Gratitude Day 628

Proverbs 31:31 – Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Who are the women that have influenced YOUR life?

Often, we think of our Mom, which would be on my list. But let’s dig a bit deeper. Make the list a little longer. Who are those women whose fingerprints you find throughout your life?

There are lots of possibilities.

Like, Grandmas.

I’ve shared various times how I was raised by a Martha Mom who was also raised by a Martha Mom. I can’t speak for the generation behind my maternal grandmother, but I’m thinking there’s a fairly good chance this pattern runs back more than just three generations.

My Grandma Sowers is the woman who told me to marry a younger man. Seriously. You see, there was several years difference in age between my maternal grandparents. My Grandpa Sowers died in his 60’s. My Grandma Sowers lived into her 90’s; nearly three decades of living without a spouse.

Clearly, I did not listen to my Grandma Sowers very well because, well, let’s just say Hubby Rick and I grew up as members of different generations. He’s a Baby Boomer. I’m a Gen X. We’ll leave the math off the table.

I learned lots of other lessons from my Grandma Sowers that I have been more apt in applying gardening, flowers, becoming involved in your church, using your voice to advocate for what you believe in and a whole bunch of other lessons. She’s the one who taught me to love your local library, took us hiking through parks that included a picnic and let me drive her car to high school when she was visiting. I think of her every time I pack a picnic for our grandkids.

My relationship with my Grandma Deaton was so special. We talked about the topics that often are challenging for people to explore. But we did it anyways. She’s the one who inspired me to pray the Lord’s Prayer every night at bedtime and whose wooden tray I carry food out to our porch all summer long.

And the chair that’s part of this post? It was her chair. Originally. When she moved to Wisconsin from Iowa, the chair came with. Grandma Deaton liked the height of the chair, as she was a short woman. And the straight back. At one time, this is the covering that she had on the seat.

My Mom covered it with the purple fabric.

Recently, I switched it out for the greyish-lavender fabric.

I’m not sure how old the chair is. Or the seat covering fabric that I found underneath the purple fabric my Mom used.

But here’s what I do know.

While the fabrics that have been on the seat covering look different and have changed over the years, the chair has remained the same. It’s the same chair with just a slightly different look. My Grandma Deaton used nails to secure the fabric to the seat. My Mom and I used a staple gun. I added some batting to the seat before I covered the seat with new fabric. I thought just a bit more padding might be nice.

But the chair has remained the same.

Women will come in and out of our lives. They will teach us different things. There may even be some attributes of the important women in our lives that we pray we do not take forward! Believe me … I struggle with this DAILY.

One thing that doesn’t change? One thing that is as reliable and consistent as the day is long?

God. Our Creator. Just like the chair is still the chair, God is always God. Sometimes, our relationship with God may look different. Feel different. Take a different priority. But God is always there. Sometimes with a bit more padding when we need comfort. Whether secured by nails or staples, God’s love for us is as reliable as the day is long.

In my house, I have various things that were my Mom’s and my Grandma’s. I have several chairs that were my Grandma Deaton’s. I also have her Mom’s sewing machine which she got in 1901, the year she was married. I have some old beverage glasses that my Grandma Sowers gave to me. They were her Grandma’s glasses from the 1800’s. I have aprons from both of them, as well as blankets they sewed and quilted.

I have specific items that my Mom made for me as well as some other treasures that were my Mom’s. Things that I appreciate and value and love.

These are the women who have made a significant impact in my life. Women that I value and appreciate for being just like the chair I recovered: present, reliable and sturdy.

It’s a few days before we celebrate and honor the women who have made a difference in our lives. Yes, these women are physically no longer with me, but I certainly hear their voices in my head regularly and often. I treasure the lessons and life skills they taught me. I value and appreciate the sacrifices each made to help me down my path.

In their own way, each taught me about faith and having God in my life. Maybe this is what I appreciate about each of them the most: the example of having faith be such an important part of my life.

These are a few of the women who have had an influence in my life. Who are those that have made a difference in YOUR life?

It’s a few days early … but Happy Mother’s Day to all you women out there. I pray you can honor and remember and celebrate the women who’ve help you along the way.

For all these women’s hands have done to help me because the person I am today, I am grateful.

Blessings –

Dianne

Holy God – Thank you for bringing into my life women who have made a significant impact in who I am today. Thank you for their example of being a person of God. Whether or not these women are with us today, may we use this week as an opportunity to celebrate and honor those women who have made a difference in our lives. Amen.

If you have enjoyed this blog, please pass it along to someone else who will also enjoy it.

