Camping, Compromise, and Companionship

My husband is "outdoorsy" and I am "indoorsy"....Therein lies opportunity for some compromising! While growing up I was a girl scout and camped quite a bit. I kept coming back for the fellowship, but tolerated the camping and scouting aspects of girl scouts.  


This week in our dynamic marriage class I have been thinking about recreational companionship. Being Billy's True Companion (one of my all time favorite songs- can be heard here). There is a line in that song that says: 


Yes, I'll climb a mountain
I'm gonna swim the sea
There ain't no act of God girl
Could keep you safe from me

and I'm realizing that part of "romance" for Billy is nature. This song capitalizes on willingness to love your partner and to share a companion-ship that carries you throughout your life. At the end of the song Marc Cohen sings:

When the years have done irreparable harm
I can see us walking slowly arm in arm  
Just like the couple on the corner do
'cause girl i will always be in love with you
And when i look in your eyes
I'll still see that spark
Until the shadows fall
Until the room grows dark
Then when i leave this earth
I'll be with the angels standin'
I'll be out there waiting for my true companion

and I can honestly say this is the companionship I long for both now and in my old age.  And I realize being a companion offers A LOT of compromise. Like camping :)

Song of Solomon 7:1-9: Quintessentially feminine! Your profile turns all heads, commanding attention. The feelings I get when I see the high mountain ranges —stirrings of desire, longings for the heights— Remind me of you, and I'm spoiled for anyone else! Your beauty, within and without, is absolute, dear lover, close companion.

Genesis 2:18-20: God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion." So God formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn't find a suitable companion.

So, dear friends, I'm headed camping today with some good friends, my son, and my true companion... I'll let you know how it goes! Please be thinking about how you can be a more true companion to your spouse and share that in the comments below....

Mothers and an Unfair Advantage...

I was recently sent this interesting perspective on motherhood and wanted to pass it along...


The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.

Mothers have an unfair advantage with the Lord. In Luke 7, Jesus observed a huge funeral procession in Nain. The entire town was present. He observed the young men and women weeping. He observed the pastors and apostles weeping. He observed the elders weeping. He observed the fathers weeping. He observed the children weeping. He observed the sadness on people's faces. Nothing seemed to move Him, until HE SAW THE MOTHER. The bible says He had compassion when He saw her and immediately raised her boy from the dead. (Luke 7:12-15). 


It was the cry of a mother that moved the Heart of God. Still today, Mothers who cry before the Lord for their families, for their marriages, for their homes move the Heart of God. When Mothers stop praying their families (especially their children) perish. Satan gets a foothold and starts to destroy the home, yet when they return to their rightful place as the anchor of the home, demonic strongholds get demolished.

In Psalms 17, 36, 57, 63, and 91 God's role is likening to that of a Mother. As a Mother protects, upholds and defends her children, so does God also protect us under the shadow of His Wings . We find refuge there and can hide there until the danger is over. A mother's role is so vital that a father cannot get his prayers answered if he dishonours/ disrespects her (1 Peter 3:7). Because, of this favour over mothers, they are also the most attacked persons in the home. The devil is terrified of Mothers (the powerhouse in the home). Yet the Lord has put inside Mothers grace and resilience to overcome any situation. 


Today, As the woman of the home, consider yourself blessed. Consider yourself highly favoured and consider yourself dangerous when you pray.

Mystery Bloggers...

I have been thinking about this for a while and I want to let you all in on my secret plan...

I want to have some mystery bloggers write some posts for you!


I will ask some people to post, but also want people to volunteer to post on a concept that means something to them... 


I'd love for people to write about....


Boundaries in parenting and scheduling
Working Mom challenges
Challenges Moms face that work outside the home- from home
Victories in marriage
Being a "helper" to your spouse
Moms who home school (what your convictions are, why you do it, what you've learned from it)
Moms who are busy working in their homes
Balancing a career with motherhood
How what we feed our children affects their learning and behavior
Vaccinations
Keeping "passion" alive in your marriage
Confessing Sin to find refreshment and repentance
Workplace gossip
Pressures of being a "stay at home" Mom


and much much more. 


If you are following this blog- please volunteer to "host" a post on one of these topics or another that is close to your heart by emailing me at:  melissatulloch@gmail.com


I will post your article- on your behalf, and you can send your friends over to read your ideas. Or your post can be a mystery! In just the last month I've had close to 800 readers so I'd love to get your thoughts and ideas out in cyber-space as well!

