How could she know she would only have sixteen years with him? We sometimes say the phrase, "Life is short" in too casual a way, not really meaning it. And then tragedy strikes. Can you ever be ready? She wasn't.
Two weeks after he turned 16, a tragic accident took her oldest child from her. There are no words. Just immense pain. How do you go on? How do you survive?
She had him at a young age. She said they grew up together. And now she was going on with life without him. She had to. She has another son counting on her. She got counseling. She went to grief counseling. Though he is never far from her thoughts, she has learned to move on. Most important, she has learned to rely on God for the strength only He can give.
He would be twenty tommorrow. Memories come flashing back. She is surrounded by family and friends who love her, but most important, she is surrounded by God, who sees her through the darkness into the light.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
A Life Well Lived
This blog has been rolling around in my brain for almost two weeks. Too long. A dear friend passed away at the age of 90 two weeks ago. She mentored me as a young mom. She showed me how to pray. She walked her walk. She was a strong, godly woman.
When I heard the news of her passing my first thought was "A life well lived". I don't remember a cross word come from her. I watched her live life full of joy and love. Her granddaughters and my daughters are close to the same age. We all attended church together and my daughters remember her as their Sunday School teacher as well as being at all of the softball games.
Sixteen years ago she had a stroke. She struggled to get her speech back. She moved in with her daughter. At that time I had a cleaning service and that was one of the houses I cleaned. I had the privilege several times to watch mother and daughter have devotional time. Precious memories. Although wheel-chair bound, her mind was sharp. She never had a bad attitude. She could still talk, read, and pray. She still went to church every Sunday.
Her granddaughter spoke at her funeral about the wonderful influence her grandmother had on her life and her sister's life.
God is truly amazing the way He brings people into our lives to teach us how to live and how to love. Helen Nash was truly a gift from God and we will miss her until we see her again in Heaven. She lived her life well!
When I heard the news of her passing my first thought was "A life well lived". I don't remember a cross word come from her. I watched her live life full of joy and love. Her granddaughters and my daughters are close to the same age. We all attended church together and my daughters remember her as their Sunday School teacher as well as being at all of the softball games.
Sixteen years ago she had a stroke. She struggled to get her speech back. She moved in with her daughter. At that time I had a cleaning service and that was one of the houses I cleaned. I had the privilege several times to watch mother and daughter have devotional time. Precious memories. Although wheel-chair bound, her mind was sharp. She never had a bad attitude. She could still talk, read, and pray. She still went to church every Sunday.
Her granddaughter spoke at her funeral about the wonderful influence her grandmother had on her life and her sister's life.
God is truly amazing the way He brings people into our lives to teach us how to live and how to love. Helen Nash was truly a gift from God and we will miss her until we see her again in Heaven. She lived her life well!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
An Overflowing Heart (And a She Speaks Scholorship)
I am teaching a Bible Study on Tuesday mornings. I am writing it weakly and living it at the same time. The title - "Journey of Faith". I feel stretched far beyond my comfort zone, but at the same time, feel such overflowing peace and joy as I write in obedience to God's call on my life.
Yesterday's lesson was on how patience and faith go together. We focussed our attention on 1Thessalonians 5:12-18. Verse 16 says, "Be joyful always." One young mom shared how hard that has been as a single mom pulled in so many directions. I can relate a bit with that. It feels hard to have joy sometimes in the midst of a trial. So what do you do? How do you combat a joyless life when God is calling you to be joyful always? I suggested to the ladies to keep a gratitude journal. This has helped me in my faith journey to be joyful about the smallest of things. Like finding my keys. Like watching my granddaughter look at ants in fascination. Like hearing the birds sing in the middle of the night. (Ok, so that is another whole story for another time.)
Let God show you today how to have an overflowing heart of joy always.
She Speaks Conference is about women connecting the hearts of women to the heart of our Father God and that your heart is to serve Him and His daughters, as He leads.
I am linking this post to two others today - Ann's (where a scholarship is being offered) and the She Speaks Conference website. It is a conference about "women connecting the hearts of women to the heart of our Father God". I am passionate about bringing Women closer to God. This is anothe way to live my passion.
Yesterday's lesson was on how patience and faith go together. We focussed our attention on 1Thessalonians 5:12-18. Verse 16 says, "Be joyful always." One young mom shared how hard that has been as a single mom pulled in so many directions. I can relate a bit with that. It feels hard to have joy sometimes in the midst of a trial. So what do you do? How do you combat a joyless life when God is calling you to be joyful always? I suggested to the ladies to keep a gratitude journal. This has helped me in my faith journey to be joyful about the smallest of things. Like finding my keys. Like watching my granddaughter look at ants in fascination. Like hearing the birds sing in the middle of the night. (Ok, so that is another whole story for another time.)
Let God show you today how to have an overflowing heart of joy always.
She Speaks Conference is about women connecting the hearts of women to the heart of our Father God and that your heart is to serve Him and His daughters, as He leads.
I am linking this post to two others today - Ann's (where a scholarship is being offered) and the She Speaks Conference website. It is a conference about "women connecting the hearts of women to the heart of our Father God". I am passionate about bringing Women closer to God. This is anothe way to live my passion.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Legacy
I love watching my daughters in action. They both have good hearts. We were in McKinney recently visiting our oldest daughter Amy and her husband Trey and our precious granddaughter Lauren. We had our other precious granddaughter Avril with us. We were at the park and my daughter met a young woman with a toddler. She made an instant connection and invited her to another child activity the next day. This young women was new to the area and needed a little encouragement.
