(Continued from An Easter Exercise)

I placed her in front of the church by the pulpit and set the microphone in front of her.  I held it for her.  She practiced the song a few times for me and delivered it flawlessly.  “This is adorable,” I thought. “The church people will really enjoy this.”

I put the microphone back in its place on the pulpit.

While my back was turned, Lizzy took a fancy to the Easter lily.  I am not sure what she did, but I heard a thud and turned to see the plant tipped over on the floor.  The largest bud broke!

Yikes!  Anger boiled hot inside me.  I could not believe she did this.  How embarrassing!  In my attempt to delight the congregation, I ruined their plant by my inattentiveness.  The temptation to yell at my child did cross my mind.

But in that moment a still, small voice broke into my consciousness.  “If you bawl her out now she will never want to sing in front of a group again.”  I held my peace.

I look back on that event and marvel at the presence and the voice of God coming to me at a moment when my reserves were spent.   I believe this snapshot into our past shows a pivotal day for my daughter’s love of music.  The Lord oversaw and knew best for both me and my daughter.  I am so glad He led me in my response to the situation.

To this day, I thoroughly enjoy hearing Lizzy sing.  Besides that, I dearly love singing with her.

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(Continued from Singing Sweetly)

A three-year-old thinks that singing into a microphone is a treat.   It delighted me that I had success capturing her childish voice singing on a tape recording.

Little Country Church

We did this little exercise on the Saturday before our Easter service at church.

Located in the “suburb” of a town of 458 residents, our church is the small country-type.  The quaint, 90 year-old sanctuary equipped with balcony and wooden pews seated approximately 110 when packed.

One businessman in a nearby town regularly donated one Easter lily to the church each year.  Often it was the only lily in the altar area or in the whole church.  It had been positioned directly in front of the pulpit on the floor.  This plant had three buds on it, one of which was nearly ready to burst open for the holy day celebration.

You may ask why I can remember the set up so vividly?  What transpired on that Saturday will enlighten you.

After the successful taping of the song she sang, I got a tremendous idea. “How about having Lizzy sing this cute song for the Easter service tomorrow?” I thought.  With that I set about getting her ready to drive to the church with me for a practice session.  I reasoned that she may get nervous and “clam up” if she is unfamiliar with the setting and the microphone at the church.  Off we went to practice.

We got to church and found that we were the only ones in the building.  It would be less threatening to my three-year-old.  So far things were going well.

(To be continued)

Note: We have cards featuring a country church and church steeples.  View them in our store.

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She sang so sweetly.  The young lady smiled as she uttered the melodious love song at a Christian wedding today.  The audience gave her their rapt attention.  Her voice flooded the auditorium with melody.  What a joy to see and hear her serving the Lord, the bride and groom and others with her voice.

“I am glad you asked me,” she offered as he spoke to the groom at the rehearsal the night before.  “It reminds me how much I enjoy doing this.”

As I listened to her practice the afternoon before at the church, memories unfolded before me.  My mind reviewed the events of the day before Easter when this young lady, Lizzy, was only three years old.

At this young age she could carry a tune.  As a musical mother, I noticed that about her early in her life.

Being the third-born of our children, she learned from her older siblings.  Her big brother and sister took  part in a children’s choir and had memorized a simple Easter song.  Our house echoed the words and tune often.  So in time, Lizzy sang along.  In fact,  she knew the words and notes by heart!

“This would make a  precious memory,” I thought.  So off I went to get the tape recorder.

(To be continued)

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(Continued from The Fun Game)

The two of us finished our game and got on to the events of the day.

Later on in the morning as I read the eternal scriptures, I pondered this passage from Psalm 18 penned by Israel’s King David.

“He delivered me from my strong enemy,

And from those who hated me,

For they were too mighty for me

They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

But the Lord was my stay.

He brought me forth also into a broad place;

He rescued me, because He delighted in me.”  Verses 17-19

This king, David, got into a bad and dangerous spot.  His testimony is that God delivered him from those who were mightier than he.  God rescued him, why?  He did, because as David said, “He delighted in me.”

