CONSIDER HERITAGE-SHARING

Of all the influential women in my early years, several stand out. Mother, enough said. Gena, a grandmother who nurtured my love for reading at every turn. Mrs. Munday, my 4th grade teacher who helped me, a crying 10 yr. old, with "complicated" division. Christine, my across the street neighbor, who was like a grandmother to me.

But...it was my maternal grandmother, Mama Davenport, who was my spiritual mentor, before I even knew what that was. With her gnarled arthritic hands clasped in prayer and her humming in the kitchen as she stirred up stewed tomatoes in her white enamel saucepan with the red rim, her quiet gentle spirit spoke volumes. Her willingness to "walk" up that 2nd street hill to church every Sunday because she didn't drive and Dang-Dang would not take her. 

I've not known many women I could label as "never complaining," but Mama was a the top of that list. (1Timothy 6:6)

Her well worn Bible is one of my treasures and her underlined verses have offered much insight in to her suffering and her trust in the Lord. My other treasure is my heritage snowball bush.....

...which had its beginnings from her childhood home in Hampton Station, Kentucky. From there to Clarksville, TN, to my parents' home in Hopkinsville, Ky to my home in Memphis, TN, the bush is a living legacy of a small graceful woman who was and still is in many ways, my spiritual mentor.

A snowball  bush that has been propagated and cultivated throughout Memphis and to our son's home in Texas and most recently to our daughter's home in Richland Estates.

Not only do I love that this bush will be cultivated with love and spiritual memories, I love it that Molly and Corey's dog who is checking it out is named Millie. Millie was Daddy's pet name for mother. If he was getting really sassy he would call her Millie Lou.

What a legacy of love came to my mind as I typed. What a great heritage I have been given.
My "heritage snowball bush" is but a reminder to open her Bible and consider the best underlined passages to  share---not only with my children but also with my "grands," (Proverbs 13:22) as the heritage of the upright will abide forever.(Psalm 37:18, AMP)

Did you have fun?

9/8/12 Did you have fun.......is the right question to ask a 4 year old after his first ever soccer game. Questions NOT to ask: What was the score? Did you win? Did you score? The answers wouldn’t be known for the first two and probably very few goals were scored by anyone.

Life Lessons Learned from a Pre-schooler’s soccer game:

It’s easier to watch people than to keep your eye on the ball, no matter how many times the coach tells you.

• 
  

When you’re too afraid and discouraged to join the team huddle, the coach will bring the team to you.

Snacks are important. 

Daddies who coach soccer deserve extra stars in their heavenly crowns. Resting between coaching 4 year olds and 8 year olds, whose games were an hour apart. This was NOT a staged picture.

 For John Parker’s (4) first soccer game he had plenty of advice from 3 older brothers and his dad who was his coach. They asked questions to remind him of rules of the game. (Many of which did not exactly translate to the playing field.)

Nathan asked, “Where do you kick the ball?”

John Parker hollers, “In the goal!”

Caleb asked, “Whose goal? “Mine!” was his shouted answer

Noah asks, Do you touch the ball with your hands?

J.P., “NO!”

 Before getting in the car John Parker said for Pop-Pop to come watch him at Celebration Station. When asked what was going to “happen” there, he said, “Shug’s going to take my picture? (Which I did)

At the end of the game, Coach “Daddy” wisely asked, ”Did you have fun? Did you get what you really wanted---a uniform and snacks?”

”YEA!!!”

A resounding yes to the right question. 

Heartfelt Meditation

4/9/12  With my 5 month old granddaughter sitting on my lap during my quiet time, I read aloud verses from the Proverb which I pray for her---one that corresponds with her birth date. She grabbed at the pages. I bowed my head in prayer over her and she grabbed at me. Such a precious time.

I was overcome with emotion for all that I want for this young one. And I was reminded of the importance of passing on a spiritual heritage.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

(Deuteronomy 6:5-7)

 Words can’t be on your heart unless you meditate on them.