Life by Grace Alone

Yesterday our ninth grandchild was baptized. For part of the service I held Sarah Marie as she slept. I longed to see her open eyes as I imagined her future. My husband Steve stepped to the front of the sanctuary as it was time for him to give a charge to the dad, our son Josh and the mom, our daughter-in-law Karin. He held Sarah as he baptized her" in the name of the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit." What had happened over the years to lead to this day? Steve had baptized all four of our children, Karin and now all nine of our grandchildren. I recently read an account I wrote when my son this now mature dad of six was growing into the man I see before me. Josh came to us one day with a request. He was no older than twelve. " I want to have a serious talk with you soon." Both of us pulled him towards us and onto a nearby chair. "What's it about?" we asked. Josh continued to stare into space as he struggled to put his concerns into words. ...

Next month I will be marking my 70th birthday. Even though I have been a senior citizen for a while, some how the number 70 makes it clear that I have arrived at the last part of life. Only God knows how long this  phase will last. What am I going to do with the resources and opportunities that are available to me? How much time lies before me? Perhaps looking back will give me good ideas for moving forward. My grandmother died at the age of 93 and my mother died at the age of 95. Although both of them thought more slowly as they aged they were both clear thinkers. In spite of their severe hearing problems they both put a high value on being with other people.Into her nineties Mother would meet friends out for lunch. I remember many times she would visit home bound friends often sharing with them some food she had prepared. Although she enjoyed being alone interaction with people was an important part of life whether it was just to enjoy  the company of others or to encourag...

Marriage can seem like an impossible task. We spend most of our lives looking out after ourselves, the number one on the list. Sure we have many moments when we are concerned about the needs of a friend or relative. When we have been other focused, it doesn't take us long to get back to focusing on what we think is most important. We ask ourselves questions like how can I treat myself. When I was single it was easier to deny how very self centered I was. Starting with the honeymoon or shortly after I was confronted with the fact that life is not all about me. I could no longer ignore the fact that marriage is the union of two self centered sinners. How can such a union last? How do two people with different goals, different family backgrounds and different aspirations become a successful marriage. As strange as it may seem some of the best marriage advice comes from a work written in the 1640s. The first question of the Westminster Catechism is What is the chief end of man? Th...