I’m So Lucky for the Women Who Helped Me Become the Person I am Today

Gratitude Day 628

Proverbs 31:31 – Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Who are the women that have influenced YOUR life?

Often, we think of our Mom, which would be on my list. But let’s dig a bit deeper. Make the list a little longer. Who are those women whose fingerprints you find throughout your life?

There are lots of possibilities.

Like, Grandmas.

I’ve shared various times how I was raised by a Martha Mom who was also raised by a Martha Mom. I can’t speak for the generation behind my maternal grandmother, but I’m thinking there’s a fairly good chance this pattern runs back more than just three generations.

My Grandma Sowers is the woman who told me to marry a younger man. Seriously. You see, there was several years difference in age between my maternal grandparents. My Grandpa Sowers died in his 60’s. My Grandma Sowers lived into her 90’s; nearly three decades of living without a spouse.

Clearly, I did not listen to my Grandma Sowers very well because, well, let’s just say Hubby Rick and I grew up as members of different generations. He’s a Baby Boomer. I’m a Gen X. We’ll leave the math off the table.

I learned lots of other lessons from my Grandma Sowers that I have been more apt in applying gardening, flowers, becoming involved in your church, using your voice to advocate for what you believe in and a whole bunch of other lessons. She’s the one who taught me to love your local library, took us hiking through parks that included a picnic and let me drive her car to high school when she was visiting. I think of her every time I pack a picnic for our grandkids.

My relationship with my Grandma Deaton was so special. We talked about the topics that often are challenging for people to explore. But we did it anyways. She’s the one who inspired me to pray the Lord’s Prayer every night at bedtime and whose wooden tray I carry food out to our porch all summer long.

And the chair that’s part of this post? It was her chair. Originally. When she moved to Wisconsin from Iowa, the chair came with. Grandma Deaton liked the height of the chair, as she was a short woman. And the straight back. At one time, this is the covering that she had on the seat.

My Mom covered it with the purple fabric.

Recently, I switched it out for the greyish-lavender fabric.

I’m not sure how old the chair is. Or the seat covering fabric that I found underneath the purple fabric my Mom used.

But here’s what I do know.

While the fabrics that have been on the seat covering look different and have changed over the years, the chair has remained the same. It’s the same chair with just a slightly different look. My Grandma Deaton used nails to secure the fabric to the seat. My Mom and I used a staple gun. I added some batting to the seat before I covered the seat with new fabric. I thought just a bit more padding might be nice.

But the chair has remained the same.

Women will come in and out of our lives. They will teach us different things. There may even be some attributes of the important women in our lives that we pray we do not take forward! Believe me … I struggle with this DAILY.

One thing that doesn’t change? One thing that is as reliable and consistent as the day is long?

God. Our Creator. Just like the chair is still the chair, God is always God. Sometimes, our relationship with God may look different. Feel different. Take a different priority. But God is always there. Sometimes with a bit more padding when we need comfort. Whether secured by nails or staples, God’s love for us is as reliable as the day is long.

In my house, I have various things that were my Mom’s and my Grandma’s. I have several chairs that were my Grandma Deaton’s. I also have her Mom’s sewing machine which she got in 1901, the year she was married. I have some old beverage glasses that my Grandma Sowers gave to me. They were her Grandma’s glasses from the 1800’s. I have aprons from both of them, as well as blankets they sewed and quilted.

I have specific items that my Mom made for me as well as some other treasures that were my Mom’s. Things that I appreciate and value and love.

These are the women who have made a significant impact in my life. Women that I value and appreciate for being just like the chair I recovered: present, reliable and sturdy.

It’s a few days before we celebrate and honor the women who have made a difference in our lives. Yes, these women are physically no longer with me, but I certainly hear their voices in my head regularly and often. I treasure the lessons and life skills they taught me. I value and appreciate the sacrifices each made to help me down my path.

In their own way, each taught me about faith and having God in my life. Maybe this is what I appreciate about each of them the most: the example of having faith be such an important part of my life.

These are a few of the women who have had an influence in my life. Who are those that have made a difference in YOUR life?

It’s a few days early … but Happy Mother’s Day to all you women out there. I pray you can honor and remember and celebrate the women who’ve help you along the way.

For all these women’s hands have done to help me because the person I am today, I am grateful.

Blessings –

Dianne

Holy God – Thank you for bringing into my life women who have made a significant impact in who I am today. Thank you for their example of being a person of God. Whether or not these women are with us today, may we use this week as an opportunity to celebrate and honor those women who have made a difference in our lives. Amen.

If you have enjoyed this blog, please pass it along to someone else who will also enjoy it.