They Walked The Walk

My mother and father walked the walk - and talked the talk.

They were living examples of true Christians. I never heard them take the Lord's name in vain. The worst thing my father ever said was, "Phooey!" which he said frequently, always in jest. I never heard them shout at each other. I never heard them seriously argue. I never saw any unkindness in them. I never saw any hypocrisy.

They were who they purported to be, a pastor and wife with two children. My brother and I could not have had better parents, better examples of Christians - people who have the spirit of Christ evident in every moment of their lives.

They were happy, joyful people ... content with whatever life handed them. When life handed them lemons they immediately went to the Lord in prayer. We had many miracles in our lives. God always took care of us. We were a family of praise for all the care He exhibited in our lives.

They thought they were simple people. They had no pretense of any kind. They never knew that they were heroes. They stood ten feet tall and never even knew it. Giants of the faith.

They were rich - in the things that counted. After I was grown they would talk about how tough things were financially when we were children, how at times they didn't know where the next meal was coming from at times. And yet the meal always did come. They were poor when they were young in the ministry ... poor in the world's eyes. I was always amazed when they talked about those times because I had no idea. As far as I was concerned we had everything. I had a perfect childhood.

I came to realize as an adult to what extremes the Lord has blessed me. It's not possible to explain how the blessings of a Christian heritage impact one's life in every single area. I am so thankful and grateful for it. I often wonder why the Lord has been so good to me. Every day is Thanksgiving for me. My Christian heritage goes back for generations. I was born into this world with the blessings of the fathers bestowed upon me.

Lest there be any confusion, I still had to answer God's call, respond personally to that call, repent and ask him to be the Lord of my life. That call is in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Everyone is invited to answer that call!

Mother and Daddy lived with us for a number of years in their old age. My mother would never admit being 'old' until she had passed 90 years of age! She was young at heart. What a smile she had. Every time I walked into the room she always seemed so thrilled to see me. As did Daddy. We were so very close - once I grew up ... yes, I went through my 'difficult' times. We were best friends. We talked about things of substance - religion, philosophy, politics. They never knew how intelligent they were. And so, so wise.

I don't want to give the impression that all of us have not had bad times. Our family has had troubles and even great tragedies in our lives. We do, after all, live here on earth :-) We can't escape that. But what is different is the supernatural assistance we have in dealing with them.

I never did really ever cry when Daddy went to be with the Lord in 2002, or when Mother followed him in 2008. It was all so perfectly right, even the timing. I knew where they were going and knew that I would see them again. It was a stunning story of peace and joy. Do you begin to see what I mean about how the Lord has blessed me? He brought me through those times in a truly supernatural way, as if I were actually floating above the circumstances. And those were not the only times. Walking with the Lord changes everything.

And do you know the most astonishing thing of all? My only son and my only grandson are walking in the very paths of my parents. I see that same integrity, honesty and love for the Lord in their lives, that same faith being lived out in this life. They are real Christians. They, too, are walking the walk - and talking the talk. It's the thrill of my life. It's a beautiful thing....

Generational blessings.

But, there is something even better. I am a child of the King himself ...

... A Royal Heir

Eternally Thankful

I am so grateful. Hardly a day goes by that I don't marvel at how I could be so fortunate as to live in this particular time and place in all of human history. No society in history has known such freedom, no kings such splendor as the United States of America. It has truly been blessed.

When I was young, one of the concepts I pondered was the biblical idea of the 'sins of the fathers.' I now understand that not only the sin heritage is passed down from generation to generation, but also the heritage of blessings. This is the significance of one's heritage.

As an individual I have the great personal fortune to have had the blessings and benefits of a Christian heritage which goes back generations. We have all inherited a nation founded by a great many people of faith and freedom, and thus have a great duty and an awesome responsibility to pass those virtues on.

Our priorities reflect those values that hold the most importance to us. In my own life, time is always of the essence. I am very jealous of my time, wanting every second to count. I am always re-prioritizing, slashing and burning those things which are not essential, in order to focus on the most important things.

In past years that focus has been on my family and my God. I'm fortunate to have many dear friends and to have had a career in a beautiful setting with many fine people for almost 25 years. I'm so blessed to live in the countryside. There is peace and quiet. I'm thankful for music, my grand piano, indescribable sunrises and sunsets, for roses, for pets (well...), for deer, for coyotes and for the American eagles that sometimes perch on my trees.

I'm thankful for the beauty of the sun and the rain, the heat and the cold, modern appliances, cars, makeup, Pilates, QVC, UPS, FedEx, good neighbors, cable, cell phones, central heat and air, glasses, doctors, nurses, dentists and their staffs, and Avon ladies. I'm happy - as was my father - that The Stockton Record is on my doorstep each morning so that I can do the crossword puzzle (it hones my skills).

I'm thankful for churches, libraries, education, C-SPAN and for books, for email, the internet and access to world news. I appreciate missionaries and ministers who stay true to the gospel, hard-working laymen, teens, seniors and the miracle of tiny new souls. I'm grateful for the Bible and for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who radically - and in one moment - transformed my life.

I'm appreciative of those who work for justice, truth and peace, for home schoolers, teachers and the people who were kind and considerate to my parents in the retirement apartment. I have been blessed with godly parents who walked the walk, lived with us and lived to a ripe old age. I have the best Christian son, daughter-in-law and grandson in the world. Not only are they my children, but they are my friends. Who could ask for more?

The Lord gave me a husband who is my perfect complement and my best friend. I love art, prose, poetry, fine restaurants, majestic music and the beauty of architecture and sculpture. I could go on forever when I start counting my blessings. My cup is overly full.

But if circumstances change (and they have)? What if we have more evil, economic tragedy, nuclear war in our land, a reduced standard of living, even poverty? What if? What if? Not to worry. Paul and the apostles, who made spreading the good news their top priority, also spent time in prison, were persecuted and died in a variety of terrible ways.

True joy and a thankful heart are not dependent upon circumstances, but are the calm of a soul at peace with its fellowman, with God, with eternity.

It comes with being a royal heir.

A Child of The King

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.