Keeper of the Past by Donna (Ensign) Woods

I am a keeper of the past...
Not wanting yesterday to slip from my grasp,
While holding today, so it will last.

Old-time treasures, tucked safely away,
Each one holding a piece of yesterday,
Gentle reminders to give thanks when I pray.

Black and white photos of solemn faces,
Of long ago people and long ago places,
Where hardship and toil has left it's traces.

Keepsakes hidden in Mama's cedar chest...
...Grandma's sparkling broach...her very best.
And a four leaf clover...neatly pressed.

As I sit in Luda's rocking chair,
With Merrill's table beside it there...
I've saved bits and pieces of the past to share.

Tiny stitches on each tattered quilt block...
And the rhythmic chime of an old mantle clock
...Grandma's kettle and my Aunt's blue crock...

Moments in time...gone too soon,
As the setting sun gives way to the moon.
My heart now slows to a simpler tune.

Capture the moments, make them last...
For tomorrow come much too fast,
...For a Keeper of the Past...

What will be Your Legacy? By Theresa Zuber

I went to the bible to look up the word legacy; to see what God's word had to say about it. But I found nothing. It's just not a word used when God's Holy word is translated to English. However, I found this passage that I believe describes what kind of legacy God wants us to have. It's found in Deuteronomy 6: 4-9:
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Make sure that you leave your children more than posessions and memories. Leave them a legacy that will last them into eternity. Make sure they witness a life grounded in God and his word. A life led by the Spirit. A life, modeled after our Savior Jesus Christ.

Abba Father - I pray that you will help me to leave a lasting legacy of faith as an example to my loved ones. Help me to stay grounded in your word and focused on your path for me. I pray for my family that they, too, will seek you diligently, faithfully and tirelessly until we are all with you in heaven!

Legacy by Joyce Schafer

A short while ago I was given a precious gift— a tattered book with my mother's name written in it and dated 1931. It joined a collection of a stained and well-worn notebook filled with my mother's recipes and my first bible, a gift from my parents.

I also have my mother's special pin-a gift from her kids with all the birthstones of her children and grandchildren. My niece's daughter has asked me if she could wear Grandma's pin at her wedding. She is the first of this generation to walk down the aisle. Is she starting a new tradition? Only time will tell.

My favorite gifts from my sister are a Heidi book she gave me Christmas 1960 and a 1970 Home extension cookbook which contains some of her recipes. She would always include pictures of her family in Christmas cards over the years. I remember complimenting the ladies who prepared her funeral dinner on the homemade rolls. My sister was smiling from above when they said this was her recipe.

Even though my mother and sister have been gone for many years the legacy they left for future generations was a love of reading, a love of cooking, a love of family and a love of church and God.

I really had not given much thought to my own legacy until I started writing this paper. What legacy will I leave my family?

My favorite pieces of jewelry are my wedding ring, my mother's ring, and my bracelet with all my grandkids birthstones. My free time is spent attending my grandkids' events, reading, writing, cooking and helping out at church.

It would seem that my legacy will be the same as my family members who have already completed their journey her on earth-a love of family, a love of reading, a love of cooking and above all a love of God and church.

A Written Legacy by Tana LeMay

My family wasn’t big on traditions or the concept of a legacy to intentionally pass on through succeeding generations. My grandmother, however, loved to tell stories of her life growing up in Fairfield. I loved hearing her stories, but can only remember bits and pieces of them. I wish I had had the foresight to put her stories in writing before she passed away. Now, they are lost forever.

Several years ago, a friend of mine tried to turn me on to journaling. I found it to be an interesting idea, but wasn’t driven enough to make it a habit. Fortunately, Donna Woods was led to lead a journaling class, and the rest, as they say, is history.

My main reason for journaling is to have a means of passing along to my children and grandchildren a legacy of sharing my written words. A means to provide them a glimpse into my daily life, my thoughts and most importantly, my relationship with my savior, Jesus.

In today’s busy world, we lose focus of what’s meaningful. We’re just too busy living. I hope my children will read my journals and share them with their children. Maybe, somewhere along the way, one of them will also put pen to paper, sharing a piece of themselves to pass along to future generations. My prayer is that this legacy will reveal to those who come after us the richness and comfort of walking along side Christ and that He will be the common thread of a legacy that will live forever.

Grandma Knows Best by Susan Shull

In my past talk-show-watching-days, I saw an interview with a young audience member who had written her own obituary. Having written down what she wanted others to say about her after her death, she planned to spend the rest of her days living in a way to make that happen.

That really struck a chord with me and got me thinking. What do I want others to say about me after I have taken my last breath? If it is to be good things, I had better start living that way now. I am so lucky because I have had wonderful examples to follow.

