No matter if it is "Grandma," "Nana,"
"Grammy," or other names for grandmother, those voices
of our grandchildren bring sunshine to our days. For some of you,
they may be just down the street or around the corner. Ours live
in Texas. Nothing brings as much joy to me as when I answer the
phone and hear "Grandma." Our seven-year-old Alex left
a message on the answering machine when he was five. He starts
off with "Hi Grandma, it's me, Alex." Then he proceeds
to recite the pledge of allegiance that he learned at school.
He ends his message by saying "I love you and Grandpa and
Mallee, too." (Mallee is our dog.) That sweet little voice
is still on the machine.
Now you may wonder where I'm going with the above
words. Just as Alex left a message, Christ also has left a message
for us Christians. In fact, he left not just one but many. Even
as a young person, Jesus was "about His Father's business"
(Luke 2:49). What a message for our youth today. Our grandchildren
need to hear that message, for many times they can be the ones
to lead Mom and Dad to the Lord.
As Christ grew into adulthood, we find many messages
He left for us - messages that teach, guide, and even admonish
us. His messages cover many subjects. We'll "listen"
to a few in this article.
Listen to Jesus' message in Matthew 5:16 "Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Then we
hear another message, "Not that which goeth into the mouth
defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth
a man" (Matthew 15:11). With the second message
we have to consider the first one, because, in order to glorify
God, we must be careful of our thoughts and words. Christ tells
us in Matthew 18:22 there is no limit to our forgiving others.
In Matthew 7:13-14, we listen to His message about
two roads. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is
the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and
many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate,
and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it." Throughout scriptures, He left us His
message about salvation. A message from Mark 16:15-16, "And
He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel
to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." That
message we MUST listen to and do as did the apostles: tell others
about the gospel and salvation.
There is another message in Matthew 6:19-21; Jesus
is telling us where our treasures should be. Now for a beautiful
message He left us in John 14:2-3. Close your eyes and in a gentle
loving voice we hear "In my Father's house are many mansions;
if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare
a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there
ye may be also."
Grandmothers, we must listen to and obey all the
messages Christ left us by way of God's Word. When we do, our
grandchildren will listen to His messages, too. That is my prayer
for grandmothers everywhere! -Route 2 Box 177, Belington, WV 26250.
mrmrsl@meernet.com