I tenderly opened the journal, and its pages almost crumbled in my hands. It’s over 100 years old, after all! And there I saw the handwriting that tells the owner’s name: Mabel Salsbury Dohm, my Father’s Mother.
And I cried as I read her opening Scripture:
“Here I am! I stand at the door and
knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with
that person, and they with me.”
For you see, I know a part of her
story that makes that verse so very valuable. But maybe I should back up a little, and
explain how I know these things, since Mabel died almost a decade before I was
born.
I grew up hearing about Grandma
Mabel, and what a Godly woman she was.
She was the second wife of my Dad’s Father, after his first wife died,
and she, who was known as a beloved Sunday School Teacher soon found out that a
pre-teen stepson was a bigger handful than a room of docile Sunday School
children. My Dad told us that this
petite little woman wasn’t afraid to be stern when firmness was required, and
she had soon won the affection of her new stepson.
Not too many years later, and their
home was filled with the addition of a new son, my Uncle Murlin, and four years
later my Dad was born, the baby of the family.
These were the early 1920’s and modern day medicine was still a long way
off. So when my Father contracted polio, the family all huddled together to do
anything they could to save his life.
But my Grandma Mabel was a woman of prayer, and she sought God to
preserve her son’s life. A miracle
happened on the darkest night, and my Father was fully healed, with only a
paralysis of his eye movements!
But the bigger prayer life that
consumed my Grandma Mabel was for the Spiritual lives of her sons. This quote in her journal went deep in my
heart as I read it:
I am so honored to be sharing the rest of this post over at
with my good friend, Anna Smit, and the team there.
God is doing an amazing work
as He is calling the prodigals
home to His heart.
Come join me to read
about the bigger miracles
that came because of Grandma Mabel's prayers
by clicking here.
And this is Week 2 for The Legacy of Faith series that I am sharing weekly in January. You may subscribe to this blog to get these posts delivered directly to your inbox.
I am linking with:
Bettie, this post is a glorious tribute to that sweet lady. May we treasure the people we admire and move forward ourselves into the role of prayer warrior for our family and friends. This is a real weakness of mine, so I appreciate this inspiration.
ReplyDeleteDear Michele,
DeleteI just came from your post today about being a Godly GRANDparent, and what a sweet confirmation! And, yes, you are right that now the roll of being that prayer warrior leading the way has been passed down to us. May we find the Lord's sufficiency in this as well. Blessings to you.
I commented at Beloved Prodigal, Bettie, but thank you again for encouraging my heart today. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comments and encouraging words Trudy! I am so blessed that the Lord would use these words to lift you closer to Himself! He is so good to us. Hugs to you too!
DeleteBettie! This is awesome! I LOVE delving into the lives of those who came before us and left legacies for us to walk in. Sometimes good--and sometimes not so much. I am inheriting the history and documents of my family--seems I'm the only one who is interested in preserving it like jewels. The good, the bad, and the ugly help us understand who we are. BUT bringing the redemptive Word of God into the mix transforms the good into blessings and the bad into renewal. Joy to you, milady!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind comments, Miss Kathy! What a treasure that you have in your family's history and documents! Maybe someday your will be able to share those jewels with other members of your family, especially as God reveals His faithfulness! Because, yes you are so right, that our God redeems and transforms it all when He shines the light of His Word over everything. Blessings and joy to you also!
DeleteDear Bettie, this is a truly inspiring read. I loved it! Your family history story touched me so much. I've left an appreciative comment on Beloved Prodigals but wanted to let you know here too. Blessings, love and hugs! xoxo
ReplyDeleteDear Joy, Thank you so much for always being an encouragement to me! And even as I consider needing to switch from blogger to wordpress, your prayers for God's grace to relieve the pressure there have been a help! As I read your comment about pulling together these posts, I remembered the original post that started it all for me, back in August of 2016. I can re-post that one next week, and give myself a little more time in the transition! :). God truly is so faithful to us! Blessings, love and hugs to you too my friend! Xoxo
DeleteBettieG, I come from a legacy of prayer and faith. It is the very foundation of my life. And, it is one I pray I pass on to Hannah and Simon.
ReplyDeleteDear Susan, I see the beauty of how you are passing on that legacy to your children and grandchildren too! It makes me think of Jesus' words that for those who've been given much, much also is required. We do have a responsibility don't we? But what a JOY it can be when we look at those who have gone on before, right?
DeleteBettie,
ReplyDeleteI LOVE seeing this vintage photo and hearing about the old journal of your grandmother's! What a rare and priceless treasure you have in reading her words and in the legacy of faith she left to her family -- even those she never knew -- beautiful! Praying for you and thinking of you, friend! xo
Dear Valerie,
DeleteYes, I feel that I have been so blessed, not only to have such a faith-filled heritage, but to have the precious treasures to share from some of them also! Her words and her prayers have been such a comfort to me during my own trials too. May I willingly lift up my own prayers for those I love also! Thank you so much for all of your prayers, my friend. They mean so much to me!! Hugs and Love to you! Xo
How cool that you can read Grandma Mabel's very words! What a gift that you have in your hands and heart.
ReplyDeleteI like the way that you put that, Lisa: "What a gift that you have in your hands and heart." Those treasures that were passed down to me really have taken root in my heart too!
DeleteOh Bettie, I'm leaving a comment here so I don't forget --but then clicking over to read the rest of the story! What a treasure to have these memories, yes --but to have the journal! I have a few handwritten pages from my Grandmother, who passed when I was very young... what a gift they are!
ReplyDeleteDear Karrilee,
DeleteThose writings, even just a few, are so precious to have aren't they? As the Lord is leading me on this journey to look at the heritage left for me, I have been amazed by the stories that were passed along! Thanks for commenting here too! Blessings on your weekend!
Thank you for sharing this encouraging story. Bless you, sister! :)
ReplyDeleteDear Ruth,
DeleteI am so glad that the Lord brought encouragement here! He is so good to keep us looking up to Him, isn't He? Bessings to you!
Dear Bettie,
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure to have that journal with such a wonderful connection to the past! What a woman of God she must have been, and this is a beautiful tribute. No wonder tears came to your eyes as you read it. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. Blessings to you with hugs and much love. <3 xoxo
Dear Gayl,
DeleteOh yes, I feel so blessed to have these treasures from those who have gone before me. And I know that her praying heart has had such an influence on my life, even though I never met her. Even as I pray for my own children and grandchildren now, I ask the Lord to help me be faithful too. I am so thankful for the love and hope that you share about your family, my friend! Blessings, love and hugs to you too! xoxo