Only Grandson




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" March 25, 2003 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart" You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. To subscribe send a blank e-mail to subscribe@write2theheart.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ After reading how I am inundated with males, Melva sent a sweet letter telling me how she had the same problem in reverse; there is an abundance of females in her family. All of that changed when Levi was born. ------------------------------------------------------------ Only Grandson By Melva Cooper ------------------------------------------------------------ "May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants.Happy indeed are those whose God is the Lord." Psalm 144:12,15 (NLT) Every grandmother needs a grandson to love and to love her. A sister was my only sibling growing up. She had a daughter that grew up with our two daughters. Our first two grandchildren were girls. And then our only grandson, Levi, was born! It came as a complete shock to me that Levi could walk one time across the room and completely destroy the girls carefully arranged Barbie's. And then that same little boy would curl up in my lap, put his arms around me and tell me how much he loved me. Genesis 1:27, ".male and female created He them," became so real after this little man rushed into our lives. I absolutely adore him! We soon discovered this only grandson had a very strong will. Add to that the fact that he is physically large for his age. That allows for him to tend to run over the smaller children in his class at school. Sometimes I questioned that strong personality. And yet I know in this cruel and often violent world we live in, it takes a brave will with lots of perseverance to sometimes hold on and accomplish the goals that God sets before us later in life. Levi has completed Pre-K and Kindergarten. This year he will be a first grader. He can hardly wait for school to start so he can have more time with his friends. I have discovered, as Levi has gotten olde, he doesn't like the cuddling and loving that the granddaughters still do. In fact, if I get a quick hug when he comes in the door I am doing good. He is so busy. Rescue Heroes and Spiderman fill many hours of his day. Sometimes I long to just sit down and visit with him like I do the girls. And then, unexpectedly, to my delight it happened. Levi looked up at me with those big brown eyes and lovingly asked, "Grandma, will you watch this movie with me?" Well, of course, I would! No matter the dishes from dinner needed putting in the dishwasher. Crumbs were all over the floor from that same meal, and I had planned to check my e-mails for the day when those chores were finished. Instead, I sat down and watched Tarzan. A far cry from the Gaither videos that were usually the only 'movies' I watch. What a joyous time. Levi and grandma. Side by side on the sofa enjoying the movie and one another. Thank you, Lord, for that precious hour. Take this grandson who has such a distinct temperament and flourish him like a well-nurtured plant. I know that happy indeed will he be if God is always the Lord of his life. Heavenly Father, use this rough and tumble only grandson, Levi, who has a heart of gold, for your glory! Melva Cooper jmelva @ cox-internet.com You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story, just remember to remove the space before and after the @ symbol. The space is placed in the address to protect our writers from viruses and email harvesting programs. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator@write2theheart.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Melva Cooper is a wife, mother, and grandmother from Jonesboro, Arkansas. She is also a free lance writer. She has written "Grandparenting" articles for magazines and ezines. Obadiah Press has just announced they will be using one of her stories in their new book "Living By Faith" to be published later this year. Melva is, also, a big NASCAR fan and she writes Christian motorsports stories for Christian Motorsports Illustrated and she is a staff writer for www.catchfence.com . -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Letters From Our Readers -------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you, Betty, for sharing your story with us. I've always felt that God doesn't give us more than He thinks we can handle. He obviously knew that through your illness, you would grow into the person He intended you to be. You are an inspiration! Blessings,Denise Sawyer sawyerdenise@yahoo.com www.stillwaterspublishers.com Great reflection. We all need one another to hold us up as we go down life's long road. Mark Crider Yes, MS may have molded her, but she sure isn't moldy! Why, I've never read any book more upbeat and positive than hers (IT TAKES TWO MOUNTAINS TO MAKE A VALLEY), not even Norman Vincent Peale's book of Positive Thinking! She has taken the proverbial "lemon" and made (delicious) lemonade. I recommend it to anyone and everyone. Nancee Donovan I could totally identify with what Betty was saying. Although MS has not been my illness, I've seen depression take hold of a strong person and turn her around to where she can only look forward to sleep. I have watched a once thin and active body become a pin cushion as doctors seek to find the problems that make it difficult to sit, stand or walk for any length of time. But, I do know the one who is in charge of this big wonderful universe, and I know when he allows things to happen it is for a reason. How else could I counsel and work with women who have had severe depression, or identify with those who are housebound? It is through my faith in Him that He in turn gives us the desires of our hearts. I may not be able to sit at the computer for long, but when he gives me a story, It doesn't take long. "Delight thyself in the Lord, and He will give thee the desires of thy heart." Psalms 37:4 Blessings, Diane Dean White Oh, how I identify with Betty's wonderful way of describing not the travesty of Multiple Sclerosis, but rather God's blessings in this steadily debilitating disease. It were as though I read my own MS and Lupus story from beginning to end.How eloquently Betty put it all, and how true the blessings when we look for them: instead of focusing on what we cannot do and how less superficially pretty we've become. Thank you, Betty, for saying it all for me. WELL DONE! Bonita M Quesinberry, R.C. Author, "Today, Jesus Said" --------------------------------------------------------------- Military Prayer Reminder --------------------------------------------------------------- As you read over this list of names, please take that moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Thaddeaus Howard Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Please remember to continue to pray for all of our troops and our leadership at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. --------------------------------------------------------------- Chocolate Alert! I know that got your attention! I am working on a chocolate cookbook to be given away on Write 2 the Heart's web site. This work in progress is tentatively called "Write 2 the Heart of the Chocolate Lover." Anyone who would like to join in the delicious fun, send a chocolate recipe with a brief bio to be included after each recipe. Send as many as you wish. --------------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner I can remember when my sons were small, people told me how wonderful grandchildren are, and how special is the love you feel for them. I couldn't comprehend being able to love someone as much as my children. Here I am on the other end of child rearing, and am now experiencing the love of grandchildren. When these grandsons lavish their love on me, that is times to be treasured. Seventeen-month-old Tylor worked hard to climb on the couch beside me. When He got there, he sat on his knees and gave a big self-satisfied sigh, then planted a great big openmouthed wet kiss on my face covering my mouth, nose, and much of my cheeks. I loved every minute of it! Nine-year-old Logan comes in with arms opened wide for a hug and always says, "Hello beautiful Lady!" I think they are worth keeping. God Bless, Cheryl ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- © 2003 Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.