Through The Years

One of the things that enriches a person’s life the most is true friendship. The dictionary gives different definitions for friendship: the emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends; a relationship between friends; a state of mutual trust and support. In addition, a friend is defined as a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations. A friend is someone you love and who loves you, someone you respect and who respects you, someone whom you trust and who trusts you. A friend is honest and makes you want to be honest, too. A friend is loyal. Having a true friend makes a person richer than any amount of money. When that friend IS a member of your family, it is a real blessing not to be taken lightly.

A friend is someone who is happy to spend time with you doing absolutely nothing at all,or someone who doesn’t mind driving you on a stupid errand. A friend will get up at midnight just because you want to go on an adventure and doesn’t have to talk to really communicate with you. The bond between friends should never be taken lightly.

A friend is someone who not only does not care if you are ugly or boring, but does not even think about it; someone who forgives you no matter what you do, and someone who tries to help you even when they do not know how. A friend is someone who tells you if you are being stupid, but who does not make you feel stupid.A friend is someone who would sacrifice their life and happiness for you. A friend is someone who will come with you when you have to do boring things like watch bad recitals, go to stuffy parties, keep an appointment with a doctor, or wait in boring lobbies. You do not even think about who is talking or who is listening in a conversation with a friend.

A friend is someone for whom you are willing to change your opinions. A friend is someone you look forward to seeing and who looks forward to seeing you: someone you like so much, it does not even matter if you share interests or traits. A friend is someone you like so much, you start to like the things they like.A friend is a partner, not a leader or a follower. If you are fortunate enough to end up married to your best friend, it is without a doubt the best situation in which you can find yourself. Life will take you on an adventure of joy and happiness like no other that you can experience.

Until next time,

Hester

The crimes that are committed against our LEOs are at an all-time high. Every day, we hear about another shooting and/or killing of one or more of our men or women in blue. My heart breaks for our law enforcement officers. The majority of them are dedicated, selfless, and driven to protect our society and provide a safe environment in which we can work, play, and live. When they put on their gear and head out to do their job, they don’t know if they will return to the safety of their homes and families! For most of them, the pay is not all that good, but they don’t do their duty for the pay anyway! They have an inner desire to serve their community and country by giving their lives in serving and protecting!

I have witnessed these men and women interacting with members of our society only to be rebuffed and criticized. Many of them give of their own private resources and time away from their families to help young people and other members of our society expecting nothing in return. The current attitude of certain elements of our society is horrendous. Just imagine what it would be like if we didn’t have these brave men and women. What if no one wanted to do the job they do? The chaos that would consume us could result in circumstances we can only imagine. Riots, death, and loss of material things would abound. No one, even criminal elements, would be safe.

My prayer is that God will convict people who are so filled with hatred, and their hearts will be changed! I pray that jealousy, division, and greed will be replaced with understanding, love, and generosity. We are one nation under God, and we are all brothers and sisters in the Family of God! We should have each other’s backs just like God has always had our backs!

“For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.” Psalm‬ ‭11:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Life has so many twists and turns, ups and downs, and moments of joy and sadness! It seems as though everything can change at the snap of your fingers. Looking back over my life, it is difficult to imagine all the events that have occurred. As we are living our lives, we sometimes are in such a hurry and forget to enjoy the journey.

Please! Can we just wrap every member of our society in silk and bubble wrap. Give each person his/her favorite drink/food. Put on headphones with the sounds they want to hear. Give them glasses that only show their hearts’ desires. No one has to work or worry. Everyone will just exist in perfection. No one has to suffer being offended! After all Jesus Christ died for our sins, and he suffered enough for all of us!

That is not reality! The reality is that we were created by God for Him and for His Purpose! We are not promised that there will be no problems. However, we are promised that if we follow God’s Will in our lives, we will spend eternity with Him in Heaven where there will be no more heartaches, tears, and sorrows! For now, we should consider the feelings and opinions of others. We need to work toward making the best of the opportunities we are given. Personally, my goal is to brighten the corner where I am.

