A Saintly Example

Today is my mother's birthday. I am grateful for the inspiration she is and will always be to me. From her, I learned to be a good mother to my children. I learned to be a good wife and helpmate by watching the way she loved her husband.

I learned to forgive quickly because of her example. I learned to look to Christ for my purpose and worth because of her love and devotion to Him. I learned that God always creates beauty out of broken lives by watching how she lives her life so eloquently and intentionally. 

I learned to dance and laugh and sing in all circumstances by watching her. I learned about God's amazing grace by being around her. By her example, I learned that being a follower of Jesus means helping the poor by actually getting close to them and getting to know them. I learned how to be accepting of everyone, how to love unconditionally, and how to give sacrificially because of the way she lives daily.

I learned from her how to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and not just talk about it. I learned how to show grace and kindness to all people no matter how they treat me. And I'm still learning to be generous and gracious in everything I say and do by watching her.

Happy birthday to the best mother and saintly example a person could have.

I love you, Mama, with all my heart!

A Legacy of Love

Today is my beloved paternal grandfather's birthday. He passed away last February at the age of 96.

I wrote a tribute to my grandfather and read it at his funeral. I'm sharing it again today to celebrate his wonderful life.

 A TRIBUTE TO POPPY

If I had to choose one word to describe my grandfather (Poppy) it would be, “LOVE.” He loved God, he loved people, and he loved life.

Some of my favorite memories of him are the times he laughed hysterically while watching cartoons. I remember watching Tom and Jerry with him and he laughed so hard that he nearly fell out of his chair. That was amazing to see an old man laugh harder than I did as a little girl. He loved to laugh and he laughed hard and often. He truly lived life to the fullest.

Growing up, I spent a great deal of time with him and my grandmother because I lived right next door to them for several years. One of my favorite things to do as a little girl was to sit with Poppy and swing with him while one of his many cats that he liked to call, “Sweetie Pie”
sat in his lap.

I will always remember the camping trips I took with my grandparents. Poppy loved his camper, he loved to fish, and he loved the outdoors. Some of my greatest memories are all the times we spent outside in his garden and on his property.

I learned what true joy is by hanging out with Poppy. He was always content while living a laid-back life in Epworth, Georgia. He was a country boy at heart.

Poppy knew the art of enjoying the simple things in life. I can hear him now making a soft whistling sound just like he did as he tinkered on his tractor and worked in his garden. He just had this amazing aura of happiness about him.

Poppy had a major sweet tooth. Some of his favorite treats were Circus Candy Peanuts and Moon Pies. He loved to eat a slice of cake or pie after every meal and sometimes he even ate his dessert before the main course.

And oh how he loved his family. He was truly the best father and grandfather a person could have. He raised three wonderful children. And I know Jeff, Sabrina, and Christina agree that he brought tremendous joy into our childhoods.

I will always remember the laughter, and the fun times with Poppy. But what is most important to me is how Poppy’s life permanently impacted my heart. I learned from him that life is a gift—a beautiful gift from our Heavenly Father. I watched my grandfather live the life that God intends for every person to live.

There is a scripture verse that comes to my mind when I think of Poppy. Deuteronomy 5:33 says, “Walk in all the way that the Lord has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”

Poppy could have had a tragic life. His earthly father passed away on his 11^th birthday and left him fatherless. But he chose the high road and he let His Father in Heaven fill the void in his heart after losing a parent at such a young age.

Poppy surely prospered in his life on this earth. He had a rich marriage with my grandmother for 72 years. He stayed committed to her and loved her through the good times and through the hard times.

He was a man of courage and a man of honor. He loved and enjoyed his family and friends so very much. 

He lived a long, fulfilling life because he attained an intimate love relationship with Christ. He lived out the greatest commandments in the Bible very well.

Poppy’s life is the perfect example of a life fully surrendered to Christ. He lived a blessed life throughout his journey on Earth because he loved God with his whole heart, mind, and soul. And he certainly loved his neighbor as himself in countless ways. He was an amazing man because he tapped into the true Source of Life.

His life was beautiful and filled with joy because of that. An intimate relationship with Christ is what God longs for every person to enter into. 

He wants us to be so head over heels in love with Jesus that no circumstance or loss can rob us of our joy.

My prayer for each one of us is that we will let the life that my grandfather lived be a standard we will reach for and that we will let Jesus fill the void in our heart in the same way Poppy turned to God when he lost his daddy as a child.

I will close with some words that my grandfather wrote to me in a letter. His words hold the key to a happy life.

Poppy wrote these words that will stay with me forever, “I pray that you will always love Jesus with all your heart. This is what life is all about.”

Letting Go

It was March 2, 2012, the day of my grandfather's funeral. Poppy, who was ninety-six had passed away peacefully a few days earlier. We had just left the cemetery after the graveside service. I was in the car with my husband when we pulled into the driveway of my grandparents' house that they had lived in my entire life. I’d lived right next door to them during my 3rd through 5th grade years of school. In fact, my family lived with them in this house for a short time while we were waiting for our new house to be built.
 
