The blessing of family.

I have been sitting here writing my son a letter. As I wrote, I began to wonder "does he care if he hears from me?" We never hear from him but he always seems to enjoy it when we call him. His is a long story but I won't go into all of it but just to say he got off to a rough start. He came to live with us when he was 2 1/2. We tried to "train him up in the way he should go" but he turned away from that way. Did we make mistakes? Of course, we made many just as all parents do. I look at so many families that think they are teaching their children the right things just to see them turn away as teenagers or adults. Why? I think it is because God has given us a free will. We make good choices and some not so good. But does God leave us? Of course not. We turn away from Him. He never changes.

As I look at my grandchildren, I see their parents diligently teaching and training them. They are covered in prayer. I pray for them also and I have to trust God to care for them. As I watch the older ones grow, I pray they will be an example for the younger ones. I pray for their parents to have wisdom as they train and teach the children. I am so thankful we have three daughters who love the Lord and three sons in law who also love the Lord. The husbands support them as they teach the children each day. They encourage them to stay home and be keepers of the home. It is not an easy job but God will bless them for their obedience.

My prayer is that, when the grandchildren are grown, they will remember they had grandparents that loved them, prayed for them, and enjoyed every minute that got to spend with them.

I have good memories of my grandparents. One grandmother lived with us and she was a godly woman. I remember her saying her prayers by my little brother.s bed when she put him down for the night. She was a tiny, humble lady who never had wordly possessions. She had no way to live on her own so she lived with us. She sewed and cooked and took care of us. What a blessing that was.

My other grandmother was very different but I have good memories of her too. But most of all, I remeber my granddaddy. When I spent the night with them, he was the one I spent time with. He also picked us up every Sunday morning and took us to church. He was a good and godly man.

As I think of my grandparents, I realize grandparents have an important role in the lives of their grandchildren. One thing I do know, is that I have fun with my grandchildren. I want to give them good memories.

If you are reading this and you are a grandparent, pray for your grandchildren. Spend time with them and make them laugh. Give them good memories.

Things we have lost

1. Etiquette - Was looking for a book on etiquette for one of my granddaughters and when I asked about it the salesgirl said, "Is that the name of the book?" I tried to explain what it was and she took me to the teen section and showed me a book about sex.

2. Dressing in our best for church.

3. Whatever happened to ladies with hats and men also?

4. Ladies in dresses and sitting like ladies. I pass a college campus every morning and nearly everyone has on jeans. Once in a while you will see a skirt but very seldom.

5. Teaching children manners and respect..

6. Music - what they call music today is mostly noise.

7. Courtesy at the counter. When I worked in a department store as a teenager, we were told if we were not busy to look busy. Fold clothes, make things neat. I was also told, "the customer is king". In fact, in our training room was a picture of a lion with that saying under it.

8. Now you have to wai for the employee to finish her conversation or she rings you up while talking to someone else and never acknowledges that you are there.

9. Whatever happen to gentlemen? I recently had a man race me for a parking space. In a motel recently, I was nearly knocked down by a young man trying to get to a table.

10. Whatever happen to ladies? Ladies do not let their bust and/or their rear end show. Ladies don't swear in public. Ladies don't yank their children by the arm and yell shut up.

Okay, okay. I hear you calling me an old lady but we have lost the culture I grew up in and it is not a good thing. Let me know what you think.

Question for young women

I have posted a question to young women wondering how many feel pressured to have a career plus marriage and a family. When I was growing up and someone asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, the answer for young girls was, "a nurse, a teacher, or a mother". Today, it is assumed by so many that every young girl should go to college and have a career. I encouraged my three daughters to go to college but I am thankful they have a desire to be home with their children teaching them and training them in the way of the Lord. Why did I encourage them to go to college? We got in a situation where I felt I was expected to go to work and "help pay the bills". Not by my husband, but by a church where he was employed. Since I had no training, I had to work in a profession I had no interest in. My desire was to be at home with my children. If I had it to do over again, I would stay home.

I think the church is failing in their teaching of young men and women and what the Bible says about their roles in life. Titus 2 is clear that women are to be keepers of the home. That is hard to do when you aren't there. Let me know what you think.