Redemption Played Out

3 Generations

"Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.  The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.   Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.  For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living!"  Psalm 116:5-9

     Overwhelmed by the goodness of the Lord and thankful for what He has done!  My friend, Kirby (who helps bring focus to my life) encouraged me to write down these precious thoughts while they are still fresh.  She knows me and understands my age. haha  So...here goes!
     Twenty seven years ago I held my first baby.  It wasn't your traditional Christian childbirth experience.  In case you do not know, I was a single mom who carried lots of damaged emotions.  As I held my son for the first time, the love of God began to become real as He poured it into my broken heart.  God began a journey on that beautiful Sunday morning of healing that I could not begin to fathom how far He would go.  I wrote in Hyatt's baby book,

"This is the first time I've EVER cried from happiness...

my words cannot express the love & joy I feel for you."

  
    Through each of my children, I would later experience the same love and joy.  And now, I know it is because He is the giver of life and all good things!  Without a doubt, I can say JESUS is our REDEEMER!  As I stare at my firstborn grandson, I know without Christ, absolutely nothing makes sense.  As weird as it may sound,  I have wanted to be a grandmother since I became a mother.  My feelings told me at times, 'you don't deserve the mercy and graciousness of the Lord.'  Why would God be this good to me?  Please do not misunderstand me, if all I had was Jesus, it would be enough.  I know what my life was like depending on me.  Yes, it does cause overwhelming feelings of joy to  have the privilege of seeing the next generation redeemed for His glory.  Even Webster's Dictionary refers to Jesus as being the redeemer.  Another definition included in Webster's is:

To redeem - to buy or take back

an example - "he was considered the redeemer of the family's reputation"

    

     When I held my grandson for the first time, my eyes flooded and the tears kept coming.  It was as though God was clearly whispering in my ear His unconditional love and that His promises were to the next generation.  He brought healing to another patch of my heart that needed His divine touch.  God has bought back the family reputation as He has promised.  He is the ONE who allowed me to be called grandmother (Grammy).  To know Christ is to know His healing and deliverance.  The future is uncertain but what is certain is we can trust God in what He is doing whether it is through pain or blessing.  But, maybe the pain is the blessing!  He knows more than I know...

     And at the end of the day...ALL GLORY TO HIM, OUR REDEEMER!

For I know my REDEEMER lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth!"

Hyatt, Heidi and "Landon Reeves" Harrell