If you are a young or older person dealing with something from your past and you find yourself not able to shake it off, or you are dealing with something you have done to someone else, and you cannot seem to forgive yourself, remember in Christ, you are completely free. Often we look to people or the world for answers when we are dealing with guilt, shame or just searching for solutions. God desires our vulnerability, because where we are weak, He is strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10) Instead of running to the world or people searching for false and temporary freedom, we need to ask God to help us realize the eternal freedom that comes from Him.

The eternal freedom Christ offers does not stop at salvation. It is eternal for every mistake, every down moment, every failure we have had, or when others hurt us, we have to keep reminding ourself that His blood was the wage for us to live a completely free life in Christ. No matter what tries to keep us bound, all we have to shout is “The Blood,” and walk in our freedom. The freedom He gives cost a high price, but it is priceless.

Our freedom is not found in a president or in any government official. Our freedom is not found in our boss or our professor. Though we abide by the laws of the land, wherever we are in life, we must remember the True Source of freedom is God. He is the Ruler of our lives, and we should always stand firm knowing we have an earthly and eternal liberty through Him, regardless of what happens.

God made 7487 promises in the Bible that He assures His people He will do. We can trust Him to always take care of us.

“In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalm‬ ‭56:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Until next time,

Hester

Teaching was my dream from the time I was just a little girl. I can remember lining up all my dolls and stuffed animals and playing school. If I was fortunate enough to be able to persuade my brothers or neighbor children to join my “class,” I was one more happy little girl. I saw it as an opportunity to help others. The best part was having books.

I also discovered my need to put my feelings on paper, which got me in trouble more times than I care to recall. I remember one time when I was in the fourth grade, I had a “crush” on a really cute boy. As was the custom during that time, I wrote him notes, folded them into “footballs,” and saved them in a cigar box in my desk. I could never get enough courage to actually give them to him. However, I was absent for several days, and someone found the notes and gave them to him. When I got back to school after being absent for almost a week, I was horrified to discover the dilemma I found myself in because the boy already had a girlfriend. Needless to say, I got rid of my cigar box and notes! I don’t remember ever writing notes again.

As I got older, it continued to be my dream to be a teacher and write a book. In high school, I worked in our school library and joined the Future Teachers of America; now it is Future Educators, and the library is a media center. Although technology has taken over so much of the challenge of obtaining an education, books are still a vital component in our pursuit. There is nothing like holding a book, turning the pages, and underlining or highlighting information that is important or that tugs on our mind and at our heart! I began to have a dream of someday writing a book! I call myself “book poor!” I have enough books in my home that I could fill a library.

Books are and always have been a large part of my life. I have donated as many books as I now own, but I have two books in my head and in my heart that I really feel compelled to write and share. One book is about my family, and the other one that is begging to be written is my experiences with the awesome students who have been a part of my life. I thank God daily for giving me an opportunity of having all the young people in my life. The absolute truth is that I learned more from the young men and women who were in my classes than I could have ever shared with them. If I can ever become disciplined enough, I will write my books and dedicate them to all of those amazing people who have been such an inspiration to me.

Until next time,

Hester Guest

What is Grace? That is when God gives you what you need, not what you deserve. Grace is when God says, “I am going to take your problem and make it my problem.” Grace is God’s Riches given to us at Christ’s Expense. Grace is what we should be offering to others instead of criticism and blame for everything that occurs in our society!

It amazes me how many people have nothing better to do than to criticize everything that is written, said, or done! What does it even mean to have a personal opinion without someone jumping down your throat and trying to persuade you that their opinion is better or the only right opinion? That is unheard of today. It frightens me to think what we are modeling and teaching our youth today. They are learning that if you say something long enough and loudly enough it will be true! It does not even matter whether it is really true at all. Respect for educators, law enforcement, and even for family is almost a lost practice! Respect for a person’s own identity and rights is being replaced with the idea that, “I am owed!” “I don’t have to do anything to earn anything because the fact that I AM means anything I want is mine!”

