Amazing Grace

Just when you think you are at your ends rope, Amazing Grace ties you a knot so you can hold on for one more day. Amazing Grace happens to be the loving HARTS and the helping hands of my parents.   They have served me the whole of my life--even when I was on top of the world, they had a way of finding that little something to make my life even better...but now when times are tough for many, and the Golden Years have greeted them, I find their service even more endearing. It is I that should be serving them.

On more than one occasion, the cupboards have been bare, the pantry scarce, and the fridge lonely and cold, yet we have known no want for food. Amazing Grace arrives in the nick of time and a grocery cart of food finds a place on our empty shelves.

Amazing Grace places extra dollar bills in the strangest of places-- a bit of cash here and a bit of cash there. Sometimes it is slipped in the wallet, sometimes in a book or a card and sometimes...well, it is like magic. Noah is my living testament that Grandpa can blow a coin out of your ear and a credit card out of Grandma's ear:) If I hadn't seen it myself, I never would have believed it.

Amazing Grace appears on our doorstep, "We were just wondering if the Groendykes would like to join us for a bite to eat..." It is always an adventure and every act of kindness is served with a warm smile.

Amazing Grace has filled up my gas tank, wiped my counters, purchased medications, helped me can peaches, paid for appointments and dusted my TV.

Amazing Grace has provided the very books in which bring about such joy and distraction in moments of challenge. So today, Noah and I are busy doing homework. I haven't had a chance to shower yet and the table is still cluttered. I sigh and think to myself "cereal or top ramen?" Noah leaves the table and I am kind of annoyed. I just want to finish up with school work. I hear an interesting noise brush against the carpet. Noah appears with a styrofoam box.Yes, Amazing Grace had been at our door yet again. When Noah opened the box, he shouted for joy "Grandma and Grandpa sent me my very own set of knives." (He has a fixation with sharp objects--eek!!!)  There was a a knife set atop several frozen Omaha Steaks and Hamburgers, Gourmet Hot Dogs, and Potatoes too. Who knew that one could even receive such dignified, classy and quality frozen dinners in such a clever fashion? All I know is that because of Amazing Grace, my manly man will get a manly man's dinner of steak and potatoes...

I bring this up for one reason and one reason only, that Amazing Grace (my Father and Mother) will see and know the delight of their service and so that we, as the receivers of such kind deeds, can be Amazing Gracious.

What we have learned:  Amazing Grace is my Father and Mother...Noah's Grandma and Grandpa Hart...our dearest friends.

Count Your MANY Blessings

Recently, we have been trying to get in a better routine. We are quite aware of our need for rest and for blessings from heaven. We also know that we have much to be grateful for each and every day. Sometimes Rick will call on Noah to offer a prayer. Even the prayer before a meal rarely contains a blessing on the food. Usually, it is all about Noah'a dog Da Vinci.

The other night we were kneeling down at the foot of our master bed and Rick had asked Noah to lead us in Family Prayer. He wanted Rick to do it and it went back and forth until Rick suggested that he would help Noah with the prayer if Noah would say it, and so it was decided--THEY would say the prayer. Rick is very eloquent in his prayers and takes his communication with his Father in Heaven most seriously. He is thoughtful and avoids vain repetition that I have been known to succumb to.That is an area I definitely need some work on as my mind tends to wander with the list of things that need to be accomplished.

We have been instructed to "Count our MANY Blessings," and though we find our little family experiencing a few hardships, we still have a very long list of the many tender mercies from a loving Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ...and so the counting began...

Rick spoke of being grateful--"we are grateful for our home" and then he would pause and Noah would repeat "we are grateful for our home" in the same sing songy rhythm that Rick would use. I could tell Noah was really listening, because he would make certain adjustments like when Rick said, "bless my mom,"Rick was referring to me--Rick was saying a prayer as Noah would say it, but Noah thought for a moment and then said, "bless Grandma T.," which is Rick's mom.

Then Rick asked for particular blessings--"bless Grandma and Grandpa in their health,...bless my mom with her challenges...bless my dad to find work...bless Noah to be a good student and friend...etc." Noah continued to follow with the worded phrases. I had a great big smile on my heart as I witnessed a father and son in the course of a prayer. Noah would stumble on a few words, and it made the prayer all the more endearing. Rick continued with the prayer, but Noah was ready to be done. He hurried with a few of the phrases and when Rick went on to the next blessing, before Rick could even finish his sentence, Noah took hold of the reigns and blurted over Rick's meek tone "In the Name of Jesus Christ Amen."He was done and when he could see that Rick was no where near wrapping this prayer up, Noah took charge. We couldn't help but laugh.

What I learned from Noah:  Short and sweet is the best kind of prayer for a child.

What I learned from Rick:  He is a great father and wants to teach and lead his son in the direction of righteousness.  I also continue to learn the tone of a heartfelt prayer.