This is my Grandma and Grandpa, John & Mary Halbert. Some of you knew them on this side of heaven. Some of you know them by me talking about them here on social media. They’ve long been in heaven, but today I really need their example for focus on what matters most. Though they weren\u2019t the \u201cget down and play a game\u201d kind-of-grandparents, they impacted my life in ways I can hardly explain.
Back in the day, I remember “testimony” services at church. That’s when the pastor would invite people in the congregation to stand and give a praise report about God’s goodness. I remember my grandpa\u2019s way of giving a praise report about God\u2019s goodness was with his beautiful baritone voice, standing up and singing: “Hold to God’s unchanging hand. Hold to God’s unchanging hand. Build your hopes on things eternal. Hold to God’s unchanging hand.” And from there he’d give witness to how the struggles in this life can be overcome if we hold God’s unchanging hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then my sweet grandma would stand and give her short, yet powerful and consistent “word” exhortation as she waved her hanky: “You’ve just got to love.” Then she’d sit down. Her mission was accomplished, because everyone that knew her, felt her love, and in turn, desired to emulate that love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They lived in a modest little home in midtown Dallas. I remember, more times than not, finding them in their rocking chairs, listening to faith-based broadcasting on their radio. Good old Southern preaching and singing. They wore their faith and love for God on the inside and outside. Sunday lunches at their house included Grandpa\u2019s long prayer before eating. And my sweet grandma poured her love out to us by getting up very early on Sunday morning to prepare a meal for us that was fit for kings and queens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This sweet little grandmother was also the matchmaker that brought my sweetheart and me together — myself at age 12 and “Ronnie” aka Ron at age 13. She called to say, “Ronnie Wuerch likes you.” I replied, “Tell him I like him, too!” The rest is history, but the most precious gift she ever gave me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With this blog today, I wanted to give you an example of what \u201cgrandparenting\u201d looked like back in the day. It wasn\u2019t all the \u201cgo-to\u201d places of entertainment that I\u2019ve been good at with my grands and it wasn\u2019t the gifts or the treasure hunts I always planned out for their birthdays. For my grandparents,, it was prayer. I know that their prayers for me, waaay back then, are still being answered today. Their prayers, like our prayers, are “perennials” (you know, the flowers\/plants that come back up year after year).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each prayer they prayed were like seeds that eventually bore fruit that has blessed not just me, but my children and their children. Just because they died, their prayers didn’t. I am still reminded that the prayers of my grandparents are being answered in my life right now. Their prayers outlived them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I attended my \u201cGrandmothers\u2019 Prayer Group\u201d last week, that\u2019s what we did. We prayed for our grandchildren. Not just a few quick words, but we interceded for them. God knows what they face in this world — the temptations, the struggles, and the fears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My grandparents\u2019 example is inbred in me now, because today, I carry on their legacy as I pray for my kids and grandkids. God hears every prayer, and every prayer is ALWAYS answered…eventually. I hope that one day, those are the memories my kids and grandkids will have about me. How about you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”
(Numbers 6:24-26)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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