Pass The Story Down

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Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children
tell their children. Joel 1:3 NLT

Daddy and EstherLegacy, inheritance, heirloom—
something or someone from the
past that left a gift to influence
other lives, both present and future.

With each passing year, I am more grateful for the legacy of faith Daddy
left our family when he went home to
heaven almost twenty years ago. 

I was the second of seven, eager as all my siblings were to climb into my Father’s lap and listen to the songs of faith he sang over us.

My Dad modeled a quiet, confident faith through all the changing and
challenging seasons of his life and his words still echo in my heart today—

“Everything’s going to be all right”.  

The promise from God’s Word was passed down to us from the pages of the Bible….And because He believed, so did we.  

Words of truth and songs of faith spoken by our dad were welcomed again and again, rooting our hearts deeper into our Heavenly Father’s eternal love. 

Finally, our champion of faith lived it, leaving his grateful family an example to follow all the days of our lives.

It’s almost like Daddy is leaning over the balcony of heaven today, cheering us on, encouraging us to live our lives in the quiet confidence that God is always working behind the scenes; with a purpose that eternity will fully reveal.

Our Lord is working for our good and His glory….And He’s using all the circumstances in our lives to conform us into the image of His son.

Sometimes I hear the second generation share the same promise with their children and grandchildren. They too are passing the promise down to the present generations.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose, and He chose
them to become like His son.” (Romans 8: 28, 29)

My Mother’s Heart


Time alone revealed the true heart
of my mother. 

Seasons of her life reflected
the love and care she
gave our family. 
Myriads of memories
ever so
 sweet 
etched on my heart and mind. 
Easter dresses, hand made
for five daughters,
while she sacrificially
and
 unashamedly went without.
Sunday dinners,
joyfully prepared and served
with beautiful heart and hands;
all for the unabashed
love of family. 
Letters and notes
of encouragement
to a son or daughter
far from home.
Times spent in prayer down
on her knees,

knowing something
wasn’t quite right
and so she prayed. 
Daring to believe for a miracle
when doctors said,
“No chance this baby can live”.
A textbook miracle
son
 who lived forty-five years.
Caring for Daddy through
 years of illness,
faithfully by his side with hope and prayers.

A heart broken many times by unbelievable losses
grandsons, husband, son, parents, brothers and sisters…
Yet Mother lived with confident hope
she would see them again.
Mother touched many hearts over the years
giving hope, encouragement, prayers.
A testament of love and faith
for all who knew her.

Thank you God for my mother’s legacy of a life well lived.

 

Our Daddy’s Heart

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Time alone explained the true heart of our Daddy.
Seasons of his life reflected the loving care he gave our family.
We remember a daddy who held his children close, rocked
and 
sang beautiful songs of faith over us.
We remember long years of sacrificial hard work to provide for a growing family.
His example taught us to take responsibility for those we love,
even when the cost is great.
Looking back, we believe he would have given his life for any one of us.
That kind of love goes a long way when it is
forever modeled before you.
We remember the love that swelled our hearts when he would say;
“I’m the richest man in town because of the
seven children God gave me.”
We remember Daddy was always true to Mother.
Loving her, providing for and protecting
her all those years.
We remember a contagious laughter that just about lifted the roof.
Like the day we watched our favorite family movie.
Those were the times 
we just about got down
and rolled on the floor with him.
How we loved to hear Daddy laugh.
We remember challenging seasons of life, when hope was restored by
his oft-quoted confident words.
“Everything’s going to be all right”.
An echo of the promise of Romans 8:28:
“God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.”

Thank you God for giving us a daddy that left us with
a legacy we shall always cherish. 

 

Mama’s Table

Mama was Mrs. Southern
Hospitality personified! She
absolutely loved being in the
kitchen.No one made biscuits, 
coffee can bread or cornbread
any better, except her own mother. She taught her daughter well.

Southern fried chicken, stewed squash, sweet and sour meatballs, sloppy joes, chicken potpie, and chicken and dumplings; were but just a few of the delicious meals she loved to prepare for those fortunate enough to sit at her table.

Are you hungry yet?

Try adding pound cake, chocolate pudding, peach cobbler, coconut cake, or banana pudding for dessert. You have a fine southern home cooked meal!

Nothing could match sitting around mama’s table. What precious memories
those times were for our family and friends who lingered there, laughing and listening to the sounds of love.

Mama’s nurturing gift of love and hospitality blessed not only our family,
but countless others who dropped in at just the right moment. Seems like there was always room to squeeze in one more at her table, and when there were no places left? Well you were happy to take your plate to the living room or bedroom.

Her love followed you everywhere!

How grateful I am God gave me a glimpse of His table through my precious
mother. She went home to heaven years ago, leaving our family with a rich
legacy of faith, hope, and love. How we miss her, but we’ll see her again,
on that glad day when God calls His children home.

Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her. There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all. 
                                                 Proverbs 31:28-29 

When Flowers Fade

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Seems like the older I get the

faster the seasons come and go…

and the challenges that accompany

them. This has been especially true

this year. Two sudden deaths in

our family left us heart broken.

A special niece the day after Christmas, followed by the death of a brother-in law just six months later.

We traveled to South Alabama both times, wanting to give support and comfort as

our family grieved the loss of loved ones together.

Now months later, we are about to witness another changing season. Soon flowers

of summer will fade and fall as the heat of summer gives way to shorter days and

cooler temperatures. Winter is soon to follow.

I don’t feel ready for another winter. Seems like we just got through the last one.

Yet I love this time of the year when Autumn’s vibrant colors cause me to pause

and reflect on the faithfulness of God during the changing seasons of our lives.

Even the season of death and sorrow cannot take away the hope of seeing our

loved ones again. We believe they are just beyond the thin veil that separates

heaven and earth. What a great reunion in heaven awaits those who place their

trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our lives may seem like fading flowers on this earth, but we believe we will bloom

again in heaven for eternity.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, so that whoever

believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)