Tag: grandchildren

Attitude of Gratitude

Charlotte BurkholderLeave a comment

November 22, 2024

What do you do with huge disappointments? When hopes are dashed and dreams turn out to be nightmares, then what do you do? When our grandson, Mitch, worked hard for four years to get his mechanical engineering degree, he no doubt, dreamed of walking across a stage, receiving his diploma, hearing the applause of family and friends, and flipping the tassel on his cap from the left to right. It didn’t happen that way for Mitch. Oh yes, he received his degree in mechanical engineering by Zoom. Covid made it impossible for him to experience graduation as it should have been.

Instead of walking across a stage, he reclined on a couch. Instead of wearing the graduation robe and cap with tassels, he wore a well-worn pair of sweats. Instead of all his friends and his grandparents (us) being able to give him hugs and affirmations, it was all done virtually. That seemed rather cold and distant. Virtual hugs just aren’t that warm.

So, what do you do with big disappointments? Mitch’s story in, “Family Stories for God’s Glory,” tells what he chose to do. Mitch is known for his attitude of gratitude. Throughout his life, before his college graduation, he exhibited that admirable quality. Therefore, instead of complaining on graduation day, Mitch responded, “It’s okay. The main thing is getting a good education.” Doesn’t that just warm your heart?

Find something to be grateful for today, even if it’s hard!

Charlotte

“Family Stories for God’s Glory” is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or by emailing chburkholder12@gmail.com

When you don’t see God Working–He Is!

Charlotte BurkholderLeave a comment

July 2, 2024

Ever had a situation that seemed so bad that you thought nothing good could ever come from it? Ever had a tragedy that wiped out everything you treasured? Ever felt like God surely must have abandoned you?

It’s a blessing when, in retrospect, you look back and see how God was there after all, accomplishing things of which you had no idea. The title above is the title of one of the stories in “Family Stories for God’s Glory.” We, the grandparents, were in charge of our grandchildren when 12-year-old Grant, dove head first into the shallow end of the pool. Frightened, alarmed, and horrified were not big enough words to describe our emotions. But God was there. We discovered later what He was doing.

On a drizzly, cold, late afternoon I fell face down on a concrete walkway because I didn’t step high enough up to the curb. Thankfully, I didn’t break my glasses but, I couldn’t see out of my left eye. I went to the eye doctor the next day, and he immediately sent me to a retina specialist who confirmed that the retina was not torn. “But you have blood behind your right eye,” he informed me.

“Wow, I must have really hit hard.”

“No,” he replied, “this doesn’t have anything to do with your fall. You have wet macular degeneration in your right eye. It’s in the beginning stages, but it should be treated as soon as possible.”

Before I could absorb the fact that I had macular degeneration, I was hit with the urgency of treatment. I knew enough about macular degeneration to know what treatment meant. A needle in your eye! I was assured that some people don’t feel a thing. I was not among the “some people!”

The point here is that a bad thing turned into good. God used the fall to alert me to the macular degeneration early so that treatment could be started early. Praise the Lord!

Look for God’s hand in unexpected places.

Thankfully,

Charlotte

CHILDREN: PRECIOUS OR PROBLEMS?

Charlotte BurkholderLeave a comment

June 17, 2024

The day we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, we had our quiver full of children and grandchildren. We had four children, their supportive spouses, and eight grandchildren. Today we have four married children, supportive spouses, twelve grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren with seven and eight on the way. Our bushel of blessings just keeps bountifully being filled.

On page 31 of “Family Stories for God’s Glory” a verse is written along with our anniversary picture. “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward Him.” Psalm 127:3. (Verse 5 is where a quiver full is mentioned.) The book includes a story about each one of our children, spouses, and grandchildren. They are the treasures of my life.

The heart-breaker is children or grandchildren who are not treasured. Everyone of these precious persons is made in God’s image, uniquely created, and of infinite worth. Even the best of parents might forget this at times. A woman whose heart aches to hold her own baby in her arms left a lady’s meeting with hot tears running down her face. Her friend had complained. “My baby hasn’t slept for five nights, my husband has to leave early for work, so guess who has to do overnight baby duty,” she said disgustingly. “I really need a break.”

Children, grown, half-grown, or babies are gifts, and rewards from God.

God bless all you mothers and mothers-to-be.

Feeling blessed,

Charlotte