Minutes before, I had learned that the house and most of the property had been sold. Our family had about thirty days to move everything out of it before the new family would be moving in.
 
Emotions came crashing in my heart as I saw Poppy's tractor sitting there just like it had been for my whole life. It was probably a newer tractor. But he had always had a tractor for as long as I could remember. 

I walked around that day trying to take in the reality of what was happening. As I looked out over my grandparents' property my aunt's words resonated in my heart.
 
"It's a chapter coming to an end."

She was having a hard time with all the sudden change. Seeing my brother and me walking around soaking in the memories that were created on that land was more than she could take. With teary eyes, she walked away and went inside the house.
 

As hard as it was to face the reality of a chapter of my life being over, I knew I needed to face it head on.
 
This reminds me of a memory I have of my father pulling a splinter out of my foot. I was terrified of the pain. I would’ve done anything to avoid it. But my daddy—in his wisdom—knew that the splinter needed to be dealt with or it would become infected. So I wailed as he made me sit still until he gently removed the culprit that was causing the pain. The pain was intense for a short time. But as soon as he removed it I felt better. 

Just like the splinter needed to be removed, our hurts and sorrows need to be removed by our Father in heaven.
 
How many times do we choose to run from pain? When in reality, it is facing our pain that makes it go away. Sure, the grief might be intense for a short time as we are facing it. But in the long run, after the pain has been dealt with we are free to live fully and freely without the pain of the past weighing us down.
 
Pain festers in our hearts and infects us with bad symptoms in the same way a splinter would fester in our foot and cause many bad symptoms.
 
Knowing that I needed to let go of a chapter of my life, I embraced the pain. Week after week I returned to my grandparents' house to help go through their things before the new family moved in. As I combed through each closet and drawer it was therapy for my soul. I would find treasures from my past and gleefully share my excitement, "Look what I found!"
 
The very last day I went to their house was the hardest. The week that I knew would be my very last visit I prayed for God's help. I knew it wouldn't be easy to let go of something that had been a happy part of my life since I was born.
 
As I pondered the memories of my grandparents' home, I heard the Lord’s still small voice within me.  "I will use the house and property to bless another family in the same way it has blessed yours."  As the Lord was speaking to my heart, I realized that in order to experience the new beginnings He had for my life I had to be willing to let go of the past.

Why is it as humans that we hold on so tightly to our pain and to our past?
 

The day that I went to pick up the last piece of furniture, the new family was moving in. I introduced myself and began to share my heart with them. Through a few tears and with my voice breaking, I said, “I want this house to bless your family the way it has blessed mine.”   

The gentleman replied to me, "It already is a blessing us." I want to stay here for the rest of my life." While I shared the difficulty I was having in letting go, he responded, “I've got to go inside now, your words are about to cause me to start sobbing."

I'm the kind of person who truly wears my emotions on my sleeves. The vulnerability I was showing about the difficulty of letting go was really touching his heart. It was a powerful God moment for all of us there that day. In my letting go, the new family was able to embrace the gift of this beautiful, sacred home-place. 

My husband and I stood on the edge of the property that overlooks one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen. As I embraced my sadness, my husband prayed the sweetest prayer for me. 

In those last moments standing on that beautiful piece of property that had been a sanctuary for me throughout my life, I realized that the sacredness I felt on Poppy's land could be felt every day of my life wherever I am. I rode away from Poppy’s home on this earth and thought about the legacy that he had left behind for me and for my family. As our car pulled away, I let the tears flow. It was an hour and a half drive home. I prayed, “Lord, heal my heart.” By the time I returned home I felt better.

That was last spring on Good Friday of 2012, three days before Easter. How beautiful of the Lord to allow me to celebrate His resurrection with a healed heart, free of pain.

The legacy of Poppy’s love for Christ lives on in my heart. I am free to carry on and live free from the sadness. When we look heavenward, life is sweet and beautiful. When we focus on what we've lost, our lives become defined by brokenness and pain.

That’s what letting go does. It releases the pain and opens the door in our hearts for new beginnings and new beauty.
 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:7 ESV

Live Abundantly!

Amy

Remembering Papa

I am posting the eulogy I wrote and read at my grandfather's funeral in 1997 in honor of Veteran's Day because he was a military man through and through. It's hard to believe it's been fifteen years. My Papa, Paul Baker, left an amazing legacy for me and for my family. I pray that I will leave this kind of legacy for my children and grandchildren. 

A Tribute to Papa (Written November, 1997)

I would like to honor my grandfather by sharing some of my memories of him. There are really no words sufficient enough in the human language to portray the life of a man that had such an impact on my life. But I will share a few thoughts with you.

Papa was probably best known for his storytelling. If you had a listening ear, he loved to tell a story. Some of the stories were true, but sometimes I think he had a wild imagination. He always made me laugh. One of my favorite tales of his was about an usher at church that got tongue-twisted and muttered these words to the guests, "Mardon me Padam, this pie is occupued, let me sew you to your sheet." Anyone who knew him heard him share this tale among many others.

