HOW GRAMMY AND PAPA MET

Dear Abby,

Papa and I have been married for 40 years today and I want to tell you about our romance. We both gave our lives to serve the Lord in ministry at a young age. We left for Bible College at eighteen and met shortly after we arrived. We really didn't have "love at first sight" because real love comes from knowing someone not just looking at them.

It didn't take long for us to realize we wanted to spend our lives together after spending hours talking about what we each wanted to do with our lives. Our main goal was to serve the Lord and tell others around the world and here at home about His love for them. Neither of us had money to spend on dates so we would go watch basketball games in the field house (gym) and talk for hours on end. Our love grew quickly for each other out of the love we shared for the Lord.

We got married before our 20th birthdays! (Hard to imagine today.) We headed down the road to life and have had many adventures together. We never looked back or regretted marrying each other. We have been through some very tough times as everyone in life does, but it increased our love for each other more.

Abby, set your heart on pleasing God and ask Him to guide you in choosing a mate. He will not let you down. You must trust Him and guard your heart with all diligence. Papa gave me a card this morning and reminded me of a verse that he and I claimed for our marriage. It is "Oh magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together." Ps. 34:3. May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other. I love you very much.

Grammy

SENIOR SAINTS

Dear Abby,

I really feel impressed to talk to you about "old" people. A few generations ago the older people in our lives were treated with great respect and consideration. Some countries still place a high priority on the elderly. I was taught to be very respectful of anyone older than myself and to listen when they were speaking. When you think about it, they really have more to say than anyone else because they have lived longer and had more experiences.

When Papa plans a speaker for our church, he usually asks the older more experienced preachers to speak. The reason being he knows he can learn a lot from them. He and I have had the privilege of spending hours with older pastors and evangelists and their wives. We have taken every opportunity to ask questions and to glean from their years of experience.

I want to tell you about a Christian man that is about 104 yrs of age. To my knowledge he is still living. His name is George Beverly Shea. He has been singing for the Lord for most of his life and what an amazing voice he has! He was born in Canada into a Christian home. I think his father was a Methodist minister. He had the opportunity to have a career making a lot of money but chose to give his life in service to the Lord. He travelled and sang with the Rev. Billy Graham all over the world and saw countless numbers of people from many countries come to know the Lord. I love to listen to him sing because I know he is singing from his heart. I have listened to his testimony on YOU TUBE and been encouraged to know that this man has walked with God and found him to be faithful these many years. He has no idea how many people he has encouraged simply because he chose to serve God and stayed the course.

Abby, don't ever take for granted the "old" people in your life. Every time you get the opportunity to listen and observe one, pay attention. It may be in church or school or your home. Take the time to do a "search" of George Beverly Shea and I know you will be blessed by his testimony and his voice. May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other.

Grammy

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N

Dear Abby

You are on vacation with your family this week and I am enjoying just thinking about it! We were at the beach earlier this summer and if I close my eyes I can hear the ocean and feel that wonderful sense of relaxation you all are having. I just have one thing to say about your vacation with the family and that is "Enjoy every minute of it!" The memories you make together in these days of your youth will be with you forever. God has given you parents that work at making happy memories for you. He has also given you a brother and two sisters to enjoy. Have a wonderful time and savor every moment. May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other. I love you very much.

Grammy

WATCH THAT WHINING

Dear Abby

Once when you were very small, your brother was fussing about something and you said: "All this whining is giving me a headache!" Now there are more of you in the family and you know how crazy it can get when one or more decides to whine about something. Whining is nothing more than vocal selfishness. It is an "all about me and how difficult my life is" attitude. If you think listening to children whine is rough, try listening to adults that whine!

If we don't squelch the urge to whine and complain while young, it becomes a nasty habit that gets worse as adults. Listen to those around you and see if there is a pattern of whining in their everyday conversation. Check yourself when you feel the urge to whine and ask the Lord to help you nip it in the bud! Replace the whine with pleasant words that lift your spirit and those around you. I love you very much and may the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other.

Grammy

LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS, OH MY!

Dear Abby,

When I was growing up I thought my parents were not afraid of anything. Because of that, I never had a fear of storms or people or life in general. ( Except for those huge palmetto bugs, lizards, spiders and other critters the South is so infamous for!) I do remember when horror movies became popular and occasionally I was allowed to go see one with friends. (I have no idea what my parents were thinking.) That is when I would struggle with fearful thoughts. Even today I cannot allow myself to watch things that involve murders and frightful evil.

There are a lot of "what-ifs" in this life. Your mind must be protected as much as any other aspect of your being. It's not that we should bury our heads in the sand and ignore what is going on in the world, but we are instructed in PHILIPPIANS 4:8 to think about things that are" honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report." The only way to do that is to guard our minds. Be careful about what you read, watch and who you listen to.

If you do become fearful of anything, ask God to help you to overcome it. You can quote scripture and pray for peace of mind. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (II Timothy 1:7) Abby, a "sound mind" is what every Christian should have. Guard it and nurture it as you do your body. May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other. Much love and prayers go out for you.

Grammy

WHAT ABOUT AUTHORITY?

Dear Abby,

I am sure by now you have come to realize that life on earth is all about submission. We are all under the authority of someone at all times. It is necessary to have an order to things if life is going to be productive. Within your home, your parents have the authority over you and your siblings. At school, teachers have authority over the class. In government, we have those in authority to help keep law and order in our land. There must be a method to the madness lest chaos reign.

God is the one that established the idea of authority. Romans 13:1 says "the powers that be are ordained of God." It goes on to say if we resist the powers over us, we are resisting God's design for our good. We need to follow the design that the Creator gave us.

I read this definition of submission: "One equal, voluntarily placing himself under another equal, that God may be glorified." That really puts things into perspective! When I choose to submit to those over me, I bring glory to God with my life. We all have a choice to make. Should I have a submissive spirit (not to be mistaken for weakness) or should I go through life doing as I please and no one better get in my way!

Papa and I talked about this subject a few days ago. He began to name people who are examples of those "under authority." He also named some that he felt did not have an attitude of submission in their daily walk. We should be known for our submissive spirit. Our attitudes and actions tell all. The opposite of this would be "pride and arrogance."

Abby, you cannot go wrong with an attitude of submission. You understand the difference in that and weakness. It takes more character and strength from God to be under authority than it does to be rebellious and prideful. Ask the Lord to give you that submissive attitude that will bring glory to Him. Your life will run much smoother if you do. May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other. I love you very much.

Grammy

BE ALL THERE!

Dear Abby,

I read this quote by Jim Elliot, missionary to Ecuador, written about 60 years ago: "Wherever you are, be ALL there!" The first thing I thought of was how frequently I am looking at the top of someone's head because they are looking down at a phone, iPad, or some other device. When Jim wrote this quote he didn't have this technology so he was referring to giving your attention to people regardless of the era you live in.

My point for you is to "be present when you are present!" (You can quote me on that one.) It is so important to give people our full attention when we are with them. We don't know what opportunities we are missing by zoning out or looking down at something all the time. We should not be walking around with a phone in our hand all the time as if our life depends on the next text or phone call we may receive!

Your generation will have to learn to put those things aside when you are in the presence of others be it church, family meals, or just visiting with friends. If you don't learn the appropriate time to use these, you will be robbed of deep intimacy that comes from face-to-face communication with people in your life. You will be like a bunch of marbles bumping into each other all the time.

So what will you choose to have people know you for? Will it be the top of your head or your sweet face and smile? Abby, wherever you are, be ALL there! May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other. I love you very much.

GRAMMY