We are making every problem in our society about politics. The sad thing is when all those politicians are long gone, our world will be left with lots of broken relationships, hurt feelings, and memories of protesting that brought anger and ruin to our society and influenced our children in many ways we really did not expect. We are teaching them to scream loudly and get what you want. What has happened to honor, respect, and innocence? If enough people proclaim loudly enough for long enough, you are guilty! It does not matter what the evidence points to or how innocent you are.

We are in dire need of change! Education doesn’t necessarily make us intelligent! How we use our education determines how intelligent our society is. Each of us needs to determine if we want to be a part of the problem or a part of the solution. Personally, I want to be part of the solution. Most of the time, I try to keep my opinions to myself, and I try to listen to all sides of situations! Sometimes, I suffer from “foot in mouth disease” and speak when I need to just listen. The thought I try to keep in mind is will what I have to say really make a difference, is it necessary, and most of all, “What Would Jesus Do?”

As it is written:

“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” Proverbs‬ ‭10:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.” Proverbs‬ ‭15:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Until next time,

Hester Guest

Dear Jesus, You hear our cry, every worry, every concern. Thank you that You are the One who sees us, knows us, and leads us beside still waters. Our world is chaos right now, screaming here, yelling there, bullying in our schools and in our society, and we have lost our center. Be that center that we revolve around. Be that rock that anchors us to the truth that there is nothing to fear as long as we are embraced and established by YOU. So many of our children, young people, and even many adults are experiencing bullying like never before! Lord, it is causing feelings of hopelessness and insecurity for them. At times, they think there is absolutely no way out but to end their own lives. Thank You that You are bigger than governments, politicians, crime, evil, trafficking, lies, bullying, and anything the enemy of our souls uses to destroy us. Instead let us become lighthearted and joyful because You simply love us, help us to be content in knowing that we do not have to micromanage our lives and the lives of others to find joy. Losing control willingly and surrendering to You will bring us so much more peace. Help us to recognize those things we grab at to make ourselves feel better or more alive, and remind us that they do not ultimately fill us. Instead You fill us, Lord. Renew us Give us Your perspective on this crazy world we live in temporarily. Please teach us to say YES to what You are calling us to do, no matter how silly or insignificant or how profound and scary the obedience is. Make us brave and dependent on YOU and only YOU. Thank you that we know You are the solution and we can depend on You because YOU will bring peace to those who are suffering.

Amen

Until next time,

Hester Peavey Guest

After being an observer of so much death, sickness, sorrow, and negativity, I have truly been convicted to spread as much love as I possibly can for the rest of the days God gives me in this earthly home. We are not given one more second, minute, hour, or day to influence, impact, or make a difference than God has already planned for our lives here on earth! As I contemplate the events that have happened in my time here, I realize that I could have and should have shared more wisely! I know I got caught up in the whirlwind of seeking things instead of seeking to spread the Love of Jesus as God intended me to do when He created me.

At one point in life, I prayed for patience, and God’s sense of humor really “kicked in!” From giving me two precious sons eighteen months apart to allowing me to teach awesome teenagers with raging hormones for thirty years, I saw His sense of humor and my need to practice patience. However, the patience required then was nothing like the patience required as I grow older and encounter the problems of aging, health problems, and the negativity we face in our society today!

I am extremely saddened to see so-called Christian individuals so hate filled and negative that our great country is being divided and destroyed from the inside on a daily basis! I cringe to thing that my Savior and His Heavenly Father watches as we go against the very intention God had for creating us. He created us in His Image, but I find it difficult to believe that He sees Himself in us right now! With the time we have left, I believe we should be searching for cures to diseases, finding solutions to societal problems, and, yes, even loving and helping one another as God intended for us to do. After all, His Word to us is:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/jer.29.11.niv

““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

‭‭John‬ ‭13:34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/jhn.13.34.niv

“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.””

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/gal.5.14.niv

““But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/luk.6.27.niv

The Word of God tells us over and over to love one another!