My heart was happy as I watched my daughter reach out to others. I started thinking about the strong women in my life and I remember my grandmothers reaching out to others, and my mom reaching out to others, helping when somebody needs a helping hand.
I have always been a people person and as I grew in my Faith walk I wanted to teach my children the same. I taught them to look for the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
My daughter Melissa does that also. She reaches out to others with words of encouragement and acts of kindness. Both of my girls call with prayer requests for their friends.
Sometimes when your children grow up they don't always want to be like you. I remember the day I realized I was like my mom. And now I treasure the Legacy of being like my mom, and watching my girls grow into godly women.
I treasure the opportunity to watch them encourage their daughters to have a good heart like them.
My heart was happy as I watched my daughter reach out to others. I started thinking about the strong women in my life and I remember my grandmothers reaching out to others, and my mom reaching out to others, helping when somebody needs a helping hand.
I have always been a people person and as I grew in my Faith walk I wanted to teach my children the same. I taught them to look for the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
My daughter Melissa does that also. She reaches out to others with words of encouragement and acts of kindness. Both of my girls call with prayer requests for their friends.
Sometimes when your children grow up they don't always want to be like you. I remember the day I realized I was like my mom. And now I treasure the Legacy of being like my mom, and watching my girls grow into godly women.
I treasure the opportunity to watch them encourage their daughters to have a good heart like them.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Waiting
It has been an interesting morning in the Ragland home. Mike and I have done our devotional time and have spent time discussing what we learned. I am writing some devotions, and reading them to him.
He checked his email and everything changed in a second. We have a friend in the hospital with pulmonary problems. We got a quick email that things are not good. We did the only thing we could do. We prayed. And now we wait. Waiting is the hardest to do. I want to be DOING something to help. And then God speaks to my heart and reminds me I am doing something. The most important thing. Praying. So as I go through my day today I will pray without ceasing.
He checked his email and everything changed in a second. We have a friend in the hospital with pulmonary problems. We got a quick email that things are not good. We did the only thing we could do. We prayed. And now we wait. Waiting is the hardest to do. I want to be DOING something to help. And then God speaks to my heart and reminds me I am doing something. The most important thing. Praying. So as I go through my day today I will pray without ceasing.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Inspiration
As I sit here looking at all the trees in full bloom (and my white car yellowed with pollen) I ponder all the ways God inspires me in ways that amaze me and through people who live their lives with love and joy.
I have had a very interesting week. I have begun caring for a sweet couple. He is 86 and she is 80. She just got home from an extended stay at the hospital, so I am there for her. He is very independent. The second day I was there I was in tears as he told me they have been married for 60 years. I watch him love her and try to care for her and my heart overflows with joy. He got in her hospital bed and took a nap with her and asked me to take a picture. I hope to share it with you soon. I want his permission first. Their love for each other is very evident and inspires me to be a better person. They inspire me to love my husband more. They inspire me to love my children and grandchildren more.
Their love and joy in the face of medical problems inspires me to love God more.
What inspires you today?
I have had a very interesting week. I have begun caring for a sweet couple. He is 86 and she is 80. She just got home from an extended stay at the hospital, so I am there for her. He is very independent. The second day I was there I was in tears as he told me they have been married for 60 years. I watch him love her and try to care for her and my heart overflows with joy. He got in her hospital bed and took a nap with her and asked me to take a picture. I hope to share it with you soon. I want his permission first. Their love for each other is very evident and inspires me to be a better person. They inspire me to love my husband more. They inspire me to love my children and grandchildren more.
Their love and joy in the face of medical problems inspires me to love God more.
What inspires you today?
Monday, February 28, 2011
Passion
I got a very good question from my friend Lisa this morning. What a way to start off my Monday morning. Thank goodness I am on my third cup of coffee and the creative part of my mind is racing.
Here is one of her two questions: What does it mean to have Passionate Pursuit of God? I told you it was a good question.
My passionate pursuit of God happens when I totally stop trying to be in control and just spend time in His presence.
The trees are budding right now. This is one of my favorite times of the year. I call it - "God's love letter to me." When I see the buds, something in my soul just craves more time with God. It is like He is speaking directly to me.
Some people only think about the pollen and their allergies when they look at the budding trees. I think about how His love and mercy is new every morning. It is all in how you view life. You know the expression "looking through rose-colored glasses?" Well I am choosing today to look through my "God glasses" and passionately pursue God and all He has in store for me today.
Here is one of her two questions: What does it mean to have Passionate Pursuit of God? I told you it was a good question.
My passionate pursuit of God happens when I totally stop trying to be in control and just spend time in His presence.
The trees are budding right now. This is one of my favorite times of the year. I call it - "God's love letter to me." When I see the buds, something in my soul just craves more time with God. It is like He is speaking directly to me.
Some people only think about the pollen and their allergies when they look at the budding trees. I think about how His love and mercy is new every morning. It is all in how you view life. You know the expression "looking through rose-colored glasses?" Well I am choosing today to look through my "God glasses" and passionately pursue God and all He has in store for me today.
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