His Heart Went Out to Her

I scroll through my FB timeline. I see a post that stops me in my tracks. It features a photo of a beautiful, toddler boy. His eyes of an angel draw me in. So does his name. Bryson. The same name as my youngest grandson. I read further. My heart aches. He has been diagnosed with a rare cancer. His life expectancy is no more than 2-1/2 years. Per the medical team. I take time with this one. I look up scriptures which promise God's faithfulness and His miracle-working power. I share them with the family.

I really do want to be an imitator of Christ. He certainly talked the talk AND walked the walk to show us how to live. Take this one as an example: "As He approached the town gate, a dead man was being carried out — the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord SAW HER, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’” (Luke 7:11-14). HE SAW HER. He didn't just see her. He didn't just give her a "comment" or a "pat on the back" or "I hope you'll get better." He went over to the funeral procession and said "Get up" to the boy and he came back to life. Jesus was a do-something-about-it-kind-of-Savior.

The day before I see this "Bryson" photo, I receive a call from my daughter who is suffering from an extreme migraine headache. One that makes her retreat to her bed in a dark room. Now, please understand this is a powerful woman who just doesn't yield to pain -- not even with natural childbirth two times. I know this calls for a warrior mama's intercessory prayer. I go to my "war room" and am in full-on warfare prayer mode. I'm pleased to say that while we pray, my daughter's pain decreases and eventually goes away! Thanks be to God!

What an intenseness I have for praying for MY child. In that "Jesus" story above, it says "His heart went out to her". His heart joined hers. He felt her grief. He met her emotions with kindness, gentleness and mercy. He went to work to show His power and healing. I desire a heart like His.

What part of this blog speaks to you the most today? Bryson? The death of a child? A grieving widow? Or, the heart of Jesus? Put it altogether, God is there -- right in the middle of our lives. He shows up because His heart goes out to those who need a miracle. He shows up for me today. I want to be more like Him. But, I know there are many who need a miracle today. I can't help but think that I am writing this blog to remind YOU that He is the ONE whose heart goes out to you. Jesus can and will work a miracle in your situation. Why? Because He loves you and His heart goes out to you. You may feel that you are going to drown in your own tears, but hear the voice of our Savior. He is whispering to your heart, “Don’t cry.”

Whatever the circumstances of your life, hear this widow tell you: Jesus has a heart for you and He is ready to perform a miracle in your life today. Dry your tears, hold your head up and trust in the Miracle Maker. For all of us, may our hearts go out to others -- just like Jesus.

Treasure Your Treasures

Still here in Austin, I was able to celebrate my youngest grandson’s 11th birthday. His birthday isn't until November 17th, but they’ll be out of the country on that date – so Nana must do what Nana always does. I threw my Bryson a birthday celebration last night, complete with the fam’s favorite – Waikiki Meatballs, followed by Nana’s chocolate cake (I have to give credit where credit is due – it’s Great Granny’s recipe), and then the Pièce De Résistance – Nana’s family tradition for years – the Birthday Treasure Hunt.

My grandmother's claim-to-fame, in my books, is that she introduced me to my future husband when we were just 13 and 12 years old. Her words were "Ronnie Wuerch says he likes you". My reply was "Tell him I like him, too!" From that point forward, we were destined to be together forever. I loved my grandparents and they loved me so much -- their prayers for me are still working. As precious as they were in my eyes as a young child, I never knew that "hands on" grand-parenting, like my grandchildren do. I didn't even realize I didn't have it, until years later when I became a grandparent. When our grand-parenting time came, we knew we wanted an "up close and personal" relationship with our grandchildren. So from the get-go, we set out to be those doting, over-the-top, in love in words and deeds, grandparents. Way before our first grandson was born, I had a "Hope Chest" of toys, puzzles and books.....that would stay at Papa & Nana's house. In fact, to this day, I still have the old Nintendo 64 controllers and games. I still have their favorite book "Barbapapa" and I still have the Lincoln Logs and Legos. They all know they'll find those "treasures" at Nana's house! Maybe I’ll soon have great grandchildren and they’ll have their own “Romper Room” at Nana’s. No pressure -- Braden & Ruth! LOL!

Treasure Hunts have always been a part of our grandchildren’s lives. It was my way of spicing up the Nana & Papa fun. It’s a work out to get the rhyming clues together then hiding them at specific locations, then it’s the birthday boy or girl running to all the locations for the next clue until it concludes with the grand finale gift found. I love making these memories.

Since Bryson is home-schooled, I had to get up early yesterday morning to make the cake, before he woke up. But I knew the wonderful aroma would be lingering, so I had to hide the cooked cake, by quickly baking cinnamon rolls that hid the cake aroma. Talk about secret tactical operations!!!

I had to stay up late putting the clues together the night before as well as wrap his birthday finale gift, and then when Bryson was at his golf lesson in the afternoon, I hid all my clues, and decorated the kitchen table area (our usual birthday location) with birthday balloons and décor. Oh, how I love this sweet season of grand-parenting. I’m making memories that will outlive me and I know they’ll be carried on to my grandkids’, grandkids. I’m leaving fingerprints and footprints.

Maybe you’re still in the parenting mode – but, before long (Trust me…..the time flies!), grand-parenting will become a part of your world, and in that case, my “professional grandmother” recommendation to you is to get intimately involved in their lives. While moms and dads are no doubt the greatest influencers, grandparents can come in a close second.

We always wanted our grandchildren to know that we pray for them, stand ready to be there for them, and to support them as best we could, given there are miles that may separate us. I'm, by no means, wanting to be dishing out a guilt trip to anyone that doesn't have that "bent", but I assure you, there is nothing to compare with that precious love. There is nothing sweeter on this earth than to hear "Nana, I love you so much!"