Pushing Through

I've been a little sick lately- last week there were two days in particular that I really felt sick. Friday was my split day teaching at the middle school so I worked from 7:30-9, and then had to return at 1:45-3:30. It was very difficult for me to return to school feeling so sick, but I wasn't able to find a substitute and didn't want to leave 24 7th graders alone and unattended so I knew I had to "push through".


This got me thinking back to the character building and refining times in my childhood that my parent's would encourage me to push through how I was feeling to do "the right thing" of the moment- very often it was Thursday mornings after a particularly late mid week church service. But sometimes it was when I had a cold, or a broken heart!  My parent's were training us to push through because in life we often have to push through our feelings to be what we need to be- to better imitate Jesus. 


A close friend of mine told me about how her two year old was driving her crazy the other day and she had to literally leave the room and scream into a pillow to keep from being unkind to her little munchin. She was pushing through (while pregnant and irritated...) As you know from previous posts I am focusing this year on BOUNDARIES.... (that word is starting to feel like a bad word because I am so bad at this healthy concept). So I have been struggling with how to keep boundaries while in those "pushing through" moments...


How do we determine when our kids need to push through something for their betterment? 


This whole concept really boggles me.  I want to be considerate of my soon to be two year old, and to protect him, but not from things that will be better for him in the long run (even with a momentary challenge). Having taught middle school for eight years I have seen what good intention-ed parenting can often produce in kids who life is modeled around.  This level of entitlement is well discussed in this article here. 


I am most aware of not building my life around Wil, but he is young and has a lot of needs.  How can we meet our kids needs without having the entire family revolve around our little ones? Every kid is so unique and what might be "pushing  through" for Wil might be torture for a friend of his.


And how in the world do we consider boundaries in light of all this?!


I went to my Bible for counsel...

Proverbs 20:11-Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?  

Proverbs 22:6-Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.  

Proverbs 29:17-Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. 

Ephesians 6:4- Fathers,^[a] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Titus 2:4- Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children

2 John 1:4- It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.

There were over 400 scriptures on children but these are the ones that stuck out to me. What do you all think? I'm dying to know- please comment below:)


I want to close with my favorite parenting scripture.... 
psalm 78: 


³ things we have heard and known, 
   things our ancestors have told us. 
⁴ We will not hide them from their descendants; 
   we will tell the next generation 
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, 
   his power, and the wonders he has done. 
⁵ He decreed statutes for Jacob 
   and established the law in Israel, 
which he commanded our ancestors 
   to teach their children, 
⁶ so the next generation would know them, 
   even the children yet to be born,    and they in turn would tell their children. 
⁷ Then they would put their trust in God 
   and would not forget his deeds 
   but would keep his commands. 

By Chance?

^{Abraham Lincoln said "I will study and get ready,} 

^{and perhaps my chance will come"...}

In preparation for my Superbowl party Sunday I got to thinking about competition, and how unreliable football games can be. Sometimes it is totally chance who wins the game. I found this scripture that talks about chance- and I am interested in this concept.

¹¹ I have seen something else under the sun:
   The race is not to the swift
   or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
   or wealth to the brilliant
   or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all.
 ¹² Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come:
   As fish are caught in a cruel net,
   or birds are taken in a snare,
so people are trapped by evil times
   that fall unexpectedly upon them. (ecc 9:11-12)

 God is all knowing and therefore- can there ever truly be chance? Is it possible that things happen by chance or is everything in our futures already laid out? I know some religions believe in predestination-  the doctrine that God has predestined some persons to eternal happiness and others to eternal punishment (Websters definition). 

But according to the Bible- God knows our future (Jer 29:11- ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"). 

The question is- how detailed into our future is God? Does he give us parking spaces when we're driving around at the mall looking for them? Does he allow chance? 

What do you think of these scriptures?

1. Romans 8:29
   For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
2. Romans 8:30
   And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
3. Ephesians 1:5
   he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
4. Ephesians 1:11
   In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will
   

A House of Prayer

My husband Billy and I started Dynamic Marriage recently- it has been an awesome investment so far (one week!!) I am realizing how much I love classwork. This course has a handbook, a workbook and a book to read. I am not allowed to discuss much about this class, but I just wanted to mention how grateful I am for the course. The main thing we are emphasizing and enjoying at home is the daily prayer with your spouse, and I have to say how eye opening and awesome this has been. 


When we were newly married we were encouraged to pray every night before bed and we did for a long while, but at some point during my masters program (when I was barely sleeping!) we stopped the regularity of praying EVERY night. I think there is a beautiful reverence and peace that exists when a couple prays regularly. At different points in our marriage we would pray after a fight, or if we had a problem- but praying every night is a different level of closeness- both in our relationship and towards God. 


