I’m named after my great-grandmother, Mabel Amelia. She passed away the year before I was born, and over the past week I’ve found myself mourning that I never had the chance to know her. I think we would have been friends. She too was a firstborn, and knew how to get things done. My great-grandfather was a builder, and apparently she convinced him to buy property and develop it into a subdivision. I grew up running around that neighborhood visiting relatives thinking it was rather cool that my mom had a street named after her.
I asked my mom about Great Grandma recently, and she shared a memory that impacted me. My grandparents had decided they needed to leave the family church and find a new place for their young family to attend. Everyone in the family attended this small church. Leaving was a big deal and was very difficult for my grandparents. Mom said that Great Grandma told my grandparents that she didn’t mind if they left the family church, as long as wherever they went they stuck together and followed God’s leading.
The church that my grandparents eventually called home is where my parents met and got married. It’s the church I grew up in. That church started a Christian school and my brother and I both graduated from there. It’s the church Ked and I got married in. My entire childhood is shaped around that community. And my great-grandmother played a role in creating my future, even though she died before I was born. I’m so thankful she gave her blessing and encouragement to my grandparents during that tough transition.
We never know how long our words will live – whether for good or for bad.
Words create.
In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God. The Word was God. (John 1:1)
With words, He spoke life into existence out of the dark void. (Genesis 1)
Our words can have the ability to create too.
My great-grandmother spoke life into my grandparents, and their decision resulted in more life. Mine. My brother’s. My parents’ marriage of 38 years.
Life from words.
What are you creating with your words? Is God asking you to speak life into someone today?
WOW! That is so very like God!!
He never ceases to amaze me!
When my mom was a little girl she would walk to church by herself. Her parents weren’t interested in joining her. So she’d walk 1 mile to attend services.
Well, my great-grandma Spence (my dad’s grandma) went to the same church and lived in a home on the way. She started inviting my mom to walk with her. On cold days she’d give her hot cocoa and let my mom sit in her living room to warm up for the rest of the walk. My great-grandma’s parents converted from Judaism to Christianity, my great-grandma continued that faith. And my mom probably wouldn’t have continued going to church without her encouragement.
My mom eventually married Great Grandma Spence’s grandson (my dad) and had us!
My Timmy’s middle name is Spence after my great grandma. Because she had a large impact on our family’s faith.
🙂
That is such an incredible story, Susie! Thank you for sharing. And to think, a cup of hot cocoa, all for Jesus and how it changed a family’s future! What an amazing woman she was!
After this story, I want to meet your great-grandmother, too!
We’re reading aloud to our kids some stories written by my husband’s grandfather about his life as a missionary in Africa. It’s fascinating to read about their events and decisions that trickle down to affect my husband and now our kids.
Oh wow, that would be so interesting! I love seeing how decisions made generations ago still affect us. Really makes me think about my decisions today.