A Blessing by Susie Larson

This is by one of my favorite writers. GBYD (God Bless Your Day)

Susie Larson

46 mins · 

Morning Blessing: May you believe that your wildest God-given dreams can come true. May you trust Jesus enough to follow Him through the valley to lay hold of them. May you be patient and purposeful. May your selfish ambition die and your holy ambition arise. May you lean in to your training time so you'll be prepared and strengthened to stand in your next place of promise. Then you'll be poised to change the world. God loves to work mightily through His children and He intends to use you! May you have startling clarity and abounding faith in the days ahead. Rest in Him today and follow His lead, every single step of the way. Blessings on your day today!

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Vignettes of Life (part 2)

                                                Indian Princesses

When I was in 2^nd grade, my sister, Suzan and I went to a group called “Indian Princesses”. Now besides this being considered NOT ‘Politically correct’ these days, it was a small group in someone’s home. I have no idea if this was a nationally known group like the Girl scouts, but we were a part of it anyway.

We made head dresses and toy drums. My Mother even gave me long braids on either side of my head. I have always claimed my Native American heritage with pride. (I often wore braids, whether with the group or not)

This gathering was something to be respected as well. We even went to Nursing homes to deliver baskets of hand-made flowers, something only us young girls found beautiful. Well, now that I think of it, our recipients probably did too.

                                                Dad’s braiding

When Mom went to the hospital to have my little sister, Nancy, I was left in the care of a woman from our church that came to our house; I believe her name was Mrs. Likes. With a name like that, she was bound to make young children her friends. Dad still was home in the morning to help get the kids off to school, but when he went to work, Mrs Likes was there. Anyway, I remember my dad braiding my hair like my mother always did. At least it was intended to be. I remember standing there while he attempted the fine art of braiding. Not Fun! He was trying, and he just wanted to make me happy, so I was….I tried to be anyway.

I remember when my mom and dad brought my baby sister home from the hospital, I had been staying at our neighbors house, which was the parsonage. I don't know how long I had been there, but as the car pulled up, I was out the door running to see this new baby.

                                                My sister’s 10th (?) birthday

One of the traditions of our family was to have mom make our birthday cakes. Whichever kind we wanted, Mom would make it for us. She started from scratch. Making each step her own, she meticulously decorated each cake to be a representation of the recipient.

Well, on my older sister, Suzan’s 10^th birthday, I got to be in the kitchen before she brought out the cake to be displayed. There was one problem; the cake had a 9 on it. I said nine? Rather loudly, to which she suddenly told me to hush, thinking I was spoiling the surprise, and took it out for display in front of the birthday girl.

I don’t remember Suzan’s response, but I do know that mom fixed it, and nothing else was said.

So maybe I wasn’t so loud after all. Maybe I could have been louder.

                                               In Angie’s room

My cousin Angie is two years older than I and has always been 10 times prettier than I. I have always admired her, and still do. My mother would make sure that we would be able to hang-out with our cousins. She would make a point of going to her sister’s house, especially for my siblings and me. I would usually play with Danny who was one year younger, but sometimes I would follow Angie around. Many times, we sat in her room listening to an album by “Bread”.
I remember one time that we were together and I was holding her cat. I never owned a cat and didn’t know their instinct of sudden claws shooting out. We were having fun and a casual conversation when I decided I would throw her cat to her. A choice I have always regretted.

The animal instinct became evident when Angie screamed and grabbed her ear. Her cat’s claws had grabbed her earring and tore it from her ear in a downward cutting style. I don’t remember if or when it healed, but I do not throw cats anymore, ever.

I must have been forgiven as Angie has included me any time I go to visit her. I remember going to the hospital with her when she was in labor with her son. I rubbed her back and comforted her. After my accident she would invite me over to her house just to be together.

 In Angie’s room, I was accepted, always.

Vignettes of Life (part 1)

 My mother stood in my hospital room and told me every day, even before I was conscious, that God had saved me for a purpose. This truth is what I continue to cling to every day of my life. God can use me for His plan. • I believe that I am better able to see the blessings in life. I will always feel a terrific gratitude for the way my parents raised me –twice - both before and after the accident, to love Jesus. 

This is a tribute to the life of my mom. Vignette's of a life.

                        A memory of her final days, from my perspective:

She called me, right after she fell in the bathroom, to ask for prayer. She knew she could count on me for prayer, just like my sisters. I call on both of them when I need it.

To have a family that can turn to each other for love and prayer is the most important connection we can have.

The last time I talked to her, she answered the phone so happy. I said, “Oh you sound good.” It was a short conversation that ended with my usual comment, I said “God bless your day”.

She said, as she always did “And yours.”

God did bless her. He gave her peace in perfection.

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A story in the book of Matthew tells of someone suffering that claimed our Lord could heal him if it was His will. Jesus reached out His hand and said “I will, be clean” (Matthew 8:3)

Aha. . . mom reached out her hand and grasped onto the hand of Jesus. She told my dad that she was ready to leave this shell of a body and go home to be with Jesus. Then she said the thing that will forever be on my dad’s heart as she expressed her forever love for him. She told my dad how she wanted him not to wait too long; and he should come when he is ready. She was saying that she loved dad and that she knew they could live forever with Jesus. What a wonderful way to express love and loyalty. The love they shared was mentioned at my daughter, Angela's wedding dinner, as an example.

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My father showed her the best gift of love by letting her go. He knows he will see her again.