Isa 56:7
I will bring to my holy mountain 
   and give them joy in my house of prayer. 
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices 
   will be accepted on my altar; 
for my house will be called 
   a house of prayer for all nations.”


 If you and your spouse (or room mate for that matter!) don't pray together every morning/night- that would probably be one of the very best things you could do to develop a stronger bond in your marriage. What are some of the positive effects you could imagine (or have experienced) as a result of this kind of commitment?

Loving my HERO from now till forever...

Today was the day my Mom delivered me 31 years ago- So really it is a day to celebrate her sacrifices for 10 months in pregnancy and throughout- all the way to today. 

As we head into a weekend of celebration I am thinking so much about my friends and family that make special times- special. Each of my friends are so unique and have qualities that make them special and beautiful in their differences. My mom has been such an incredible blessing to my life- God was so gracious to give her to me. 

¹⁶ “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (deut 5:16). 

Sometimes I think about what God had in store when he commanded us to honor our parents. I looked up the word... 

Honor:  1. esteem somebody or something: to have or show great respect and admiration for somebody or something 2. exalt somebody: to recognize somebody publicly or elevate somebody's status officially, usually by giving that person a title or an award 3. pay tribute to somebody: to publicly praise somebody who has died and pay respects to him or her 4.dignify somebody or something: to give prestige to somebody or something such as an occasion by choosing to appear, accompany, or take part

I think back on my life and all the "seasons" of my relationship with my mom. As a young child, a pre-teen, a teenager and college student, as a new wife and now as the grandmother to my little boy. She has had so many opportunities to give up on me or lose faith in me- and she never has. 

My Mom has fought through a lot in her life and continues to be the most spiritual woman I have ever met. This year I learned a whole new level of respect for my mom 

and I will be here loving my hero until the day I die. 

Click here to listen to the song on you tube...

I wanted to close out this post withe the lyrics to a song I dedicate to mom:

by Jamie O Neal called Somebody's Hero...

She's never pulled anyone from a burning building
She's never rocked Central Park to a half a million fans, screaming out her name
She's never hit a shot to win the game
She's never left her footprints on the moon
She's never made a solo hot air balloon ride, around the world, 
No, she's just your everyday average girl (but)

She's somebody's hero
A hero to her baby with a skinned up knee
A little kiss is all she needs
The keeper of the cheerios
The voice that brings Snow White to life
Bedtime stories every night
And that smile lets her know
She's somebody's hero

oh oh 
She didn't get a check every week like a nine-to fiver
But she's been a waiter, and a cook and a taxi driver
For twenty years, there at home, until the day her girl was grown
Giving all her love to her was her life's ambition
But now her baby's movin' on, and she'll soon be missin' her
But not today, those are tears of joy runnin' down her face

She's somebody's hero
A hero to her daughter in her wedding dress
She gave her wings to leave the nest
It hurts to let her baby go down the aisle she walks right by
Looks back into her mother's eyes
And that smile lets her know oh oh oh 
She's somebody's hero

Thirty years have flown right past
Her daughters' starin' at all the photographs
Of her mother, and she wishes she could be like that
Oh, but she already is

She's somebody's hero
A hero to her mother in a rockin' chair
She runs a brush through her silver hair
The envy of the nursing home
She drops by every afternoon
Feeds her mother with a spoon
And that smile lets her know oh oh 
Her mother's smile lets her know oh oh 
She's somebody's hero

Love yourself?

  ²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[e] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^[f] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[g] There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29


I was prompted to look into this scripture by a friend and I encourage you to look into it also. God commanded us in Leviticus 19:18:  ¹⁸ “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." Later Jesus is asked what was the most important commandment and he answers with the scripture above- Loving God is first, then loving others AS WE LOVE OURSELVES...So I am asking myself- how do you love yourself without being selfish or arrogant? This is known as the golden rule but how can we practice it?

(Golden rule: The command of Jesus Christ to love others as ourselves

Mt 7:12 pp Lk 6:31 See also Mt 22:39-40 ppMk 12:31; Ro 13:8-9; Gal 5:14)

The following verse seems to be the opposite of what God wants : Ecclesiastes 2:10 (The Message).  ^9-10 Oh, how I prospered! I left all my predecessors in Jerusalem far behind, left them behind in the dust. What's more, I kept a clear head through it all. Everything I wanted I took—I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task—my reward to myself for a hard day's work!

