Wall-Art

Posted on July 16, 2016 by Margaret

Years ago, Nate and I invited a couple over for dinner, friends since college. Through the course of the evening, we spent time in the kitchen, dining room, and living room, and as they were leaving the husband said, “You know, I just noticed something. The only thing hanging on your walls is your family. It’s all pictures of kids!”

Nate and I laughed and said something like, “And that’s some pretty valuable wall-art.”

Most parents enjoy showing off their children with photos throughout the house, and we were no exception. But what does a parent do when the group expands as grandchildren come along? Eventually we either take down the pictures of our own kids to make way for our grands, or we move to a house with more wall space.

As our family has increased, I’ve decided to solve the space problem by putting all my grandchildren into one frame with multiple openings. First it was 4 of them, then 6, and then 8, which meant buying a larger picture frame every year or two – a happy task.

When purchasing my most recent frame, though, I got smart. As my 10^th grandchild was being announced, I bought a frame with 12 openings, trying to get ahead of the game. My strategy paid off as grandchild #11 was announced less than a year later. But there was still one opening left.

Recently, we were surprised with the thrilling news that another little face would, indeed, by joining the other 11 in that frame. Katy and Hans will be sending photos of a new baby-Nyman in January, completing the set of 12.

I look at these happy faces many times each day, wondering how their lives will go…. and also wondering where I’ll find a frame with 13 or 14 openings, if needed! But I thank God for each one and have committed to praying for them all, claiming glorious promises over them, even those yet unborn.

For example: “I pray that you, Lord, would never be far from these children. Be their strength, and always go quickly to help them.” (Psalm 22:19)

And another: “May each one trust in you, Lord, at all times and feel free to pour out their hearts to you, understanding that you are their refuge.” (Psalm 62:8)

One more: “Create pure hearts within each one, O God, and continually renew steadfast spirits within them.” (Psalm 51:10)

Gazing at my wall-art of grandchildren brings them close to me, even when they’re miles away. But praying for them does something even better than that. It transports us all into God’s throne room, a supernatural togetherness like no other.

So they are together in my wall-art, together in God’s hands, and together in my heart.

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Go, Granny, Go!

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Margaret

In 70 years I’ve never loaded and unloaded suitcases as often as in recent months.

Last December it was off to Florida to welcome grandchild #11, Nelson Aaron. After 10 days in babyland, I flew home in January, using every minute of two days to unpack and re-pack for Kona, Hawaii.

Emerald needed a nanny for a couple of months, and I was the lucky winner.

From Kona I flew to California to spend a delightful 8 days with my cousins and their families, after which I winged my way back to Hawaii to participate in Nelson’s pastoral ordination weekend, a thrilling milestone.

From there it was a red-eye flight back across five time zones from Kona to Michigan,

where I unpacked and re-packed to head back to Florida for another busy 10 days. Joining in with Linnea and Adam’s lively little ones, as well as with Birgitta and Emerald, I was thankful I could keep up at all!

From there, it was another flight home, where I’ve been unpacking and re-packing again, this time for a trans-Atlantic flight to England on Monday. I’ll join Hans and Katy’s family of 7, renewing relationships after 18 months apart.

We’ll celebrate three birthdays, and I’ll work at adjusting to five time zones in the opposite direction of Hawaii’s.

Eleven days later, I’ll fly home along with the sun, back across the Atlantic to unpack once again…. and put my suitcases away. My guess is, I’ll be ready.

When flying, I always select a window seat where I can watch the landscape go by, far below. While we zoom along at 650 mph in air temperatures of 50 below zero, I marvel at how small our world seems. For example, two of my kids live half-a globe apart so that when one is waking up, the other is going to sleep. Yet in the time it takes me to read a good book, take a nap, and eat a meal, I can get to both places. The world is shrinking.

Often I wonder how God views our planet. Even thousands of years ago, before Google Earth and 767 jets, he looked down and saw our world as small. In Scripture he likens it to a footstool. Yet his opinion of Earth’s occupants is so grand that he paid an enormous price to be sure we could live with him always.

I don’t understand it, but I sure am grateful. And though flying 30,000 feet above the earth is the perfect time to ponder this mystery, being grounded for a while is nice, too. When 18 weeks of “go, Granny, go” morphs into “stop, Granny, stop,” it’ll be ok with me.

This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool….” What is man, that thou art mindful of him? O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! (Isaiah 66:1, Psalm 8:4,9)

Roadblocks

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Margaret

As Birgitta continues her Discipleship Training School here in Kona, Hawaii, I continue being Emerald’s nanny. Our adjustments have been legion and continue still. But we have pushed past several roadblocks and feel like we’re making progress.

Our first 4 days at the University of the Nations were a blend of sickness and jet lag. One rocky night found Emerald vomiting seven times, keeping both she and Birgitta scrambling for dry bedding and clothes throughout the night.

Emerald’s flu was complicated by exhaustion and lasted 3 torturous days. We were tired, too, and had all we could do to keep up with laundry as we tried to figure out where to find quarters, a wash machine, and time to use it. We couldn’t bring a vomiting child to the dining area so had to figure out how to buy food for the room. It was 4 days before I got a sip of coffee.

During that time I, for one, forgot how to have a normal conversation and could only speak in questions: How do I get into the front gate? Why is there no way to close the room door without getting locked out? Can I have a second key? How might I get one? Where do I collect mail? Is it true we can use bowls and spoons left behind by others? Where are they? Can I take books from the library? How do I get a library card? Is there a preschool playgroup on campus? Would Emerald qualify? How far is the walk to town? What stores are available?

But now, after 15 days, the 3 of us have learned a handbook-full of new things as friendly folks on campus have given us the answers we craved. And at long last we are beginning to feel at home in this beautiful, tropical place full of people who love the Lord. Emerald is healthy, and jet lag is history.

Birgitta, as the only mother in her group, has had to adjust to being “odd-man-out” in that regard. Merging Emerald into class sessions, prayer meetings, and worship gatherings has been only moderately successful so far, but that’s why I’m here, at least for now – to pick up the slack.

But we aren’t the only ones struggling with a new start. Everyone comes to such challenges again and again through life. Despite a burst of enthusiasm at the beginning, before long we wonder if we made the wrong decision. Looking back to our previous normal tempts us to quit when things get hard. But then what do we do if we feel God led us to make the change in the first place? Quitting seems like questioning his wisdom.

We don’t have to look very far to get God’s advice on this. He says we’re to blast through every roadblock that gets in the way of doing what he’s assigned us to do. (Hebrews 12:1) This will not only please him but will lead to a good end-result.

It’s taken 15 days, but today we three are beginning to see the results of persevering. Though we still have questions, following God’s advice is our best option.