Reflections of Jesus

I had the privilege of spending the day with my Grandmother the other day while my parents were busy tending to important matters out of town. I have always loved talking with her and hearing stories of her youth, ramblings about life and professions of faith. For the past seven years since my family moved to the state of Washington, I’ve only seen her, at most, three times. So naturally, I am relishing any time we can spend together.

One of her most striking characteristics is her devout faith in God. She never hesitates to offer verbal praise to God or credit Him with even the smallest details of our lives. She talks openly with others without considering whether they agree with her or what they might think of her. Hers truly is the unashamed faith about which Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:8 and 2:15: So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord…Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (NIV) I like to imagine what our world would be like if we all presented ourselves in this loving, unashamed and straightforward manner.

Even though we don’t always see eye-to-eye on doctrine, spending time with Grandma always leaves me wanting more of Jesus. I leave her company reflecting for days on how I might become a more loving mother, a more respectful daughter, a more giving neighbor and a more committed Christian. She doesn’t realize, though I have told her, it is through her small gifts, cards and prayers during my young years that I attribute my own faith as a child. Her small, but significant influence heightened my awareness of God and through this was revealed a small amount of knowledge and trust in God, though immature. During the tumultuous childhood years of my life, I never hesitated to pray or believe that somehow God was working through all of it.

As I sat with Grandma talking about our individual faith journeys, she shared with me her own experiences as a child with our loving God. She told me of a time when she was hiding under the front porch, from what she did not say, but clearly afraid. As she sat curled up under the front of the house, she described the gentle and loving arms of her savior embracing her, offering assurance that he was taking care of her. This resonated with me on so many levels as much of my adolescence and young adult life I felt afraid or unsure or inadequate and would retreat into those very arms of which my Grandmother spoke. In that moment I was reminded of Romans 1:19-20 which says, For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. (NLT)

I thank the Lord for putting knowledge of him in my heart, for it was that immature knowledge of him that led me to ask questions and seek answers. After many years of searching, I found a wonderful and fulfilling relationship with God through my savior, Jesus Christ. I can’t imagine living a single day without Him in my life.

Once again, thanks to the reflections of Jesus that I see in my Grandma, I am inspired to seek more of Him. I’m certain that if we could see our own lives through those 89-year-old eyes, all any of us would really want is to look back and find others wanting more of Jesus simply by being with us.

©2009 by Stephanie French.