Turning thoughts toward home and hearts to God

Turning thoughts toward home and hearts to God

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Lila's Gift


I never knew my maternal grandmother, Lila Louise.
She died when my own mother was just a young girl.

She was born in Bristol, England
where she met and married my grandfather, John.

Old records show that their families were neighbors.



After their marriage they immigrated to Canada, 
where my grandfather attended seminary,
and shortly after they came to America.




I have a few treasures that were Lila's,
passed down from my mother

Her watch


I keep it in the china cupboard 
in a watch case.  My mother wore it, but I don't.

A colbalt blue perfume bottle.
Bristol is known for it's cobalt glass.
There's still a trace of perfume in the bottle


A Weller vase



And an amethyst and mother-of-pearl
locket that my mother wore most of the time.


My mother told me more than once
that she "never got over" the loss of her mother.

And this.

  

A legacy in the form of 
a heart-shaped basket with a message on top

that speaks of inner strenght,
commitment and brave decisions ~



of leaving behind family, friends, and
everything familiar
for a call to a new beginning


It's tattered and fragile

 
but to me it's more than a keepsake;
it's my inheritance.

Worth more to me than diamonds and gold;
it's an intangible gift passed 
from generation to generation


Each time I study it
I'm inspired and encouraged all over again.
 

And it's my Valentine gift to you ~  xo



Counting my blessings,

Susy


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Friday, February 3, 2012

A Starfish Named Samuel

You've probably heard the story of the little boy on the beach tossing starfish back into the ocean.

The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, "What are you doing?" The youth replied, "throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out.  If I don't throw them back, they'll die."

"Son, the man said, don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?

You can't make a difference!"

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf.

Then, smiling at the man, he said,  "I made a difference for that one."
 

I met a starfish once ~ his name was Samuel.

Three of us had gone down to the beach to pray for our city.  We were standing at the edge of the water, and a young man came up and asked what we were doing. After we explained, he asked if we would pray for him.  He was down and out, looking for work, and more importantly, direction.  And of course, we did.

 As I was about to walk away, I asked, "may I give you a little money".  We had actually locked our purses in the car and I was thinking I'd have to go back and get it.  But instead, as I asked the question, my hand went into my pocket and pulled out a $20 dollar bill.  Someone had given it to me earlier in the day and I'd completely forgotten about it.  But it wasn't forgotten.  I handed it to Samuel and gave him a final hug and we left him sitting on the beach.


As we walked away I looked back over my shoulder, and could see Samuel wiping away tears.  We really hadn't done much ~ we were just in the right place at the right time ~ but it was meaningful to Samuel.

  Thankfully, we were able to say, "we made a difference for that one."

Counting My Blessings,  xo Susy


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