As my grandson and I were playing in the early morning, I kept him from succumbing to the effects of gravity and playing with an electrical source that could hurt him.  Rather than reacting in a spirit of anger or judgment, it was compassion for him that moved me to rescue him, because I love him.  I enjoy him and desire to protect the little one in my charge.

This little incident, on the day when I saw the “sunrise in the west”, illustrates the heart of God toward you and me.  To Him, we are special.  He delights in us and works to protect us.  Sometimes we might think He is impeding our progress toward our goals as I did with my grandson.  But some things are not for our good.  He will direct by stopping some of those goals and provide for a better situation.  His perspective is for our good.  Let us thank Him and enjoy being one in whom He delights.

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(Continued from Sunrise in the West)

Scooping him up in my arms, I carried Davey to join me on my bed.

The room somehow began to take on a more interesting look from Davey’s new vantage point.  He was within reach of some interesting “no-no” type items.

The Tempting Item

The lamp on Grandma’s bedside table with a green glass shade perched on its shiny brass pedestal caught his eye.  Davey ignored its beauty.  What intrigued him was the small beaded chain that dangled beneath the green lamp shade.  When Grandma pulled it the light went on or off.  After studying this little wonder, Davey decided to investigate.

Now that the crib railings could no longer stop him, he was free to crawl across Grandma’s comforter and pillows to give that little chain a tug-just like Grandma did.

I could see the little wheels turning in his inquisitive head.  So I watched to see what he would do next.  Sure enough, he positioned himself on all fours and began his crawl over to the lamp.  As he got too close, Grandma’s hand grasped his ankle and drew him back away from the “no-no.”

“Hey, Grandma, that was kind of fun,” he smiled.  He, then, fixed his eyes on the chain and decided to try it again.

He persistently attempted the trek.  Grandma persisted, too.  I caught his foot to pull him away from a possible problem.  The giggles continued as Grandma and baby played this fun game.

(To be continued)

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Did you ever see the sun rise in the west?  I did just this morning.

From the west wall of my bedroom, beams of warm sunshine flooded the place.  They entered through the smiling blue eyes and round pink cheeks of my one-year-old grandson.  His little boy lips parted to show off a happy grin filled with eight white baby teeth.

As he peered between the wooden dowels of the oak heirloom crib his Grandpa had made, little Davey unleashed his charm.  With his baby voice, he gurgled out dozens of vowels and syllables.  Apparently his night of rest had left him eager to have a good morning chat with his stuffed puppy dog and his sleepy Grandma.

Rolling myself over, I lifted my eyes to see his exuberant countenance.  Though I felt groggy, his cheerful smile invited me to shake off the last lingering moments of my sleep and to interact with him.  I mirrored his attitude as I welcomed his sweet “good morning.”  Raising my hand, I waved to him.  Davey’s little nose wrinkled up as a sunshiny smile spread across his face.  He raised his chubby hand and jerked back a wave for Grandma.

As a first-time Grandma, I responded with whole-hearted applause.

Not to be outdone, this little cherub signed, “Thank you.”  His gesture resembled that of “throwing kisses.”  Needless to say, he managed to melt my heart.

(To be continued.)

Note:  If you are looking to share the joy of a new baby with someone,  please see the card, “Newborn“, in our store.  Other cards illustrating “children’s art” are “Penguin Duo” and “Turkey Sculptures“.  See also “Panda Pal“.

I like to share real beauty.

My eldest daughter made this exquisite gift and gave to her younger sister for Christmas this past year.

It took thought to decide what to give and it took thoughtfulness and self-discipline to set the time aside to crochet it.  Its value far exceeds the dollars and cents required to produce it.

Can you guess how many stitches went into the creation of this gift?  I can’t, but I do know each stitch was made with love and gladness.

Detail shows baskets full of pretty red posies.

You may have a craft in which you are proficient.  Or you may have one you would like to perfect.  Use it.  Take the time to make handmade gifts for your loved ones.  It may not be very costly, but it will be valuable especially when in is made with love.

photo credit: Deena Hall
photo credit: Deena Hall