Let Me Tell You about My Grandchildren

When I was twenty I had my first son. I didn’t think anything or anyone could hold my heart like holding him and rocking him; feeding him and watching him grow. I would show him off to anyone who would listen. I took pictures of him and put them in photo albums. In the seventies there wasn’t any such thing as digital, I was a proud mama. When he spoke his first word, ma-ma, I thought I would go to the moon with excitement. He’d laugh and talk. I had no idea what he was saying, but that didn’t matter…this little person had come into my life and my heart was full of joy and new adventure. You know that feeling you get when you’re on a rollercoaster and it is slowly climbing up the track…you get to the very top, and it just, tips, over, the top, and SWOOSH….you’re traveling at rocket speed, down and around, and over, and under…and your stomach does a gazillion flip-flops but you love it (I know some of you are not a fan but when I was young I loved it.) You’re so scared, but it’s an exhilarating scared…that’s how I felt watching each new discovery my son made…Being a new mom, I wasn’t sure what to do, or how to tend to him, but each day would come and go and I’d learn new ways of being a mother. And so it was with each of my four sons.

And until I met my grandchildren, I thought nothing could top being a mom…until I was a grand-mom!!! What a wonderful name to call it, “GRAND-MOM!” It is more thrilling than a rollercoaster, more thrilling than one of those scary Haunted Houses they have now days…I wouldn’t really know about that because I would never, ever, go into one, like the rollercoaster for some, I am not a fan lol… they are just…too scary…but I can imagine how thrilling it could be. It’s kind of like raising kids…pretty scary…but the love and joy you get to give and receive from them… well, there is no way to describe it…if you’re a grandparent you know exactly what I’m talking about.

I never thought anything could top being a mom, or a grand-ma, until I began to ask for more of the Holy Spirit…When I was a little girl about six, I gave my heart to Jesus. I knew what I experienced was real even though I didn’t understand the Bible, or what grown-ups said about it. Most of the time they made things very complicated. Even now sometimes I don’t understand what “they” are talking about. No one understands everything about everything…Except the Holy Spirit. Now don’t shut me out. Listen for just a few more paragraphs. LOL! Remember that grand baby feeling I was talking about…?

The Holy Spirit is sort of like that only so much more. He. Yes, I said, He, is a person. Just like God the Father and Jesus the Son. The Holy Spirit has His own personality, character and he has a soul, same as God and Jesus. Read Matthew 12:18, Matthew 26:38, and Hebrews 10:38. These Scriptures talk about each one having a soul.

Anyway what I wanted to say to you today is that there is absolutely nothing more thrilling than when you actually hear the Holy Spirit speak to you for the first time. He’s been talking to you all your life, but you didn’t hear or recognize Him…And once you begin hearing and He confirms it to you. You don’t want it to ever end. Hearing Him speak is the most powerful thing you will ever experience in your life. No He doesn’t scream or yell to get your attention. He doesn’t practice wrong behavior. He is gentle and kind and He guides He doesn’t push…actually for me and I’ve heard other people say this too…His voice is like a whisper or a breath inside of you. It’s different than your thoughts, but like your thoughts, only good and pure and healthy thoughts. He brings comfort and peace like a gentle breeze on a summer’s day. I’ve never lived where it snows but I’d imagine if you were all snowed in and couldn’t get outside but your fireplace is lit and you’re all warm and cozy with a blanket and a nice cup of hot tea and all is quiet and serene He’s kind of like that…

He’s kind of like that feeling you get when you catch your first fish, or, kiss your first love…or watch your child open his first Christmas present on Christmas morning, the look on his face of surprise and happiness…and he squeals with delight, “It’s just what I wanted.”

The Holy Spirit is the best friend you’ll ever have. He’ll tell you secrets and stories about Jesus that will leave you speechless and in awe…He’ll shed tears with you when a loved one passes…He’ll lead you in a path that is always lit with just enough light so you won’t stumble or fall. If you will open your heart to Him and speak to Him and ask Him what He wants you to do, He will answer you. He speaks to our hearts and minds through His word and He calls us by name. If you want to confirm what He is telling you, open His letters that are written in His Book and you will find everything you need to live a good, full, rich and joyous life. Even in the difficult times He will never leave, He is always with us. We just need to be aware of Him, talk to Him; He is your best friend.

God bless you and remember this, you’ll know His Voice because it will always point you to Love…God’s Love! I Corinthians 13 will tell you how to Love the way He loves.

God loves All His children and you know what? God is as thrilled at watching us when we are learning new things about Him, as we are about watching our children. I can imagine God on that rollercoaster…arms held high over his head…laughing with excitement and thrilled as it goes…SWOOSH, over and under, around and around, riding on that rollercoaster with His very own children…knowing what He has in store for us…just over the next bend…and curve…How Exciting to know the Holy Spirit is riding on that rollercoaster with us and in us!

~M. S. O’Neill October 18, 2017

1 Corinthians 13 Good News Translation (GNT)

Love

I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell. I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains—but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned—but if I have no love, this does me no good.

Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.

Love is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass. For our gifts of knowledge and of inspired messages are only partial; but when what is perfect comes, then what is partial will disappear.

When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am an adult, I have no more use for childish ways. What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete—as complete as God’s knowledge of me.

Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.