I love the old Christmas carols that I grew up singing and listening to on the radio and at church. But a couple of trees ago a new carol was written. To me, it is one of the best conveyors of the Christmas story.
Hope Has a Name.
Hope you enjoy it!
This time of the year I find myself remembering events from years ago that generate both sweet and bitter memories with all the accompanying emotions.
March has been a month that has brought both good and bad events into my life – events that changed me forever.
The first one that brings sweet memories occurred 52 years ago on March 29. That day I walked down the aisle at church and promised to “love and cherish until death do us part.”
For almost 13 years I kept that promise. Every year as that date approaches I remember those years with my first husband. We were happy and shared a lot of joy but the best part of those years was the birth of our two beautiful daughters. Memories of those times make me smile and I am grateful for every moment we shared. Those events changed me – made me a wife, a mother.
The second memory is more painful. It was 39 years ago in March that I got a call at work that I will never forget. My eleven-year-old daughter called me and said, “Momma, I think Daddy is dead.” Those words changed our lives forever. My first husband had been working on our car when an accident occurred that took his life. Ironically it was just four days before we would have celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary. So March brings also feelings of great sadness as I remember the shock and horror of that day. The pain my daughters still feel today. The older one grieves as she remembers all the times she had with her daddy, while the younger grieves because she was so young her memories are few. That changed me – made me a young widow with two little girls to raise.
So – every year in March I deal with these memories and these conflicting emotions.
That would be enough to make the last of March an emotional time for me.
But last year added another event that adds to my emotions this time of year.
On March 19 last year my second husband fell and hit his head on the concrete floor of his art studio in the basement of our condo.
By the 22nd he was in pain and we went to the emergency room of our local hospital. From there he was rushed by ambulance to the main hospital in Lansing – the capital of our state – where they did emergency surgery. He had a major brain bleed and they said without the surgery he would not survive the night.
As I remember the next couple of weeks I still can feel the knot in my stomach as I waited at home (because of the virus I could not be with him) wondering if the next call would be to tell me I was a widow again. I wondered how I could take it if he died on the same day as my first husband had died. As the next few days were “touch and go” while they tried to get him off the ventilator, I kept telling God “please, not again, not this time.”
I am so grateful to God that he not only survived the surgery but after a few weeks he was back to his normal self. The doctor said he might have trouble walking, swallowing, communicating. While he had some of these symptoms for a couple of weeks, he was soon completely okay with no lingering symptoms.
One major concern of mine was would he be able to paint again. Would he even be able to walk down the stairs to his art studio. That prayer was again quickly answered. Our son-in-love brought his painting equipment upstairs and within two weeks he painted a beautiful lighthouse scene. Soon he was able to return to his studio downstairs and continue painting.
So along with the knot in my stomach, I also must rejoice with a great emotion of gratitude that I am not a widow for the second time, that my husband is not only alive, but well and strong again.
One of his first paintings also was of a beautiful rainbow which symbolizes hope and a reminder that God keeps His promises. He called it “Hope in the Storm.” It now hangs in my kitchen as a reminder to me that no matter what troubles come, with God there is always hope.
When my first husband died, when my second husband survived, regardless God has been there – and He brings me hope. Hope for whatever next March or any time may bring. Good times or bad – He is faithful.
A parable Jesus told about the importance of prayer has often made me wonder.
He tells of a widow who went to the local judge to ask him to intervene in her behalf. Apparently there was someone who was treating her unfairly and she wanted help in resolving this dispute. According to the Mosaic Law judges were never to show partiality.
And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him. You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s.
Jesus tells us that this judge just ignores her. Whether he did it because he was trying to protect a friend, to gain favor with someone, or was just indifferent without any compassion we do not know. Clearly he was an incompetent judge and should not have been allowed to remain in that position.
The woman is persistent and will not stop coming to the judge and asking for help. Finally, Jesus tells us, that the judge hears her case simply because she was driving him crazy. “She is wearing me out with her constant requests.”
Jesus then ends the parable by telling us that if this unjust judge would do what was right in the face of someone who would not give up, how much more would God answer His children’s cries for help.