What an expression of faith. She loved my dad, through trials and through joys. She loves her Jesus. Always has. She knew that as Jesus called her she would be going to see her mom and dad again. She was blessed to have parents that brought her up in the church and taught her the love of Christ.

She would be with dad’s parents also. Mom is with God waiting to greet me when I come. I know I will see her again, too.

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She told me that I was saved for a purpose and I believe that God can use me to fulfill that purpose. God can use you, too, to fulfill His purpose.

We may never know the purpose that we each have; we may never know the impact of our words or actions; and we may never understand why some things happen, but we can trust that God can take what we give to His glory. And that, my friends is what we can see. We will one day see the full glory of God.

                                                            **********

Mom & Dad always made Christmas and my birthday special, the later on December 23rd.  It has always been my time, I used to tell my mom that I wanted Christmas songs sung at my memorial.  The city decorates the streets for my birthday. The stores have sales, for my birthday. Christmas music is played and rejoicing is done, for my birthday and Jesus.

I am really so excited for my mom. Christmas in Heaven, she is so blessed.
I am trying not to sound unsympathetic to my father and siblings, I want to say thank you to my Jesus for sharing this Christmas with her. She likes soft blue lights around the windows and she will make Your Birthday an extra special day, just like she always did for me.

She will love to sing Christmas carols in the Heavenly Choir too. She will do some gourmet cooking if you like. She will be a great friend to have, if you need to talk or just sit and hold Your Hand.

                                                            **********

So many songs ~ I love you a bushel and a peck ~ You are my Sunshine …..

So many poems ~ I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me and what can be the use of him is more than I can see. . . .

So many expressions ~ Oh sugar jets.

                                                            **********

I just called my dad and he read the Thank You letter he received from the University of Washington Medical School. It was a thank you for the body of my deceased mother for scientific study.

I started to cry, but as he continued to read it, I began to feel such a deep gratitude for mom & dad’s decision to donate their remains to science. What a gift. God is still using what she offered physically. The emotional gifts that she offered me will continue all the days of my life. Thank you, God. Amen. 

                                                            ********

On the day my mother died, I went to the window and looked outside. It had been hours since my sister had called with the news, but what I saw, took me aback. One single white bird flew by across the sky. It could have been a snow goose, although it was long with long wings. It flew alone. I am not sure what it was really. I do not believe in reincarnation, and I don’t believe that it was mom’s soul. However, if it was a sign for me or a messenger from God in the form of a bird, I am willing to accept that.

                                                            **********

One of my favorite movies is ‎Les Misérables. It is the story of a man given grace and forgiveness that turns his life toward helping others. At the end of the movie, he is dying, says his good bye to his daughter and son-in-law, his risen form walks toward the older man who first showed him mercy, and is greeted by a huge choir of friends who have also died. This is just a movie I know, but I watched this last scene over and over after mom died. I really believe that mom was greeted by a heavenly Choir for her to join in and start singing with them.
She loved to sing and she loved to sing in a choir.

The last line of Older Bishop in the movie is this. “To love another person is to see the face of God”

Thank you for loving us, Mom, and thank you, God, for giving us our Mother to love.

Prayer at Mom's Celebration of life

This was my prayer at my mother's memorial service. I am including it now because my father wanted me to publish it..... GBYD

Good Afternoon – In July 1976, when I almost lost my life, my Mother told me I was saved for a purpose. Thank you for giving me that, Mom.

Let us pray.

Our Holy Father God, thank you for the opportunity to come together. We celebrate the life of Barbara Hendershot, also known as Mother, Mom, Grandma, Maka, or Bobbie. We take this time to praise you Lord for the works of your Hands through her.

As Your servant Father, she reached out in Steven Ministry to hurting or lonely souls that needed Your Love. Now we take this time to feel Your Love & comfort. Help us to Glorify You in the laughter and tears shared in these memories.

We ask you Father, to let us see the blessings that each one of us has received through the life of our mother and friend.  Help us to be still and know that You are God. I pray that the Holy Spirit will take this time to speak to each heart, Lord. Let Your presence be alive in this service as we remember Mom, so we can show Your love as it tells us in 2 Corinthians.

Praise You, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are full of mercy and all comfort. You comfort us every time we have trouble, so when others have troubles, we can comfort them with the same compassion that You give us.

Because this was what mom taught us.

Let us see the Joy and compassion as we remember her life.

Thank you Father for each person who made an effort to come, and I ask that my Pappa-san will feel your presence with him today and in the future days.

Help us to remember, this is not a time about us. This time is to honor Mom’s life here on this earth, and a time to Praise You for her blessed life in eternity.

Father, we remember all those who have gone before us and praise you for the great company that Mom has joined. They each have finished their course in faith and now rest from their labor. We praise you for those dear to us whom we name in our hearts before you.

Especially we praise you for Barbara, whom you have graciously received into your presence.

 Jesus told the parable of the bags of gold in Matthew to remind us of your words as we come to you on our final approach. “Well done my good and faithful servant,” You say, “you have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.”

Thank You Father, for giving her the many things; thank You, Father, for blessing her with the gifts she shared here on earth.  Thank You, Lord God, for her words of my being saved for a purpose that we each can know we have been created for Your Purpose.

Now, as we begin this Celebration of the life of Barbara June Guthrie Hendershot, I ask for your comfort to be with each person here including her first born living in Thailand, unable to be here today.

In Jesus Name, Amen