In a parable Jesus addresses filling our "barn with ourselves": 

 ¹⁵Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."  ^16-19Then he told them this story: "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!'  ²⁰"Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?' ²¹"That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God. Luke 12:12-21

This seems to be a paradox that I know I haven't figured out yet! God wants us to "love ourselves" and love others accordingly- yet he doesn't want us to become "filled" with ourselves.

How do you reconcile this paradox? How do you "love yourself"?

My "new year's resolution" or goal for the year has been to work on building healthy boundaries, and I can't help but view "loving myself" as having a patience, kindness, protection, trust, hope, and perseverance...for myself.  God used these terms to defined love in 1 Corinthians 13 but I think we need to remember to view ourselves in light of these terms as well. Patient towards myself and my weaknesses and shortcomings. Kindness in how I perceive myself in comparison to others- finding faults in myself that aren't constructive or based in righteousness. Protection in how I spend my time and the choices I make. 

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 cor 13)

                                                 

When we really "love God" and "love ourselves" we can properly love others. As Valentines Day approaches think about this notion- how can you be more loving to yourself? 

Loving God's Version of Love

As I rode into work today I listened to a local radio station talking about Marriage. I was prepared for them to be unable to do it justice as all four anchors are less than imitable in the marriage department. The topic of their discussion was "Men looking to brag about their marriage". 

When the lead anchor started the discussion he led off by saying this would most likely be a very short segment, because he was sure there wouldn't be anyone to call in- that there weren't many men willing to "brag" about how great it is to be married and how much they love marriage. Listen to this interesting discussion here.  In fact,  this discussion was prompted because last week on a guy's panel of the same show, they claimed that the men were saying how "uncool" it was to be married and how men look at marriage as being a "ball and chain".   

To his (and my!) surprise he said "The lines are just lit up- I am amazed!".  Turns out our men all over Atlanta were happy to brag about Marriage...

This got me reflecting on my own marriage- there are certainly times I think Billy would not want to call into the Bert show (like yesterday in fact!!!) to brag about our marriage, but all in all- What a gift marriage is. I am married to a man who works hard for our family, loves me whole heartily and is THE BEST father I have ever seen.   I decided to do a study on marriage (using the following verse as my main scripture):

^{Micah 2: 13-17 (the message version)}

these blocks are separate/dismembered

^13-15And here's a second offense: You fill the place of worship with your whining and sniveling because you don't get what you want from God. Do you know why? Simple. Because God was there as a witness when you spoke your marriage vows to your young bride, and now you've broken those vows, broken the faith-bond with your vowed companion, your covenant wife. God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Children of God, that's what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don't cheat on your spouse.

 ¹⁶"I hate divorce," says the God of Israel. God-of-the-Angel-Armies says, "I hate the violent dismembering of the 'one flesh' of marriage." So watch yourselves. Don't let your guard down. Don't cheat.

 ¹⁷You make God tired with all your talk. "How do we tire him out?" you ask.

   By saying, "God loves sinners and sin alike. God loves all." And also by saying, "Judgment? God's too nice to judge.

I bold-ed and italicized the passages that struck me the most. God's spirit inhabits the smallest details of marriage and separation dismembers the "one flesh" of marriage. Divorce is an obvious separation, but I started thinking about the smaller aspects of separation- the things I do that separate me from Billy. MY sin. God says in verse 16- don't let your guard down. I think the ways I let my guard down the most are in my level of respect when I communicate to him. I have decided to do a better job expressing to him how I respect him and capitalizing on all the moments when he does things well. 

Please comment on some things you do (accidentally or not) to separate yourself from your spouse or ways that you could work to bring you and your other half closer...

For further study Here are the main discoveries I found:

Marriage is part of God’s plan for the human race:

From creation Mt 19:4 pp Mk 10:6 See also Ge 1:27; 1Co 11:11-12 Man and woman are not independent of each other.

It is to provide companionship Ge 2:18See also Ge 2:20-22; Ge 3:12; Pr 31:10-12

It is to be a committed, exclusive relationship Ge 2:23-24 See also Mt 19:5pp Mk 10:7-8; 1Co 7:2; Eph 5:31

It is a lifelong partnership Mt 19:6 pp Mk 10:9 See also Ro 7:2; 1Co 7:39

It is the intended context for raising children Mal 2:15 See also 1Co 7:14

It will not exist in the life to come Mt 22:30 pp Mk 12:25 pp Lk 20:34-35; 1Co 7:29-31

Marriage as a covenant relationship Mal 2:14 See also Pr 2:17; Eze 16:8

Sharing our TOOLS...

I was explaining (defending) to my sister why I wanted to write a blog, and as only your sister can do she caused me to pause and think through why I became "A BLOGGER"....


