Fruits of Our Labor

This is what the Lord says: "Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded," declares the Lord.  - Jeremiah 31:16


Sometimes, just when you think it's all for nothing, God shows you the value of the sacrifices you've made.

To say my relationship with my oldest grand/daughter has been rocky over the past few years would fail to describe the reality of what we've been through. We've both had more than our fair share of challenges to deal with, and we haven't always dealt well. But we've survived (so far) and life is better (for now). As she prepares to leave for college, I'm struggling with mixed emotions swirling around inside my head like an F-5 tornado.

I never planned to raise children into my sixties. Frankly, I was supposed to be finished by my mid-forties, and I was looking forward to quiet days and nights with my husband...and only him.

But God had a job for us to do, and when God calls on you, it's wise to accept the challenge. So here we are... tired, old and broke, without a moment for ourselves, and never sure if giving all we had was enough.

Last week we received a card in the mail. I was quite surprised by the return address on the envelope. It was my address and it was from my oldest grand/daughter. And inside was a thank you card, one of many I had made for her to send to those who had given her graduation gifts. The note she had written us was super sweet, thanking us for our graduations gifts and the party we had thrown her, and simply showing sincere gratitude. She went on to say she hoped to make us proud.

She already has.

Back in the day