Joy in the Journey

As we anxiously await the arrival of our third grandchild, I am filled with thoughts of the people who are watching all of us from heaven’s gate: my mother, Tammy’s mother, and Tammy’s Grandmother.   These three would be so excited to hold, love, and spoil one more grandchild.   I know they are watching over my daughter Holly and her husband Nick with great joy and anticipation.   And I can hear them explaining to others in heaven how proud they are of their children, grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren.   I can see them tugging on an angels wing with orders to watch over all of us.   I can see them winch every time one of us messes up or causes another pain.   Knowing they are watching makes the difficult times more bearable.   Knowing they are watching makes mistakes and missteps more painful.   As a parent and grandparent, I know the kinds of dreams and hopes they had for us.   I know how often I crushed those dreams and I know there were times when I was able

Sacred Effort "Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully." "The Almighty has His own purposes. 'Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.' If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but whic