Being raised in a Christian family is something for which I am immensely grateful. As kids, my sisters and I always knew what we and our parents would be doing Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. We would be in church. Even though there were times we wanted to stay home and watch Flipper and The Wonderful World of Disney, it wasn’t really an option. Going to church was what we did. It was also what our grandparents did. And that brings me to my grandmothers and the legacy they have left not only to me, but also to each of their grandchildren.

My grandmas both lived close to us and were a huge part of my life. I always thought of Grandma Marrs as my “country” grandma. As a young married woman, she had a couple of unfortunate incidents in her driveway, and she never drove again. Because of this, she was almost always at home. A pink bowl always sat on the kitchen table filled with scrumptious oatmeal cookies-each with 2 precisely placed chocolate chips. Her house always had a lingering smell of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy, my favorite Sunday foods. Grandma always had time to play a game of Old Maid or to read a book to me. She must have worked 24/7-she even made yummy homemade ketchup-but I remember her best sitting in “her” chair with a stack of books beside her. Her favorite book was her tattered and worn Bible.

Grandma Marrs taught me many valuable lessons, but the one I consider most important was to read my Bible. She read hers from Genesis to Revelation every year and her love for the scriptures was very evident. We had many interesting discussions about the Lord and I am forever grateful for her example.
On the other hand, I considered Grandma Spencer as my “city” grandma, which is a hoot since she lived in Yale! Grandma was widowed twice-The first time when her children were very small and as a result, she became a very independent woman. She raised her kids alone and seemed pretty fearless to me. She drove everywhere, including to St. Louis in her 80’s. For years, she even wrote the Yale Press , which appeared in several area newspapers. Her no-bake cookies and hot rolls were legendary.

She also loved the Lord and showered that love on everyone she met. She taught me that a Christian must live her faith, and she did. The woman was never home. I wish I knew how many visits she made to the nursing homes and hospitals. There is no way to know how many hangers she crocheted and gave away. Her hands were never still since she was always “doing” for someone. She was a big hugger, and I would love to feel her arms around me right now.

Since I am fortunate enough to be a grandma myself, I want to leave a legacy of love for my own grandchildren. I hope some day they can say…..I know my grammie loved the Lord and she loved me!

Changes by Donna (Ensign) Woods

The woman that looks out of the mirror,
Isn't the one I remember from yester-year.
She's older and grey and changed a little now
Her eyes look the same, but they're different some how.
The laughter of youth used to be on her face,
Now, little wrinkles are taking their place.

The house I grew up in has been torn away,
It brings tears to my eyes, I have to say.
The big maple tree that I used to play under
Was long ago destroyed by lightening and thunder.
...I still remember the room in which I slept,
Where are my dreams and treasures I kept.

My kids are growing up and moving out on their own.
Everything changes, even here in my home.
They're trading in a snuggly teddy bear,
For husbands and wives with a future to share,
No more wet kisses or nighty-night song,
The world is full of changes, my whole life long.

Every morning as I sit and pray...
I quietly remember the day...
When a family ate together every night,
And "home-made" food was a normal sight.
A "treat" ...was ice cream for a dime
...Not the poisonous drugs of our time.

Everything changes...except God above
Consistant in His mercy and love.
Preparing for me, His perfect plan
...Loving me...just as I am...
Lives are always changing...yours and mine
But God is the same....through all of time.

Looking for a Clean Slate? by Theresa Zuber

(I'm excited to report that a version of this article will appear in the Nov/Dec issue of "Devozine" a devotional magazine for teens published by Upper Room Ministries.)

Do you remember when you were a child and played with an Etch n Sketch? Mine was red and had a little screen and there were two dials. One dial made the line go up and down and the other, side to side. If you turned them both at the same time you could make diagonal lines – well sort of. If you were really good you could write your name or draw a decent picture. But the nice thing about this toy was that if you made a mistake, it was no big deal. All you had to do was turn it upside-down and shake. When you turned it back over you had a clean slate.

Isn’t it funny how God can do the same thing with our lives? Sometimes we are plugging along pretty well but something trips us up and we sin. Some sins, or mistakes stand out in our lives like a sore thumb. It could be BIG or it could be little, but – all the same – we've goofed up.

PS 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

PS 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

God wants us to repent, to turn from our sins--our mistakes. He wants us to go a different direction.God has a big heart. He’s ready to wipe the slate clean. All we must do is ask for forgiveness.And then – back to the drawing board. We’re ready to start over. God’s given us a clean slate. What we do with it is in our hands.

Dear God, I don't understand how you can forgive and forget so completely, but I trust that you do! I praise you and thank you for giving me aclean slate, a fresh start, another chance. You are the creator. Guide me. There is no one better to steady me as I begin again.