Heart Hope by Olga

Kids teach us so much if we just take the time to listen. On a recent visit, 8 year old Will taught me about kindness, compassion and including others. Will, Molly and I were leaving church when Aunt Lala and Uncle Matt asked if the kids wanted to ride to our house in their car. Molly quickly answered yes since she adores her aunt and uncle who verbally applauded her for wanting to ride with them.  Will quietly said he would ride with me and hopped in the car. Driving out of the parking lot, he shared that he wanted to ride with me so that I wouldn't have to be by myself. He continued to confess that he tried to always look around to see if anyone was being left out in order to include them admitting that he had been left out before and he didn't like it.  He ended by saying that one of his friends doesn't like for him to include others because it hurts the team by having players on it that aren't very good, but Will said that's not what's important. Pretty ...

How in the world did he think he could keep it a secret from me? My husband had stolen my prized possession and thought I wouldn't notice. My Bible was falling apart at the seams because of the daily use, so when I couldn't find it on Monday morning I guessed that I had left it in the car after church. A search ensued   to the car, the laundry room, then my bedside table, my desk, even under the bed, but it was nowhere to be found. I complained to my husband that I must have left my Bible somewhere. His response was silence, until I continued questioning aloud where it could be. It was then that he just couldn't stand to see me fretting over it any longer and confessed that he had absconded with it. How could he take it without even asking me? I might need it for a talk or for a blog or just for my quiet time, but his thoughtfulness was abounding. He knew it was falling apart and was having it rebound as a gift. Since my Bible is so important to me, I want ...

The Armor of God…most Christians have heard sermons on it, have read the passage in Ephesians 6 describing it and some even wake up each morning and put it on before getting out of bed. We are in a battle and it is important that we are fully dressed and prepared for it. On our last visit to see the grandkids, Will was a bit down on himself. We didn’t quite know why, but he was verbally beating himself up. I didn’t like what I heard and tried to talk through it with him, but was still bothered by it after he had gone to sleep.  I have always loved to watch a child sleep; they look so innocent and peaceful. As I observed Will that evening, I felt compelled to kneel beside his bed and pray for him. As I covered him in prayer I visualized the battle going on in his head, so I prayed for his head to be covered with the helmet of salvation—that his mind would be protected with the knowledge that he was a child of God, that he had been saved and was holy and righteou...

Most children have good and bad days, up and down periods, delightful and challenging stages.  My grandson Will has had a great year with a wonderful teacher and my daughter wanted to compliment him on the current positive phase in his life, so she said, “Will I am so proud of all you have learned this year.” Without hesitating, 7 year old Will responded, “You shouldn’t be proud of me. You should be proud of my teacher, since she is the one who taught me.” His statement made me laugh, but I thought there was a bit of truth to it. We tend to want to take credit for what we know, what we accomplish or what we can do. However if we really stop to recognize the one who deserves it, we will thank God because without Him we would be nothing.  God gives us wisdom and knowledge along with skills and talents to learn, to achieve and to succeed. He is the One that needs to be praised and honored. You are awesome, O God , in your sanctuary; the God o...