In the past as I read this parable I wondered why God would compare Himself to an unjust judge and thereby imply we needed to keep asking Him for our needs. Did that mean if I keep asking for something – even though it might not be the right thing or me or in line with God’s Word – God will give it to me? That is actually a frightening thought to me. I can think of some prayers I have asked that later I was so glad God did not give me what I asked for.
As I study the Bible more I am learning to take Scripture in the total context. So I noticed that Jesus ended this with a question.
When the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on earth who have faith?
Some Bible scholars have said Jesus was simply pointing out the need for His followers to trust Him regardless of whether it seemed their prayers were being answered. I get that. When I pray I need to trust that God is faithful and leave the “when” “where” and “how” to Him.
But as I looked at that today thinking of my own prayer life, I saw something else. Persistent prayer and my faith in God are fundamentally connected. As in any relationship, honest and consistent communication are necessary if that relationship is to grow and remain strong.
When I first met my husband I knew only a few facts about him. Slowly as we dated and shared our fears, hopes, dreams I came to know him. I felt I knew him enough to marry him and pledge my love until death we do part. But today after almost 37 years of communicating I realize how little I really knew him on my wedding day. My knowledge of him today is very deep – I think it is safe to say I know him better than anyone else.
So I think Jesus was telling us that if we want our faith to grow and be strong until the very end of our life, we need to be persistent in our prayer time. In contrast to the unjust judge, Jesus is telling us that God’s character is just the opposite. Of course, He will hear the cries of his children. Trusting in His character and His goodness, we must never give up hope as we pray.
As my husband and I age, we find we are no longer able to be as active as we once were. For years my husband was a pastor and I worked alongside him teaching Bible classes, playing for worship and all the many tasks that come with serving a community of Christians.
This year I celebrated 72 years of life and my husband celebrated 80. While most people that meet us do not think we are as old as that and we do remain alert and active, we find our bodies do not always want to keep up with our thoughts and desires to be productive. Many days the afternoon hours call for us to take a nap.
Still, because we have both experienced true miracles in times of serious medical problems, we desire to still give and help others. (I share these stories in these posts)
I’m Back With a Miracle Man!
Since my husband loves to paint he recently painted a beautiful rainbow scene he called “Hope in the Storm.”
The rainbow to Christians is a reminder of God’s promise to Noah after the flood. To us when we see the rainbow after a storm, we are reminded of the hope we have that God is faithful.
After receiving several compliments on the painting and its message my husband decided to paint smaller versions of this rainbow and send to those we know who are battling a health issue. He has send ones to young people fighting leukemia, to a young woman fighting a heart disease and to several others with different ailments. It has been a joy to hear from them that the painting and the message it gives of “hope in the storm” is an encouragement to them.
It blesses me to see the joy my husband has received as many have told him how much his painting has meant to them.
It is so true that when you give to others, it comes back to you.
Can I say I’m proud of my husband that at 80 he still is thinking of ways to bless others?
If you would like to see more of his paintings, check it out at PWL Art Gallery.
https://www.facebook.com/PaulWLaneArtGallery/
A gift from my youngest daughter
March 4, 1998 – My youngest daughter surprised my husband and me by bringing home gifts for us both. It was not our birthday, anniversary, not any holiday. It was one of those “just because” gifts that are so special.
One of the gifts that day was “The Joy Journal” by Barbara Johnson. Known by many as the “Christian Erma Bombeck”, she wrote many hilarious books such as:
and
Barbara wrote in the introduction to this journal
This Journal is a new way for you to add joy to your life. When good things happen to lighten your load and brighten your day, write them down. When someone pays you a compliment, write it down. When you remember nice things from the past, write them down. Let the journal become a personal treasure chest – your collected thoughts of hope, gladness, and love. When you start to collect joy, you will find it’s a magnet. Joy is everywhere. All you have to do is look for it and use it instead of saving it for Sunday-Best.
Less you think Barbara Johnson lived in denial and was just a “Pollyanna” telling people to “be happy” without really knowing what problems and sorrow were, she had plenty of sadness in her own life.
Barbara lost two sons, one in Vietnam and one at the hands of a drunk driver. Another was estranged for several years. A few years after her husband’s death she was diagnosed with Central Nervous System Lymphoma (CNS), a brain tumor and also diabetes. Refusing to give in to despair, Barbara chose humor and looking for joy as a way to beat the odds of adversity. In 2005 the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association awarded her the prestigious Life Time Achievement Award. Her book “Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy” has sold over one million copies. While facing death, she was working on a proposed final book, Joyfully, Barb!
