I have recently pulled out a big plastic bin from the garage... notes and journals and books of prayers from her heart, and the answers as they came... all through her 87 years. I have treasured her life in my heart, always... but the words I have been reading... are a measuring stick of who she was, day by day and year after year. She was married to my dad, who was a minister, for 65 years, and their love story is still my shining example. So many of these words I have been reading, I know by heart... as I knew her. The words are hers, but the life she lived is what makes them so real... She was saved in a revival in Norway, as a young woman in nurses training. This was not the kind of revival that is scheduled in a church for 3 or 4 days, this was a revival that spread like wildfire across Norway. My mother was one of thousands who were saved during those months. I'm going to break up the story of their life into a few chapters in the months ahead, and post it... it's a book worth reading!
But for today...
just looking at these notes and reflecting on her "verse for the New Year"... selected one year at a time, and the faith she lived... it's prompting me to move into this new year, 2010... with renewed hope and faith, based on the promises of the same God who supplied her needs, for 87 years. I'm so thankful that He's my God too...
15 comments:
Sonya, thank you for your beautiful comment. It is a delight to "meet" you.
Your mother sounds like a wonderful woman - it is a treasure to have her words to be able to read and pass along.
Wishing you all the best in 2010!
What a legacy. I so love the look of ink on paper. So rare in this day of computers.
Sonja, first off, Happy New Years to you and yours! Want to thank you for all your supportive comments of recent! Means a whole lot to me!!! Thank you for sharing this post of your precious mother. Blessings and hugs!
I share the same measuring stick with the same precious mother - what an inspiration and example to make me want to be all that God wants for me, Happy 2010 for both of us with love from your sis Carol Joy
p.s. and the same prayer for all of the wonderful darling bloggers who read this! xxxxx
What a blessing to have these. May you be blessed in the New Year! It was a pleasure visiting here today. (I love the music, too!) I invite you to stop by http://writingtodistraction.blogspot.com
Carla
I'm so glad I found your blog. God brought me to you so I read this great story. Thanks for sharing.
HI Sonja,
I saw you on Andrea's blog, so I ventured over here to say hello. Your post about your mom reminds me of one of my all time FAVORITE books, First We Have Coffee. I read it over and over again. Have you read it? My dad is 100% Norwegian, so of course I think about Norway all the time. I find it so encouraging when women post about mothers and grandmothers - women influencing other women is such sweetness, so right and true. It's nice to "meet" you!
What an absolutely beautiful message about your Mom and the legacy of love and strength she's given to you. Thank you for sharing with us. Happy New Year to you and I pray all GOD's best for you. I look forward to visiting more in 2010.
Hugs and love.
Visiting this blog for the first time has been a real blessing to me. The words I read about your precious mother just blessed my heart. What a lady and what a legacy. Thank you so much for sharing this today. It has truly inspired my heart in the beginning of this new year. Your blog is beautiful!
Sonja, my grandfather and his family were saved in a revival in Norway too. Maybe this was the same one? I'm so glad you are sharing about this. What a legacy your mom left you. How fortunate to have her actual writings as you can see her heart of love in them! What a treasure.
Love you,
Debbie
This has touched my heart! Made me think as well. When I saw the picture of those handwritten pages, I had to click on it to get a closer look. You know...I think there is something so special about seeing pages handwritten like that. I spent a few weeks last year transcribing my past bits and pieces of journals and then printing them out, tossing out the originals. They just don't have the soul that the handwritten ones did!
How special this is. I just love reading about people and their life stories, most especially those who are christians. I will look forward to reading the chapters ahead!
So wonderful that your mother saved all those notes. I am looking forward to your posts on them. Blessings and hugs!!!
Gwen
I read in your mother's book, "Keep me truly humble, always seeking thy glory, not mine own."
I don't know many praying that kind of prayer today.
It's all about being successful, look what I have achieved, my children, my husband, my, my, my.
To be kept humble, means that the Lord may work through me, without my big ego taking up the place.
What a lesson, early a Wednesday morning.
Thanks for sharing, Sonia.
From Felisol
I am always so amazed and encouraged by your heritage. It makes me wish my grandmother had left behind writings...she was a pastor's wife and mother of five (four boys and one girl).
My mother has caused pain within our family so to see a Godly example...well it encourages me that with His strength it can be done and past heritage can be changed for His glory!
Post a Comment