Time Marches On

Connie’s Corner – His Banner August 2016

Time Marches on

By Connie Hawkins

Have you ever thought about time? What is time? How did time come about?  How much time do we have?  “Life it seems is made up of time.  Our days are measured in hours.  If you have a job, you are paid according to the hours you’ve work.  Even knowledge is measure in time by the amount of years you have experienced.  And yet time eventually runs out and you find yourself wondering if those seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years and decades were well spent?”  Cecelia Ahern

There is going to come a time when Christ returns to claim those who belong to him.  I hope we don’t stand before Him having to explain what we did on earth with the precious time He gave us. I hope he doesn’t ask us, what we could have (or wished we would have) done differently.

God had infinite time to give us; but how did He give it? In one great immense tract of a lazy millennium? No, but He cut it up into a neat succession of new moorings, and, with each, therefore, a new idea, new inventions, and new applications.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Time is a gift – use it wisely.

Reflecting on what it means to be free

Connie’s Corner – His Banner – July 2016

Connie’s Corner

Let Freedom Ring

By Connie Hawkins

The month of July seems to be a time when Americans reflect on freedom.  But, the question I ask myself is, are we going about it the right way?  Do we really know what it means to be free, to have freedom? Do we respect it? Value it?

Our forefathers had a lot to say on the subject of freedom:

“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.” George Washington

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction…It must be fought for, protected, and handed on… .” Ronald Reagan 

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others”. Nelson Mandela
“Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” Pope John Paul II

The Bible tells us that in Christ we have been set free from the slavery of sin and corruption into the freedom of glory as children of God. “For you were called to freedom…do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but to love and serve one another.” Galatians 5:13

This Independence Day let’s remember those who fought and died for our freedom.  Let’s keep freedom alive, protect it, respect it, and honor it. Let’s do what’s right, like Pope John Paul the II said, “Let’s do what we ought to do.” Turn from our sinful ways and love one another. Only then can we really hear freedoms ring.

Celebrating Life - June 2016

I turned 70 in April – the thought of being 70 scares me.  I am definitely going downhill now with the hardest part of my life behind me, right?   Some fear that turning 70 means slowing down.  Others think the time for serving others, family, community, church is over.  Still, for others turning 70, 80 or even 90 brings new challenges, a new zest for life.  I think about Mother Teresa; she never ran out of love or willingness to care for others.  She gave her all to care for the sick, the poor, and the destitute.  At nearly 85 years old and with a weak heart, she was still out there giving, traveling and sharing her love for the Lord.  “That’s because,” said Robert White, “giving nourishes and replenishes the giver.  Taking depletes us and burns us out.”

No matter what birthday we are celebrating we should never be fearful of what the future holds for us.  The Word says, “There is no fear in the perfect love of God.”  So, maybe I should look at turning 70 as not turning another year older but a celebration of the wonderful life I’ve had to date.  Yes, there have been some rough times, learning experiences if you will…sometimes, we live and learn and other times we simply live.  I like to think I have learned something over these 70 years…how to love for example, how to treat people with kindness and respect…how to be the best person I can be.  I hope that when my time on this earth comes to an end my family and friends will remember me as a good mother, friend, sister, mate and grandma!  I like what Ed Wynn said on the exaggerated fears of age: “Take care of the day; let the calendar take care of the years.” So, let the celebration begin!

Mother's Day Card

I love being a mother but I really love being ‘grandma’.  My grandchildren are now doing all the cute things that my children used to annoy me by doing.  How one changes when one becomes a grandma.  And isn’t it strange that the things we used to do that annoyed our children have suddenly become useful information. One minute you’re just ‘mother’ the next minute you are a wise old owl.

I got the cutest card for Mother’s Day from Little J a year or two ago.

It said: Wanted – Grandmother

Odd hours.  No pay.

Must be willing to be a babysitter-on-call.

Holidays required

Must have patience and a sense of humor,

And above-average hugging skills!

Fringe benefits include: Lots of love and fridge art!

Now tell me friends, how could any grandma resist an ad like that!  Now, I have four to hug, cuddle, pamper and spoil. “The Bible says in regard to raising children: “Train them up in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it.” I am thankful that my children trust me enough to take care of and nurture their children.  Yep, I love being “Grandma”.  

His Banner - May 2016

Thinking too much is confusing

I was thinking...I should create a blog page in my face book account so I did.  Now, it seems I have too many places to sit and think.  I think - I write.  I never know where my thoughts will end up! Facebook?  Maybe.  Connie's Timeline -- could be.  On blogspot.com -- who knows.

Confucius say: "Thinking without learning makes one flighty, and learning without thinking is a disaster." Confused I am.  Life with all its technology is a puzzlement.

Surprise

My husband and children surprised me today (April 16, 2016) with a 70th birthday party.   Yes, my family and friends got me good!  A birthday is a good time to remember family and friends.  Actually, at my age it's a good time to remember anything at all! :) Now that I've reached another milestone birthday...I can truthfully say that having a birthday is good for your health.  Studies show that those who have more birthdays live longer!

God has been good to me these 70 years.  I consider it a privilege to be alive, to breathe, to think, to laugh, to love, to write, to enjoy my family and friends.