I have been following a blog called momastery for a while now and have been really moved and inspired by Glennon's ideas and messages. She posts about the common and universal truths of life while maintaining her faith and perspective about God and her family. And... She is hilarious. If you haven't already- check her out at  http://momastery.com/blog/


I have also been following a friend's Mom who is a true leader and example of "long time faith" at http://jeaniesjourneys.com/   Jeanie does a great job at challenging me to think deeply and more fully about God and my relationship to Jesus and others. 


At church I volunteer as a "children's ministry supervisor" which basically means I try to observe classes and help teachers. Sometimes I spend time helping a teacher with a specific child, and sometimes I spend time with a specific teacher :) Because I need to be in classes I often miss my own classes, and between my toddler and supervising it is hard to get all I can get spiritually from church.


Therefore I realized about the time Wil was born that I'd have to take my christian walk to a different level. I can't just rely on attendance at church/midweek to grow spiritually (which honestly was easier for me to do in college!) Because sometimes I don't get to go into my class, or I am holding a baby, or Wil is sick and I miss church altogether.  



But truthfully this walk with God is dynamic. It changes and develop and deepens with time and effort. Blogs and conferences and women's days and sermons are wonderful TOOLS that help my relationship with God to deepen and teach me how to be more like Jesus in my mind, heart and life. But ultimately it comes down to the individual work I put into my relationship with God to grow spiritually. 


My favorite tool as a busy working mom has been flash cards... Early in the week I choose a few scriptures a week to focus on and make flash cards with those scriptures on them (usually on Sundays). Then in my alone time (the bathroom....red lights...5-45 minutes waiting for doctors...) I pull them out and pray through the words and the sentiments of God. 


I also love the "reading plans" my Bible app has on my iphone. It is a free application called youverse and the reading plans provide a few short scriptures a day. I usually read those before I get out of bed for the day (once Wil wakes up and wakes me up, I wait a few minutes to get him and use these quick moments to set my heart for the day). He has gotten up to the point where he won't expect me for at least  10-15 minutes :)


Prayer time = driving time! And walking my nutty pups is also a good time to go to God...I try to make sure to have "dates with God" as I use to do in college, in a coffee shop or in nature as often as possible to pour my heart out to God-- but at a minimum I write him letters...


Therein lies my desire to blog. I write almost everyday anyway- be it in prayer to God or in a journal. And if my silly thoughts and ideas can be ANY source of encouragement to others than I know it is my duty and privilege to share. 


Philippians 2

¹ Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

Being like minded is an adjective meaning "of the same mind" or to imitate in mind and life- so God's word teaches us to lovingly hand out encouragement, comfort, tenderness, and compassion. I sincerely hope this blog can somehow bring my friends and family a little encouragement, a little laughter and maybe even another Tool to help us get a few steps closer to God. 

Please comment below on some other practical ideas you have for deepening your walk with God throughout the day...What tools are you using? 

Short Years?

"In youth the days are short and the years are long.

 In old age the years are short and day's long."      

  -Nikita Ivanovich Panin

When I realized, that even Billy didn't realize what my blog title means, I knew I had to write a post about it! 

Sometimes I emphasize the long days with a toddler and busy work environment, and sometimes I emphasize the short years as it seems he grows and changes over night and I can't even remember what I was doing this time last year. I remember as a youngin' thinking elementary school would NEVER end. But it did, and it does. Now- life has never seemed as slow moving as a toddler around 4:30, or as fast moving as my son's blond hair (growing at a speed that requires expensive haircuts much too often). 


The title of this blog was born as I was spending time thinking about how each day feels long and yet when added up together the years are flying by, and how I want to emphasize the TRANSFORMATIONS happening among those long days and short years. Transformations that capture my memories, relationships, student's, and interactions. 


I have more to say about these daily/weekly/monthly/yearly transformations here. 


Ms. Panin was sure onto something when she wrote about the differences in youth and age. And while I acknowledge I am not yet old (although I did have a student ask me today where I was when I heard MLK's "I have a dream speech"....Yikes...), I do feel like I am getting older as I celebrate my 31st birthday in a few weeks. Even crazier to me is that I celebrated 18 years as a Christian on September 18, 2012.

Psalm 71:5

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁵ For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD,
   my confidence since my youth.

 I have been a Christian longer than I haven't been. My parents and grandparents and even great grandparents were and are Christians- and as I look back on my lineage and life, I want to always be useful to God in gratitude. 

Grandmama Bogle with baby Wil

2 Timothy 1:5

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

I pray to provide a legacy to his glory as he transforms my long days into short years.