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"Amazing Grace"

By Stephanie Tollefsrud

 

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants." -- Psalm 116:15

 

-- My Grandpa Frank loved music and was quite the harmonica player! Some of my favorite memories are from when he would take out his “teeth” and play the harmonica for us grandchildren. We would laugh, dance in circles, and sing silly songs!

-- In 1997 (my senior year of High School), Grandpa was diagnosed with lung cancer. It was hard to listen to his voice get rattling and then eventually disappear. But, I remember as I visited him in the hospital near his final days, he seemed to find great joy in the hymns we would sing and play for him - his smile assured us he was worshipping the Lord with all his heart.

-- On Aug. 5, 1998, as I was listening to the sweet harmonica playing on Lori Line’s instrumental arrangement of “Amazing Grace,” my Grandpa Frank took his last breath on earth. I was touched and moved, as I had been given the greatest sign that he had just woken up in heaven and was playing that hymn in glory. 

-- Since that moment, “Amazing Grace” has been an extra special song of faith to me.

 

"Thank You, heavenly Father, for giving us assurance of our loved ones’ eternal destiny. Grant us the grace to walk with You through our last days on earth." -- Amen

 

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A Blessing in Disguise

by Shalese Sands

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

 

-- Since 2017, my artwork was represented by a gallery on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. In 2022, the owners had another gallery in Lahaina, on the island of Maui, and they emailed me to ask if I would create another body of work for the Lahaina gallery. They were going to fly me out to Hawaii (I’d never been there), put me up in a hotel, and pay for a sunset cruise with high-end clients, whale-watching, food, and who knows what else. I was very excited about this possibility and the opportunities it would afford me!

-- Unfortunately, as I started working on the art, I realized I had too much on my plate (with the other gallery, plus commissions and inventory for shows I needed to complete), and I wouldn’t have time to create enough high-quality pieces. I emailed the manager and apologized, but bowed out of the opportunity. She thanked me for giving her a good amount of notice and for my honesty. After I mourned the loss of that dream working vacation for a while, I prayed and gave it up to the Lord. Then, I forgot about it.

-- The next year, on August 8, 2023, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century tore through Lahaina, killing at least 100 people and destroying over 2,000 buildings. One of those buildings was the gallery in which my work would have been shown. It was burned to the ground. I realized that if my art had been there, all of it – at least eight pieces - would have been destroyed. That would have been at least half a year’s worth of work. I was thankful that my art was spared, and maybe someday I’ll get to Hawaii another way!

 

Thank You, Lord, for sparing us from things that would be more than we could

handle. Thank you for walking with us through troubles when they do come.

Grant us Your perfect peace, whatever our circumstances. -- Amen.

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The Lost is Found

by Carol Westberg

And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ Luke 15:9

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-- In 1963, my husband Paul and I packed up the things we wanted from my parents’ house in Atwater, where they had recently passed away. We were living in Minneapolis, so we planned to store the items, including my wedding dress, at Paul’s parents’ home in Willmar. We loaded everything in the back of a pickup. Thinking we had secured everything, we took off. My wedding dress was still in its box, and securely tied – we thought.

-- The next day, my uncle called me. “Is your wedding dress with you? It was just on KWLM radio that someone found one.”  I called Paul’s parents, but his mother couldn’t find it. It turned out it had blown out around the underpass west of Atwater. It was still in the box.

-- I was so grateful to the honest person who found it.  Also, my daughter was grateful when, 26 years later, she was able to wear my dress for her own wedding.

 

Thank You, heavenly Father, for caring about the little things. Thank you to the honest people who also care.

Help us to care about the little things of others, too. -- Amen      PS – with God’s guidance and help, we are both still married!

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End of a Season

by Kari Stadem

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV

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-- Every autumn for 30 years, my father had been ready to get out of the cold and down to Phoenix. For many years, he and my stepmother (“Mama Dee”) left Minnesota in October and returned in May or even June if he could manage it. Mama Dee always wanted to be around here more often to watch the grandchildren in programs, games, concerts, and plays, but Dad would say, “You don't have to come, but I'm leaving for Arizona on October 15th.” The last couple of years, his health hasn’t been the greatest, so they waited until after Christmas to head down south. But as soon as the temperatures dipped below freezing, he would ask, “Why aren’t we in Arizona yet? When are we leaving?”

-- As Dad’s dementia has grown worse, we kids decided that it was too risky for them to be in Arizona, and we gave up the lease on their apartment. This fall, we’ve been wondering how the transition would go. Yesterday, my parents were over for weekly supper with the family, and Mama Dee told me that the other day, Dad looked out the window and said, “What a beautiful snowfall.” She couldn't believe it. He hasn't mentioned the word Arizona once, despite the cold and the snow. Either he doesn’t remember Arizona, or he has reconciled himself to staying in Minnesota.

--It reminded me of a story my mom told about when I was 18 and headed off to college. Our family performed musical programs at churches throughout Minnesota, averaging more than 25 programs per year for at least 8 years. My parents decided they couldn't continue without me (our family of five needed every member to contribute). They would feel bad saying no to all the requests that would pour in. However, after they made the decision, my mom only had to turn down two requests. There was no Facebook, social media, or websites to announce their decision. We sang at churches from all different denominations, so it wasn't necessarily word of mouth. God confirmed to my parents that they were right — our family singing season was over.

--

Regarding my dad, God confirmed to Mama Dee and his children that the right decision had been made. The Arizona season is over, and my dad is accepting it contentedly.

Thank you, Lord, for the seasons of our lives and for the way they can end peacefully.

Help us to enjoy each season and to embrace its endings with joy and contentment. Amen.

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