A Special Verse

I recently read a book and throughout the book they referred to a verse of scripture. "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." I think they put the wrong reference and I have not tried to find it yet but the verse really spoke to me. I thought about all the health problems I have and used this verse to see what I should be doing. I need to be joyful as I hope for healing, I need to be patient in my pain and not let it depress me, and I need to be faithful to pray each day no matter what. This is my interpretation of the verse for me.

I do get very depressed for several reasons. I know I brought much of this on myself and even though I have asked God's forgiveness I still let it bother me. It is very frustrating to not be able to do the things I want to do. I love to sew and quilt and my dream has always been to make each grandchild a quilt. Doesn't look like it will happen. I also get depressed because I can't enjoy my grandchildren like I want to. I can't play with them the way I used to.

We did so want to spend time with each one of them and we never get to do that. They come as families but never one at a time. I have good memories of time I spent with my granddaddy just hanging out in his back yard and talking. The one thing I can do is pray for them. They are all so different and unique. It is amazing the different personalities that God puts in each of us in the same families. There are the funny ones, the talented ones, the deep thinkers, the considerate and kind ones, and so many others. They are raised in the same home but they make different choices and go in different directions. We have dancers, piano players, singers, horse lovers, sports lovers, the very smart ones (all of them), the ones that fill us with laughter, the ones who are kind and gentle, the ones so like their grandpa, some that love animals and others that don't, some love flowers, some like to play jokes, some can't be still, and on and on.

To these precious grandchildren I want to leave a heritage that they can be proud of. I want them to know their grandma loved the Lord with all her heart. I want to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.