Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Sometimes we take for granted looking in the mirror. We stare at our reflection daily as we prepare to go out and meet the world. Our attempt to improve our image seems to fade as time goes on. But if you stop and think about it, our image should improve over time.

Through life experiences we have had opportunity to sharpen our wisdom and discernment. Adversity and trials should have taught us how to persevere. But what is our image reflecting?

Seeing my new little grandson, Benjamin, (Hebrew origin meaning "son of the right hand") and his mom, Heather, in the reflection of the mirror reminds me of the responsibility I have as a grandmother. The example that I set could be reflected for as much as four generations to come.

In Deuteronomy Chapters 4 & 5 (NIV), Moses is introducing the laws that the Lord has given him to share with the Israelites. In Chapter 4, verse 9, Moses says “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Even in the Old Testament, we are given instruction about the responsibility as grandparents to help nurture and teach our grandchildren. We should have more wisdom and life experiences to share with them than even their parents have acquired.

After Moses shared the Ten Commandments with the Israelites, he reminded them again in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (NIV) that “these commandments are to be upon your heart. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

I am reminded of my responsibility as a grandmother of a precious little girl, Emma Grace, who is three and a half years old and my new little grandson, Benjamin August, who is three months old. My influence in their lives will help pave the way for them. Taking the straight and narrow path will ultimately be their decision, but God will hold me accountable as a grandmother to help teach and nurture them.

Each time I look in the mirror, I am reminded that I'm not the only one who sees the reflection.

A Writer's Dream

The Blue Ridge Conference has become one of the highlights of my year in writing conferences. It is held each year at Ridgecrest, a Baptist based Christian conference center in Black Mountain, North Carolina. National authors, publishers, editors and agents are available to meet with writers and critique their work and instruct new writers in every genre possible. It is a writer’s dream conference in May each year.

Each morning and evening a keynote speaker shares their innermost thoughts and life experiences pertaining to writing. The information is like finding a gold nugget in a river of scattered thoughts and attempted manuscripts. The speakers are entertaining and well prepared. Classes are offered on every topic that would benefit writers from beginners to professionals. It is brain overload. But every piece of information is stored for later use.

I would like to share some of the main points from this year’s conference with those of you who write or dream about writing someday. Hearing these fine artists share their hidden treasures helped confirm some of my thoughts and goals for writing. Keynote speakers were Angela Hunt, Cecil Murphey, Steven James, Chip McGregor, Ron Benrey and Alton Gansky. Each one offered tidbits of advice from their own experiences.

Some Thoughts from Keynote Speakers about Writing

• We are the speakers, writers, and communicators for God’s word – we are the scribes.
• It takes energy and effort to be successful in writing; you must be consistent.
• If God is calling you to write, there will be satisfaction and peace and you will have a passion for it.
• Rejection is part of the business.
• When we become honest about our pain, we improve our stories.
• Who you are becomes what you write.
• Jesus used words to reconcile – there is healing in words.
• We live in a world that is unreconciled – God gives us messages of reconciliation
• Our words will go out and give hope to people we never meet.
• Seeds are planted through writing. Someone’s life could be changed.

Each morning and evening, our worship was beautiful. The music was sweet and Spirit-led. It set the tone for the day as we worshipped God through praise songs and hymns.

I also had the opportunity to meet John Riddle (in above picture beside of me) at the conference. He is the founder of the national “I Love to Write Day.” It is a day set aside to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to write something. “I Love to Write Day” is in its 8^th year and will be celebrated on Nov. 15. Go to http://www.ilovetowriteday.org/ to learn more about this celebration.

The final speaker was Alton Gansky, the director of the conference. He commissioned us to go out and plant seeds through our writing. If you really think about it, each word that is read is like a seed planted, only later to be harvested in ways and in places unknown to the writer. Sound familiar? In the book of Matthew, we are commissioned to go out and spread the gospel. As communicators, we can do this through the spoken and written word.

¹⁹ “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20.

This was the second year for me to attend the Blue Ridge Conference. It was truly an investment in my calling to write the words inspired by God. May you be blessed by these words from my heart.

Psalm 45:1

My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

Blessed Be the Tie That Binds

It was the kind of day you dream about. The warmth of the sun was just enough to keep the slightly chilled breeze from sending us inside. Dogwood flowers had burst into bloom in the woods while birds were chirping choruses that spring was finally here.

The table was set for guests down by the pond. 

               Photography by Ann Wayne

My daughter brought tablecloths patterned with pastel flowers and appliqués to adorn the tabletops. A feast of meats and vegetables covered the large table near the front porch. A handmade crocheted tablecloth was the overlay on this table. It was either my grandmother’s or great-grandmother’s. We were celebrating Easter Sunday, Southern style. My daughter-in-law even made her delicious banana pudding.

Our gathering was small this year. Just my children and I, my daughter-in-law, son-in-law and little three year old Emma Grace, my granddaughter. The blessing was full of praise and thanksgiving. My heart was overjoyed to be in the midst of my descendants as the spiritual covering for the family.

After lunch, I sat there and pondered the years gone by. I was trying to remember how long it had been since we had enjoyed our Easter Sunday meal in the front yard. Couldn’t quite recall the year, but I knew it had been a while. You see; the timing has to be just right. No rain, mild temperatures and of course, the family and all the family Labradors.

When I saw Emma Grace frolic through the front yard, parading her blue and white checked dress, I realized that God’s promise of new beginnings is so true. And I felt my daughter’s unborn child kick for the first time. God is so good. He keeps his promises.

I was reminded of the scripture in Joel 2:25 (NIV)

²⁵ "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm
my great army that I sent among you.

The Lord was promising His people that He would restore the land and fill their vats to overflowing. Divine deliverance was promised. The Lord told them that they would be restored and never again be put to shame.

I recalled the years of healing for our family from a time of brokenness and pain from divorce. It all became so clear to me as I sat and listened to conversation and observed the camaraderie of the day. This Easter Sunday will always be a reminder of God’s grace and goodness; His promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Just as Jesus died on the cross and rose again to save us from our sins and the heartaches of the world, we celebrated this Easter with an extra dose of praise and thanksgiving.

As my son-in-law left that afternoon, he humbly and gratefully said, “It was a perfect day. " The meal, the conversation, the weather, and of course, the family gathering made it perfect. We were so blessed this Easter Sunday. We finally remembered the last time we had celebrated Easter on the front lawn. It was the year 1999, when he and my daughter graduated from high school.

A decade of change and healing. A time of new beginnings and new life.