Till There Was You

I was recently driving my 14-year-old grandson to school when he asked: "What's your favorite song, Nana?" Without much thought, I said, “‘Till There Was You” and I proceeded to explain that song was Papa’s and my wedding song. He had his phone connected by Bluetooth and searched for it and up came the Beatle’s rendition. We listened to the whole song and, to my astonishment; he said: “I like that song!” I went on to tell him that we loved going to musical theater performances and that song was from “The Music Man”. I’m sure he was in a fog about that production, but I was pleased with his acceptance of my “oldie but goodie”.

During the tenderness of the Christmas season, I was having the sweetest of times with God one morning and I started singing that song, but this time I wasn’t singing it to my sweetheart but to God. And the words are so befitting to a relationship before Christ, and after falling in love with Him.

"There were bells on a hill, but I never heard them ringing!
No, I never heard them at all, till there was YOU!
There were birds in the sky, but I never saw them winging!
No, I never saw them at all, till there was YOU!
Then there was music and wonderful roses.
They tell me, in sweet fragrant meadows of dawn and dew.
There was love all around, but I never heard it singing.
No, I never heard it at all, till there was you.”

That’s how I feel about my Lord – who turned my sadness, gloom, despair into joy and gladness. He gave me purpose and hope. Now I see through rose-colored glasses of positivity and great expectation every day. My family and I went to see the new “Mary Poppins Returns” movie on Christmas Eve. Yes, we are that family that embraces “good feeling, happy ending” movies. Afterward, my granddaughter said, “I guess that’s what life on drugs is like!” We laughed, but my daughter, with her Godly insight, said, “That’s what perspective looks like. Most people escape their realities by drugs or other vices to have a utopic experience. But those of us in Christ with Holy Spirit living in us have those experiences because Holy Spirit enables us to have joy in the midst of fear; gladness instead of sadness; peace instead of turmoil; hope instead of hopelessness; love instead of hate; dancing instead of mourning.

Maybe you’d like to get off the doom and gloom track and get on board this “Joyful, joyful we adore You!” train, too! It sure makes for a gumdrop and roses and whiskers on kitten kind-of-day and life. Let me introduce you to the Conductor! He’s known as the Prince of Peace, the Solid Rock, the Great I Am! Once you get to know Him, you, too will be singing “There were bells on a hill and I never heard thing ringing – no I never heard them at all TILL THERE WAS YOU!

“You turned my mourning into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever.” Psalm 30:11,12

The Older Teach the Younger

Day 282 of Photo Inspirations -- The Older Teach the Younger
I'm sure we've all heard the scripture that references the older women teaching the younger women (Titus 2:3-5).  I'm so grateful for the older women who influenced my life -- my Mom, my mother-in-law, my Bible teachers like Joyce Meyer, Gloria Copeland, and so many more, but I am even more thrilled that I get to be an influencer to younger women in my own life.  I love it when a young mom calls and cries out "HELP!!!  What do I do?"   I really believe that God places us here at this time and this place to be mentored by those who've walked the walk and have proven success by the "fruit" we see in their lives, but I also believe.....we are being trained and prepared by God, as we go along in our lives, to be the mentor to those younger than us.  I know that, as a widow, I've been able to help other widows become warrior women who realize God still has them here for his plans and purposes even though their loved ones are in heaven.  They've turned their mourning into dancing.

Who qualifies to be the "older" or the "younger" women?  If someone is younger in their faith or in life.....we are the older.  I watched my granddaughter encouraging a younger friend -- perhaps not so much in age, as in her faith.  I've seen you sweet Moms, who've had the experience of nursing, of figuring out the ropes for getting your little sweethearts to sleep through the night, or just what method to use for teaching potty training.  You are being the "older" women to those who are "less traveled" on the "Mommy" road.

I think about some of you, my sweet sisters, that think you don't fit into either category.  You think what you do doesn't count because you're doing it at 2 am in the morning when no one is looking -- except for your sweet baby who has lost his pacificer....AGAIN.   Or because you think you need a podium for your voice to matter or make a difference.

But, I just want to take your sweet faces between my hands and tell you "You ARE making a difference."  Podiums and pulpits are not just found in churches.  Speeches do not just come from stages.  Microphones are just not necessary to be heard.  Don't for a second succumb to the false words you hear in your head that to make a difference, you have to be a theologian instead of changing yet another diaper.  I'm telling you diapers, laundry, and a sink full of dishes IS serious theology.  You are the Proverbs 31 woman who rises while it's still dark to provide for your family. You are the ones who are teaching your children and your daughters what it is to be a Godly woman in the midst of LIFE.  The hours that you sow juggling soccer practice, ballet and football games or between carefully maneuvering the selection of your daughter's prom dress so it's NOT the one that is too low cut in the front.  You're on a mission field of teaching and training and being the example of faithfulness and resilience and determination.  When you break up conflict between your kids, you are being the peacemaker that, one day, they'll remember how you resolved conflict when they're having to do that with their kids. You ARE in ministry.

To offer my life, my lessons learned and failed – so many broken bits and pieces of experience for my sisters who, on a daily basis maneuver your lives with precision, is an honor.  I get to be an "older" woman to you "younger" women.   And while you're getting up again and again for another glass of water or another story to tell, I'll be going through my routines.  You will benefit from my experience, and your mentorees will benefit from yours.

You are teaching the younger.  And while you're teaching the younger, those of us who passed that way long ago.....are engaged in our own battlefields:  taking care of elderly parents, coping with aging bodies, carrying on when a cherished loved one passes away.  But, all is well, because we have "older" teachers that are showing us the way.

We will survive because we know why we're here at this time and this place -- to grow and mature and train and teach and to walk hand in hand -- making our world a better place to be, because we cared AND shared and mentored and all became women worth following!