Many Hands Make Light Work

 

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.... Ecclesiastes 9:10a 

 

 

The last of the strawberries for this season were washed and on the counter. Grandchildren lounged in the den. Hmmm, what to do? Let them lay around begging for their iPads or find a way to get them involved. "You know how to use a knife?" That perked up the ears.

"No," came an interested reply.

"Come, let me show you," I said, taking out sharp knives and a cutting board. Lucas thought he could just use a knife to hull the berries.  Lucy needed the board to press the knife without fear of cutting herself. I really didn't care because even their little hands were making the work faster and teaching them skills and work ethics they weren't going to get on the couch. They laughed and worked and went through two gallons of strawberries like a chainsaw through butter. There was a satisfaction in working together and accomplishing something that will benefit us all come winter. There was satisfaction in doing grown-up work.

Jesus sent seventy of his followers out in pairs to preach the gospel. He gave them important work to do. When they returned, there was that happy satisfied feeling that they had accomplished a great work, "Even the devils are subject unto us," they told Him. Jesus knew. Because He is God, He already knew what was accomplished.

The seventy were preparing for a time when Jesus would no longer be on earth to give them face to face instructions. My grandkids were preparing not only for next winter but to take care of their own families when I'm not there to show them how to do the work. We're never too young to learn, or too old for that matter.

Timothy was a young man that Paul was instructing. Paul knew that Timothy's mother and grandmother had instructed him the scriptures. Paul was sending Timothy out to do the work of an evangelist. I hope, like Timothy's mother and grandmother, I am also preparing my grandchildren to be followers and witnesses of our Savior. Routines and work ethics are all part of preparing to do work, even the work of a witness.

Paul wrote about the how and why of using scripture in II Timothy 3:15-17.
Why not reflect and share with us how you and your family are preparing and sharing in God's work.

Hey Kids:
Are you doing things to prepare yourself to take care of your own families one day?
What can you do?
Can you make your bed?
Can you wipe off the bathroom counter?
Can you wash your dirty dishes or load them in the dishwasher?
Can you pick up your clothes and toys?
Can you vacuum or sweep your room?
Can you help mom or dad prepare a meal?

You may be too young for some of these things. You may already be doing some of the others.
You are old enough to listen to the Bible and learn verses.
Whew!! There's a lot to being a grown up but there is joy and satisfaction in doing what the Lord asks us to do.

Blessings,

Gail

The Gift of Blue

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. II Timothy 3:15 KJV

It came wrapped in old newspapers, over-wrapped in white tissue. The bag was a simple brown gift bag, a Mother’s Day gift from my son and his wife. His wife had created this gift on her potter’s wheel, adding a perfectly curved handle. She glazed it with a sky blue, overlaid with a brown that gave the appearance of rain on a winter pasture. Around the rim the blue puddled and thinned into clouds. Inside, were the whirls of her hands on the wheel, glazed with tan and white of melted snow (or maybe it was a mocha with melting whipped cream). Either way this gift was more than a blue mug.

Someone long ago had shown the gift of turning to another, who in turn showed the gift to another, until my daughter-in-law was given the gift. Each in turn had used their gift to share their hearts in the pottery they created. An old gift made new in the sharing.

My granddaughter showed me her pinch pot, her first receiving of the old gift, so proud as she gently held it in her tiny hands, cupped like a nest to cradle a precious egg. Precious hands filled with the old gift that will once again become new with the life she will put into the pottery she turns, leaving her prints along the sides.

Christmas brought a brown gift bag with white tissue covering newspaper. As I gently held the gift unfurling each layer, little brown eyes glimmered with anticipation of the acceptance of the gift. An ornament, impressed with little fingers, fashioned from clay with a stocking shaped cookie-cutter, glazed red.

As a potter shapes the clay and leaves his/her imprint on the piece, so God instructs us to train our children, to mold them in the ways of God. Though they may not always follow, the imprints of the Truth upon their hearts cannot be erased.

Paul told Timothy that from a child he had known the holy scriptures that were able to make him wise unto salvation. Take it from Timothy’s mother and grandmother. Pass along the gift of the knowledge of scripture that leads to salvation.

 

Won't you join the conversation of how you and your family pass along the Gift of scriptures to your children?

 

Blessings,

Gail

 

Filling a Hope Chest

      

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: Isaiah 28:10

Let’s see what’s in here; a potholder I made when I was 8; a pillowcase I made when I was 12; a crochet doily from Grandma. When I finish this piece I’ll add it to the others.

I may go buy that set of dishes.

That’s pretty much the way it goes for a young girl preparing years in advance for her wedding and future home. Add a little here and a little there with no one special in mind, just a hope that one day she will marry and start a home. But, how are we preparing spiritually for our homes? As wives and mothers it is our job to nurture the children God will give us. II Timothy tells us Timothy’s mother and grandmother provided him with a spiritual upbringing as will as a physical home. Are we preparing spiritually for our future family? Our children are the only real hope for the future. They are the only thing we can take with us into eternity. But how do we prepare?

Line upon line and precept upon precept. We fill our lives with the things of God so that we may bring those things our of our hearts and give them to our children. Are we making time to read God’s Word every day? Do we have a prayer time? Do we have a Christian friend to help me grow and hold me accountable? Are we memorizing scripture? Are we attending a church that will help me grow? If we already have children are we doing those things with and for them?

Encourage one another. Won’t you share your ideas for your spiritual Hope Chest?

In Honor Of Mother's Day

When I call to remembrance the unfiegned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. II Timothy 1:5

My favorite book is When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant. Hers was a mentor text for me to write in honor of my Grandmother. Hope this post brings fond memories to your remembrance as well.

When I Was Young

When I was young, I lived just up the path from my Grandma and Papa. The privet hedge that separated my house from the path was my time tunnel. I lived in the twentieth century but they lived in the past.

When I was young, I helped Grandma draw water from the well. We drank sweet water from a common dipper in the bucket in Grandma’s kitchen.

When I was young, Grandma would hold me up so I could see the robin’s nest in the hedge just outside her bedroom window. We would watch the mother bird feed her babies fat juicy worms and little green bugs.

When I was young we sat under the oak tree and peeled peaches for peach ice cream. We took turns cranking the ice cream churn until our arms ached and the crank no longer turned. Then we would eat peach ice cream until it gave us a brain freeze.

When I was young, we chased birds around the front yard with a salt shaker. Papa said if we put salt on a bird’s tail, we could catch it. In the evening, Papa would call bob whites up to the edge of the yard. I tried to whistle too. Sometimes the bob whites would answer my call.

When I was young, Grandma taught us to play mumbledy peg with Papa’s pocket knife. It would easily stick in the pine boards of Grandma’s kitchen steps.

When I was young, we spent winter evenings around a coal heater in the sitting room, playing checkers while the sleet beat against the windows. We didn’t have any story books but Grandma was a good story teller.

When I was young, Grandma made all my dresses for school and church on her treadle machine. She tatted lace for my collars. Once she let me help serve when the Women’s Missionary Union met at her house.  She always made me feel special.

When I was young, I never wanted to go to the city. I never wanted to fly in a plane. I only wanted to slip through the hedge and down the path to my grandparents’ house.                                               Based on When I Was Young in the Mountains

 

Perhaps you have a favorite book that brings special memories of your mother or grandmother to mind. Please let us know.   Blessings.