Papa was always proud of his heritage. He loved to talk about his ancestors. I will always remember how orderly Papa lived his life. The military definitely influenced him. He lived by the clock. He loved routine and was very predictable. One of my favorite memories was when I was a teen. I was visiting at my grandparents’ house. One morning I got up early to go to the bathroom with hopes of getting back in bed for more sleep. But when I returned, Papa had already made my bed.

Of all my memories, the thing that stands out in my mind the most when I think of my grandfather is the godly character he had. He was never the type to preach or talk a lot about spiritual things. But his faith was evident by the way he lived his life. He loved and stayed committed to his wife through the good times and the hard times. He was truly the ideal father and grandfather. He raised two wonderful children and I know Jeff and Ashley would agree that he brought great joy into our childhoods.  

I especially remember how Papa loved to take us to cemeteries to read headstones. He loved history. I remember waking up to the reveille. I can still hear him singing, “ I can't get 'em up, I can't get 'em up, I can't get 'em up in the morning...." I remember all the trips to the store to buy ice cream. It had to be Breyers! I remember the hours he spent teaching me how to parallel park. He was the one who took me for my driver's test after I failed it two times.

These are just a few of my memories of my grandfather. I could write a book about Papa. He invested a lot of time in his family. And I know he was pleasing to the Lord.

In our culture, advertising provides many images of manhood—things like sports, cars, drinking beer, and smoking cigars. But Papa was a real man. He had courage and strength. He was kind, gentle, and loving. He was a man of honor.

I will close with a scripture that seems fitting of Papa's life.

Ephesians 4:1-2..."As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Live Abundantly!

Amy 

Where's the Grace?

In August of 2001, as I was watching the Tour de France, Jan Ullrich, a talented German cyclist tumbled down an embankment while descending the Peyresourde. The fall cost him a noticeable amount of time in the race. Lance Armstrong held back from taking advantage of Ullrich. He waited until his closest competitor caught back up with him. Maybe some would see that as the politically correct choice for Armstrong. But I saw it as a sign that Lance is a man of character. He showed honor to his rival.

I have always tried to avoid writing about anything controversial. I've been a fairly timid person for most of my life. But after reaching my forties, I have surprised myself by the boldness that often rises up in me when I am standing up for what is right.

I pray that I don't ever stir up a hornet's nest by anything I write. But I feel that it's necessary for me to speak up about things that are unjust.

This week I've asked myself more than once, "Where is the grace?"

My reason for asking this question has to do with the unkind comments I have read that were aimed toward Lance Armstrong after he made the decision to withdraw from the fight against the USADA, the organization that has been accusing Lance of using enhancement drugs during his years of competing in cycling events.

In a perfect world, there would be nothing but love and encouragement offered to a person who was undergoing accusations that could possibly be false. Many people seem to believe that Lance is guilty of the accusations without the proper evidence. My belief system causes me to assume someone is innocent until proven guilty.

As a passionate follower of Jesus Christ, my goal is to love others the way that I want to be loved. The second greatest commandment—we all know—is "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Let's just suppose Lance is guilty of lying and cheating in the cycling events. I personally believe he is innocent. But hypothetically speaking, if he were to be found guilty, I would remain supportive toward him. He has proven himself to be the kind of man that wants to do good for this world. He has tirelessly given of his time for the cancer community. And the fact that he may not have the same beliefs as I do about Christ does not change my attitude toward him. Actually, my relationship with Christ is what allows me to have love and to have compassion toward all men regardless of their beliefs or what they may have done.

Earlier this week, my daughter showed me a video with the story of families in Rwanda who have proven it's possible to love and forgive the ones who have committed the most despicable crimes. In the video, the story of the genocide that took place in the nineties is recounted. It's a beautiful story of redemption as they share how some of the murderers have asked for forgiveness. Amazingly, the victims graciously forgave the ones who killed their husbands, sisters, brothers, daughters, and sons. Jesus died so that we could all live a life of reconciliation. The story in the video is a powerful example for all of us.

If a woman can forgive the man who murdered her entire family, then certainly we all can forgive the high profile people who may have done something wrong.

It's possible through Christ, to live with a heart filled with compassion and a perfect love toward one another.

When we are all gone from this earth, what do we want to be remembered by? Do we want to be remembered by the critical things we said about others or the judgments we made about them?

When I'm gone from here, I want to be remembered for the love I showed to my fellow man. I want my life to be defined by the grace that saved me. I want to always be an encourager and one that makes people feel deeply loved and appreciated. I want to always see the best in everyone.

The controversy this week surrounding the USADA and Lance Armstrong has caused me to look closer at my own heart. And more than ever, I want to live a life that is defined by grace.

And the second is this:  'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. ~ Mark 12:31 (NIV)

Live Abundantly!

Amy

Only Forgiveness Can Win from Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee on Vimeo.