Grandma's Gleanings
Words and Thoughts from Grandma
They are small words, but very important words, words that we use routinely without much thought. Conjunctions are connecting words. We have all served our time in English class memorizing those lists of conjunctions and determining their function in a sentence. The particular conjunction that convicted my soul today is a word used to express …
One of my favorite pastimes is bird watching. As I carefully observe the variety of teeny aviators who grace my feeding stations, I find myself in awe of the inventive Creator and Designer I serve. From those huge blackbirds who seem large enough to devour a small toddler, to the most petite of wrens and …
The admonition to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes means that before judging someone, you must understand his experiences, challenges, weaknesses and thought processes. The complete idiom is: Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. Practice empathy; be sensitive to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another. I gained appreciation …
Life is filled with those uncomfortable, unnerving occasions when we are forced to trust another person, even though we may not fully understand the process. My son-in-law is a classic case in point. He is one of those computer nerds, one of those lofty individuals who truly understands all that techno-gibberish. On a recent …
The year was 1976 and the month was June. Two sweethearts had saved a whopping $200.00 with which to enjoy a honeymoon, finally! They had been married since November of the previous year, but finances were tight and time off from work was not an option. But now they were ready to venture out in …
They are arguably the most majestic of all birds, their nests perched in the tallest trees high above forested areas and generally close to a water source. That nest is one architectural wonder, four to five feet in diameter, reaching depths of over five feet, constructed with woven sticks, lined with grasses, filled with …
Assyria was a formidable enemy; they were evil, cruel, and ruthless, and God’s people were in their sights. After a successful campaign of capturing and ravishing the northern kingdom of Israel, this powerful enemy had Judah, the southern kingdom, in her vicious cross-hairs. Short of a miracle, Jerusalem, that glorious city where years prior …
Poor little Worrying Willie! I smile every time that fictitious character slips back into my memory files. I shared the story of stressed-out Willie with my children’s church kiddos years ago, that poor little school-age boy who worried about EVERYTHING: going to school, riding the bus, bullies at lunch, pop quizzes, those monsters in …
We had the privilege of taking two of our grandchildren on an outing to one of our favorite spots this past summer. We carefully planned the departure time so that we would arrive at our destination early, be the first ones into the animal park, beat the crowd, avoid the heat of mid-day, and …
Nothing can strike panic into this woman’s heart more than its appearance, as this evil creature lurks in the dark corners of my basement, lying-in-wait for this helpless damsel as she goes about her Monday morning laundry chores. And somehow this dreaded being has the mystical ability to appear ten times larger than its actual size! Call it …
Three times he implored, waiting for the desired answer. Please make this go away, I can’t handle it anymore, my life would be so much more effective and easier if You would just say yes! These are not the rantings of an impatient child trying to sway a reluctant parent, but the sincere prayer of …