C
cwmatt
Guest
The legacy that has been passed down to my brothers, sisters, and I is our experience of God through living faith in our parents. My parents knew it took a lot of faith to grow up in a world where trials, hardship, sorrow and suffering would be a real part of every day life. They gave us a strong foundation built up in faith, hope, and love. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus said, “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them – I will show you what he is like. He is like the man who when he built his house dug, and dug deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built” (Lk. 6:47-48). Where would we be without faith, hope, and love?
I recall a great struggle I went through giving birth to a stillborn baby boy. I came to know Sorrow and Suffering in a personal way. I was told the baby died before I went into labor. I experienced nineteen hours of excruciating pain until I finally gave birth. My husband and family surrounded me with their love, support, and encouragement that blessed me with an awesome strength that came from above. I was not alone. The Lord was with me. Jesus did say, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come back to you, and anyone who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I shall love him and show myself to him” (Jn. 14:18, 21).
During my walk with Sorrow I came to know Ellen Drinkwine whose journey with Suffering was also difficult yet saintly. In those short few months I spent with Ellen I felt closer to God then I ever had. I was moved with compassion as I watched Ellen battle with cancer. Ellen shared with me that just when things seemed hopeless I came into her life writing letters that rekindled the hope within her. Ellen’s spirit was lifted up through the warmth of God’s love. At the same time I felt as though Ellen was placed in my life to help me experience the love God had for me. The minute I opened up my heart and spirit to God’s healing graces I felt a zest for life like I never felt before. I looked forward to spending time with Ellen and as I did the sorrow I harbored deep in my heart was being emptied out so that God could work His wonders in me and through me. I felt like I was walking the footsteps of Moses up the Holy Mountain (Exodus 3:1-6) where the brightness of the flames from the burning bush reached out to embrace me. God told Moses, “I have seen the miserable state of my people. I have heard their cry to be free. I am well aware of their sufferings. I mean to deliver them” (Exodus 3:7-8). Ellen asked me if I would write for others. When I looked into Ellen’s eyes I knew that it was God himself asking me. So I told Ellen I would if God wanted me to.
I wanted very much for my children to come to know the love that Father God had for them and how precious they would always be in God’s eyes. When my children were little we watched animated stories from Family Entertainment Network and The Story Keepers video series that taught them about the life of Jesus. We also watched animated stories on Adventures from The Book of Virtues and other inspiring videos that would help give them a strong foundation built up in faith, hope, and love. I continued to build on that foundation by reading to them stories of the saints; the children’s book Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hanah Hurnard; Just In Case You Ever Wonder, Because I love You, and You Are Special by Max Lucado; and many other inspirational books. The best thing we can do for our children is to give them a legacy of faith, hope, and love by using the resources made available to us through the grace of God. We owe it to our children to help bless them with the ability, knowledge, wisdom, and courage to grow into a faith filled person who can and who will make a difference in our broken world. Jesus did say, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Lk. 18:16).
I recall a great struggle I went through giving birth to a stillborn baby boy. I came to know Sorrow and Suffering in a personal way. I was told the baby died before I went into labor. I experienced nineteen hours of excruciating pain until I finally gave birth. My husband and family surrounded me with their love, support, and encouragement that blessed me with an awesome strength that came from above. I was not alone. The Lord was with me. Jesus did say, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come back to you, and anyone who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I shall love him and show myself to him” (Jn. 14:18, 21).
During my walk with Sorrow I came to know Ellen Drinkwine whose journey with Suffering was also difficult yet saintly. In those short few months I spent with Ellen I felt closer to God then I ever had. I was moved with compassion as I watched Ellen battle with cancer. Ellen shared with me that just when things seemed hopeless I came into her life writing letters that rekindled the hope within her. Ellen’s spirit was lifted up through the warmth of God’s love. At the same time I felt as though Ellen was placed in my life to help me experience the love God had for me. The minute I opened up my heart and spirit to God’s healing graces I felt a zest for life like I never felt before. I looked forward to spending time with Ellen and as I did the sorrow I harbored deep in my heart was being emptied out so that God could work His wonders in me and through me. I felt like I was walking the footsteps of Moses up the Holy Mountain (Exodus 3:1-6) where the brightness of the flames from the burning bush reached out to embrace me. God told Moses, “I have seen the miserable state of my people. I have heard their cry to be free. I am well aware of their sufferings. I mean to deliver them” (Exodus 3:7-8). Ellen asked me if I would write for others. When I looked into Ellen’s eyes I knew that it was God himself asking me. So I told Ellen I would if God wanted me to.
I wanted very much for my children to come to know the love that Father God had for them and how precious they would always be in God’s eyes. When my children were little we watched animated stories from Family Entertainment Network and The Story Keepers video series that taught them about the life of Jesus. We also watched animated stories on Adventures from The Book of Virtues and other inspiring videos that would help give them a strong foundation built up in faith, hope, and love. I continued to build on that foundation by reading to them stories of the saints; the children’s book Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hanah Hurnard; Just In Case You Ever Wonder, Because I love You, and You Are Special by Max Lucado; and many other inspirational books. The best thing we can do for our children is to give them a legacy of faith, hope, and love by using the resources made available to us through the grace of God. We owe it to our children to help bless them with the ability, knowledge, wisdom, and courage to grow into a faith filled person who can and who will make a difference in our broken world. Jesus did say, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Lk. 18:16).