I Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love).

Cherish the gift of love for there is no greater gift every given!

Nine years ago, come this Christmas, my mom who was 89 years old at the time, gave each of us children and grandchildren a set of pillowcases she embroidered by hand. She was living with me because of some health issues she was having which made it hard for her to live alone. I remember her sitting in her recliner in her room many hours sewing the beautiful stitches into each of the sets she made that year. We are a large family, so this endeavor was not an easy task. Many, many times when I went in to talk with her, she would be working on them; she would say, “I hope I live long enough to finish a set for everyone.” After many long hours of stitching, she managed to get them finished for Christmas that year. Needless to say; everyone loved them. Those sets of pillowcases were the last physical gift she gave us. Yet, she gave us all so much more, she gave us the gift of her love she had stitched into each set; but more than that, the gift of love she stitched into each of our hearts.

Just after Christmas that year she fell and broke her arm; it was a bad break which required her to have surgery fot it to be repaired. A few hours after they completed her surgery, she threw a clot which caused her to have a stroke. After weeks of being in the hospital and in therapy she finally came home to be with us again, but she never fully recovered from the stroke. On July 22, 2012, almost 7 months later, she went home to be with the Lord.

As far as expensive gifts go, they are not worth a lot, but to those who knew and loved her those sets of pillowcases are worth more than money could ever buy because they were made with old, tired, worn hands that were filled with love for each of her children and grandchildren; a gift of love that is far richer than anything money could ever buy. My friends, cherish those special people in your life; those who are there each day stitching their love into our hearts and lives. Giving us a love so precious it never dies even though the person is no longer with us.

Her deep love for family came from her loving relationship with her Savior, Jesus Christ. One of my mom’s favorite chapters in the bible was John 14. In verses 2-3 it says, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. And If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” I know in my heart she now rests with my dad in that mansion Jesus went to prepare for her. One day when my life upon this earth is finished, I pray I too will join them there to rest in the eternal love of our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ.

So, my friends, cherish the gift of love you receive everyday from those around you and from our Heavenly Father above for there is no greater gift!
God Bless my friends! Jeanette

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
Many young people believe “Good people go to heaven when they die” not understanding that just being good alone will not take you to heaven only those who have accepted Christ go to heaven. Parents – grandparents – we must talk to our children from an early age in depth about what Christianity is and what it is not. Let us pray about this and talk to our children and grandchildren. It is far more important than any inheritance we can leave them. Let’s leave them knowing how to walk with Jesus Christ and then our legacy will live on and on!

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:13
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.
Psalms 33:18
Inspiration
When you need encouragement and refreshment for your soul, turn to these Scriptures from the Old and New Testaments that offer hope and encouragement. Everyone needs to be reminded from time to time of the hope we have through God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Lord, I cling to my hope in You and I hold onto the assurance that what I am praying for is already accomplished in the name of Jesus. Your Word promises “no good thing does He withhold from those that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). I wait upon You Lord for I know You will not withhold any good thing from me. I pray as David prayed in Psalm 18:2: “I love you, Lord, my strength, my hope. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” In Jesus Name. Amen

Early Morning Light

In the early morning light
Autumn leaves are gently falling
Red, yellow & gold ever so bright
Telling me that winter is softly calling

The sun glistens across the back porch rail
As frost twinkles in the early morning light
The beauty my eyes behold is impossible to tell
For it appears as a million diamonds ever so bright

God is pouring His beauty out for all to see
For this season is filled with His Holy Majesty
Oh Lord, I give all my praise unto thee
As Your loving presence is my daily reality

I give thanks unto You my loving Savior
For the blessings You shower upon us each day
For we are blest more than our hearts can savor
As our blessings fall from heaven on beautiful sunlit rays
Written by Jeanette Stoltz 11-23-2021

Recently I have just wanted to sit and write but it seems I can’t wrap my mind around anything significant to write. With this COVID ordeal and dealing with all the after effects of this crazy disease it seems I am having a hard time overcome the weakness which has made me down at times. So I thought I would share a few of my recent thoughts.

Today my mind kept drifting back to when I was young and how much simpler life was. Yes, we had to work hard on our little farm doing chores like gardening, gathering eggs, milking the cow but life as a whole was simple and oh so peaceful compared to today’s world.
I’m sure mom and dad didn’t think life was easy from sun up to sun down they worked to keep us kids feed and clothed; not like people work today but working in the fields hoeing or mom in the kitchen canning; or later freezing the bounty from our harvest.

Sometimes I wish I could turn back the hands of time and let my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren experience that simple, peaceful life where we didn’t have to worry about COVID or all the other stressful issues happening today. Progress is good in some ways I know, but life 50 years ago had so much to offer as a whole. Families stuck close together and helped each other. We mostly lived in close net communities where everyone knew everyone else. We didn’t worry about our children who played out in the fields, creeks, and lanes because everyone looked for each other and each other’s children. We had peace in knowing loved ones were close by and safe.

Yes, sometimes I wish I could turn back the hands of time to those peaceful days of my childhood, or find some other way to show our young people just what a blessing a simple life close to family and friends, and most of all God can be.

Just my thoughts for today! May God bless your night everyone. Jeanette

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