THE GREAT HYMNS OF THE FAITH
Dear Abby,There are many ways of expressing the joy in our hearts. For me it is in singing. I have been singing my way through life these 59 years. I can remember so many songs that at any given...
View ArticleMIND THE CHECKS
Dear Abby,One of the things I pray for you and my other grandchildren is that you will have "discretion." You may know already that discretion is having the ability to make responsible decisions, using...
View ArticleCONTENTMENT
Dear Abby,A few years ago your mother gave me a birthday card that read "When it comes right down to it, the secret to having it all is believing that you already do!" In other words, the real gift is...
View ArticleBE STEADFAST
Dear Abby,Even at your age life has its ups and downs. The only way to remain peaceful is to be of a "steadfast mind" (Isa. 26:3-4). When all the drama of being a teen girl is front and center you must...
View ArticleTHE SPIRIT OF HOSPITALITY
Dear Abby,Hospitality is a large part of your heritage. Papa and I were blessed to have parents that taught us by example to be hospitable. Most Sundays at our house there were extra people around the...
View ArticleGRANDPARENTS
Dear Abby,There is no way I can describe to you the joy of being a grandmother. I was privileged to attend the births of all seven of you and then spend the first week caring for mother and baby. The...
View ArticleFAVORITE BOOKS
Dear Abby,One of the things that has greatly influenced my life is reading. You may have discovered by now that reading another's life story or reading about the history of our world can direct the...
View ArticleDEPENDABILITY
Dear Abby,When I was growing up it was very important for people to be dependable. The lessons for that began with school attendance. Tardiness was not tolerated except for something that couldn't be...
View ArticleGOOD HABITS
Dear Abby,When you were very small your parents began to teach you "good habits." You know what I mean, things like brushing your teeth, combing your hair, cleaning your room and saying "please" and...
View ArticleMEMORIZING SCRIPTURE
Dear Abby,A few years ago I read a book about one of our senators that had been captured and tortured in Vietnam earlier in his life. He was a POW for a few years before being released. He loves his...
View ArticlePUT YOUR HEART IN IT
Dear Abby,One of the many things I admire about Papa is that whatever he does, he gives 100 percent. He doesn't complain or fuss about menial tasks, he just gets it done. Yesterday we were priming some...
View ArticleCHOICES
Dear Abby,I never cease to be amazed at some of the choices seemingly intelligent people make! Everyday that we are given on this earth, we wake up and begin the day with choices. The first one is to...
View ArticlePEACE AND QUIET
Dear Abby,I grew up in a home with two brothers and two sisters. I shared a bedroom with both sisters. We shared one small closet and had maybe two drawers each for clothes. There was one bathroom for...
View ArticleGREAT TREASURES AWAIT YOU
Dear Abby (and Grant),If I could bestow on you anything I desired for you in this lifetime, it would be something that the Bible says is "more precious than rubies." It is something that brings "riches...
View ArticleBE ALL THERE!
Dear Abby,I read this quote by Jim Elliot, missionary to Ecuador, written about 60 years ago: "Wherever you are, be ALL there!" The first thing I thought of was how frequently I am looking at the top...
View ArticleWHAT ABOUT AUTHORITY?
Dear Abby,I am sure by now you have come to realize that life on earth is all about submission. We are all under the authority of someone at all times. It is necessary to have an order to things if...
View ArticleLIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS, OH MY!
Dear Abby,When I was growing up I thought my parents were not afraid of anything. Because of that, I never had a fear of storms or people or life in general. ( Except for those huge palmetto bugs,...
View ArticleWATCH THAT WHINING
Dear AbbyOnce when you were very small, your brother was fussing about something and you said: "All this whining is giving me a headache!" Now there are more of you in the family and you know how crazy...
View ArticleV-A-C-A-T-I-O-N
Dear AbbyYou are on vacation with your family this week and I am enjoying just thinking about it! We were at the beach earlier this summer and if I close my eyes I can hear the ocean and feel that...
View ArticleSENIOR SAINTS
Dear Abby,I really feel impressed to talk to you about "old" people. A few generations ago the older people in our lives were treated with great respect and consideration. Some countries still place a...
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