The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Good Morning Folks,
My grandma was a strong woman and believer. She knew how to keep her life in order. Even with tears in her eyes, she managed to say ‘I’m okay’ with a smile. Like when "Pops" died. She would say, "A change is coming, but God is good."
We went to an old small country church where worshipers paid attention (no distractions in our hands). We learned that God hears our prayers and to keep pushing on, don't quit, in hard times. You might miss the prize. "Although, your heart doth ache still...."You never know the beauty around the bend".
She passed on lots of wisdom from God's Bible - known as the "Good Book".
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be open unto you!"Grandma said change is constant, but we must let go and move on. She could deal with heavy burdens - even smile, even laugh, when she feels like screaming and she sang or hummed a tune when she must have felt like crying. She always said, it's hard to be sad or mad when you are singing.
Now, you think that being afraid might be a different thing, but grandma wasn't afraid and her calmness kept us feeling safe.
It was that way in the middle of the sea for the disciples when a bad storm came up and they woke Jesus up who was with them. Our preacher had told us the story one Sunday in church. He said, Jesus is quoted in the book of Matthew, one of his disciples: "Why are you fearful. O you of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the seas; and there was a great calm."
Grandma said, if you are afraid, sometimes you have forgotten who is with you. Just call on Jesus in prayer to help with the problem such as in the 23 Psalms, "Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.......You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;"
I learned from grandma, that unconditional love feels good. Often she would say "The Good Book says: "Love your enemies. Do good to those who persecute you!" "Love your neighbors as yourself." The most important: "Love the Lord your God with all you heart, and all your soul, and with all your strength, and all your mind."
Grandma modeled to us what it is to be a strong person and to know our worth…unique, one of-a-kind individuals. God made us that way. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born; I set you apart," the Bible says.
Grandma assured us that we are all loved and will always have a home and some day a mansion because God knows us. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
Grandma was small, and weak in stature, but she always seemed strong in our eyes. She radiated joy most everyday singing songs: "What a friend we have in Jesus," "Make Me A Blessing," "I'll fly Away," and more.
Her great riches were her wisdom and strength, her peace and joy because she believed and followed Jesus!
Hope to see you in church. We have more to learn, and we must pray for America.
-Love, Aunt Polly