So – I took her at her advice and began looking for joy – and recording it. Now 20 years later, I look back at all the entries in my journal and Barbara was right. She had said this journal would be “a treasury of gladness to inspire you for years to come.” And it has.
Most of my grandchildren are all grown up now – but I pull this journal out and relive those moments of joy I shared with them. Here are just a few that make me smile and I hope they will also bring a smile to your face.
Matthew and Robert – my ‘little grandsons now all grown up
March 7, 1998 – Rob and Rebekah took Matthew to kindergarten roundup this week, a chance to show him the classroom, meet the teachers, etc. After coming home he informed us that he was going to love kindergarten because there were lots of girls and they were going to love him!
January 16, 1999 – Robert spent the night with us and I took him to the Putnam Museum. On the way there he just kept talking and talking. I always want to give my grandchildren my attention when they are with me, but I had a headache and did not really feel like listening to his chatter. So I told him, “Robert, Grandma has a headache and I don’t really feel like paying attention to what you are saying right now.” His response was so funny, I had to try hard not to laugh. He said, “It’s okay Grandma. You don’t have to listen. I just want to talk.”
My beautiful granddaughter who is also my namesake, Barbara
April 4, 1998 – Took Barbara shopping at the mall. Brought her a necklace and a headband. We had tacos and sundaes. She has been trying hard to “be good” so her parents would let her have this date with me. As we were enjoying our sundaes she told me, “Momma is wondering if I am going to still be good tomorrow. I’m not going to tell her but I’m going to surprise her and be good. I’m going to try hard to be good but if I mess up, I’m going to say ‘I’m sorry.'”
Granddaughter, Abby, has a lot of musical talent
I don’t have a date written down for the laughter this granddaughter gave us but when she was quite young she came with her siblings to spent a week with us. Helping her Aunt make some cookies, she sat on the counter and began chattering away. Seeing a frown on her grandpa’s face she asked, “Am I annoying you Grandpa?” When he said yes she quickly responded “Good!” Which brought laughter to us all – including Grandpa.
There are many, many more memories I could share but I’m sure at some point you would stop reading. But I want to encourage you to look for joy that is all around you and record those special times. Not only will you enjoy the moment, but like me, years later you can remember and experience the joy all over again.
As Barbara Johnson said in her journal, “Laughter is like a shock absorber that eases the blows of life.”
Get busy looking for joy! I wish you good hunting!
As we enter Advent – the season of waiting – I have been reading scriptures that speak of the wait for the Messiah, the one who would save the world, scriptures that speak of our wait for our Lord’s return.  Examining my life I realized I do a lot of waiting – but what am I waiting for?
Banana curls just like Shirley Temple
First, as a little girl I waited:
Don’t you just love the hairstyle?
Then, as a young high school graduate I waited:
Home on leave just before going to Vietnam my Marine asked me to be his wife
When he came along, then I waited:
The major joy of my life – precious gifts from God
After my girls were born I waited:
This grandson, who never met his grandfather, is so much like him
After my husband was killed in an accident, I waited again:
Thankful for this man who brought joy once again to me
When God took my pain (but never the precious memories I will always keep in my heart and treasure), I waited again:
I lost my beautiful red hair – but now I wear a wig so I’m still a fiery redhead
Then cancer came and I waited:
I spent so much of my life waiting for things in the “here and now.” Spending so much effort and hope and time anticipating for my future in this life.
That is certainly not wrong. God made us to enjoy this life and all of the things I waited for were good and blessings from God – job, family, health.
But as I reflect on the scriptures that speak of waiting, I realize the most important thing I should be anticipating and waiting for are not those things in the “here and now” but the hope of what is to come when the “here and now” is over.
I can only imagine what this moment will be like
At this Advent season – this time of waiting and hoping – I wait for
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is…1 John 3:1-2
For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.  And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed….Titus 2:11-13
But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness…2 Peter 3:18
As we celebrate this season of waiting, anticipating – I ask you, what are you waiting for?
Grandma's Ramblings 