Yet, we see ourselves in every comment, injustice, and mistake we read, witness, or hear! I believe we are just a “wee” bit self and ego centered. Do we really feel it necessary to comment negatively about everything we disagree with just so our opinion is heard or read – especially when we end up alienating people we love and call/called friends? What happened to love our neighbor as ourself?

My mother and daddy always told me, “If you cannot say something good or helpful, don’t say anything!” Maybe that is “old school” or “antiquated”, but it still has a lot of truth in it; I might add, “If it doesn’t lead to a change that will prove beneficial.” When I started this blog, I had intended to talk about staying close to relatives and friends. I think in some ways I may have strayed; however, negativity does separate friends and family members, too!

Until next time,

Hester Peavey Guest

When my daddy died, I had so many regrets, but the one that nagged at me the most was that we never recorded all the stories and things he told us over and over and over through the years! He told us about his years growing up and how hard things were for him as a child. He told us about his years in service for his country. We were always respectful to him, but we kind of didn’t believe everything he told us. As he got sicker and more and more feeble, I was really upset with myself.

One Christmas or Father’s Day, I purchased him a tape recorder and probably 20 or 30 tapes; and I showed him how to work the recorder! Every time I saw him, I would ask him and beg him to record his memories for me! The thing I realized later was he preferred talking to a live audience! I should have known that, and I wish I had realized it sooner! However, like we often do, I waited too long. When we were going through his personal belongings after he passed, I discovered the recorder and all the tapes. The only tape which had been opened was the one I had used to demonstrate to him how to use the recorder! It made me cry to think how stupid I had been.

My daddy was a true people person! He loved to talk, and he could talk your ears off at any given time! I know sometimes, people would see him coming, and they would probably turn and go the other way because they didn’t have time to listen to him. He could talk for hours about any and every thing! He just loved being with people! He loved everyone; it did not matter how old, how young, your race, your position, your religion, your politics! He treated everyone the same: the bank president or a ditch digger! It didn’t matter. Most of the young people in town called him Uncle Mack or Mr. Peavey, and he loved all of them. If there was a small child near him, he always had a smile and something for them. He loved everybody! He especially loved little babies; and if there was one any where near him, you could be sure he would end up with that baby in his arms with a look of joy on his face!

After my precious daddy died, many people approached my family with stories about how my daddy had helped each of them! If only he could have heard the appreciation and joy in their voices, he would have been amazed! However, the stories are for another time! I promise I will share some of them later.

When I thought about losing an opportunity to record his story, I decided to start blogging so I could record some information for my children and grandchildren. I wanted to leave some memories for them. I want them to know who I am besides being their momma and Mimi. That is my explanation for my reason for writing my blog.

Until next time,

Hester Peavey Guest

Have you ever lain in bed at night and you just cannot fall asleep? I know… that was a foolish question! Everyone experiences that at least once in awhile. Some of us are in the middle of an epidemic of those nights! Well, I have a solution that works some times! Since I sleep alone, it is not bothering anyone else. I sing to Jesus! It may be bothering Him, and that may be why He helps me go to sleep!

Seriously, some of my favorite hymns from childhood seem to soothe my restless mind and body. One of my favorites is “It is Well with My Soul”, and “Just as I Am” is another one! Some nights, I try to sing “No Matter What,” and I am sure Ryan Stevenson would bang his head against the wall saying, “Please, that is not the right tune!” However, it helps me because it draws me into God’s Presence.

I have discovered that there is no place better to rest than in God’s Presence. He wants us to be His friend, and He wants us to totally depend on Him and Him only! He is my Father, and He wants me to have the very best of everything; and when I totally believe and understand this fact, I am the happiest I can endure!

I am making it a habit, which I love, and the last thing I do at night is to say to God and Jesus, “Are you ready to be serenaded, and I say my prayers, and then, I sing to my Father and my Savior! Wow!! I have some great sleeping going on and feel rested in the morning!

Goodnight and go to sleep with Jesus on your mind!

Until next time,

Hester