calling me to that place.  To be able to be still, and sit quietly before Him.  To be quiet and listen.  I will be honest, I am struggling with it.  To be able to just sit and clear my mind.  I have thought of my Grandma often during those times. I believe she was able to do that, and I want that peace that I think she had from learning that.  Psalm 19:14 says "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."  I think my Grandmother lived out those words of that verse with her life.  God please let a little of that legacy fall down on my life.

To both of my Grandma Inez's I love you both, Thank you both for your legacy.

Thanks for reading!    

   

God never has a plan B

This past Saturday October 6, 2012 was my son's wedding.  Actually, my son's second wedding.  Those are bittersweet words for a Mom "my son's second wedding".  Second wedding indicates one of two things has happened, death or divorce, and neither one are something you want to see happen in your child's life.  Both represent pain and heart ache, something a Mom never wants to see in her child.  But, we live in a world of sin and choice, and things happen.

In the past week I wondered, is this God's plan "B" for Chris?  God quickly stopped that train of thought, he repeatedly put Jeremiah 29:11 in front of me "For I KNOW the plans I HAVE for you, says the Lord.  They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  God knew this day would happen long before Chris was born, God knew this day would happen long before I was born.  God KNEW it was His plan before the world began.

I know that to be true because only God could have planned in such detail and went so far out of the box to make this wedding day possible.

I watched Chris go through a lot, and I watched him cling to God, and I watched a strong faith and walk with God develop out of that.  And at the same time, I watched KC mature, and grow into a beautiful woman. I watched her faith develop and mature and become her own.  As those two paths paralleled I watched a friendship develop between the two.  I know they spend hours talking, openly, sharing their hearts in a way you do with a best friend not a boyfriend or girlfriend.  God was developing a strong foundation of open and honest communication between the two of them

I remember the day late last summer Chris came into the office and said what are we doing for lunch?  Mom, I will ride with you to get it.  When he volunteers to go with me that usually means he has something to tell me or ask me.  We had barely gotten in the car when he said "I know this is going to sound crazy, but I think I am developing feelings for KC.  I don't know how she feels, or if anything will ever come of it, or what to do about it, but I had to tell someone."

I watched the whirlwind, carnival ride develop over the next year, and Saturday we celebrated a beautiful, God centered wedding.  It has been neat over the last couple of weeks to have different people say I knew a year ago this would happen, or I saw it at this point.  I heard KC's Grandma Thursday night say. "I knew at KC's birthday last year Chris was in love with her."

I just want to say, KC you have always been God's plan for Chris.  I could not be happier to have you as a precious, treasured daughter.  What a blessing it was on Saturday to have the Brown, Sapp families and friends, join as one around these two. It was a beautiful day and I LOVE YOU BOTH.