Simple Peace

As the weather warms and sweet summer approaches, it brings me back to simpler times of spending long days at my grandparents house as a child and it greatly refreshes my soul.

Peace fills my heart as I remember those childhood summers and how us kids would run, skip, skate and play – wild and free. We would be outside for hours in the warm summer sunshine riding our bikes in the street, rushing out to greet the ice cream truck and wading in the pop-up kiddie pool that my grandma would fill with water from the garden hose.

One of my favorite summer pastimes as a young girl was laying in the grass under the “fort” I had constructed of freshly washed sheet linens, carefully clothes pinned to the budding branches of the apricot tree. I would watch the sun stream through the linen from underneath and then I would begin collecting the brightly colored lady bugs that would come crawling out onto the sheets. I’d have a mason jar full of ladybugs.

I loved being at my grandparents house and remember swinging back and forth on the squeaky swing set while watching my grandpa mow the lawn. As the aroma of fresh cut grass filled the air, I would swing and sing every Sunday school song I could think of out loud for all to hear. My grandpa did the yard work on Thursdays, and once the grass was cut and watered he would drive to pick up a delicious dinner of Kentucky Fried Chicken for us all to enjoy. I loved Thursdays and those traditions.

My brother and I spent most of the summer weekdays at our grandparents house since our parents both worked at the time. That carefree season of life is so special to look back on as another summer comes softly around the bend.

My grandparents gave me a safe place where the peace of God was felt daily. I felt loved and secure at their house. My grandma was always praying and reading her Bible. She would sing the old hymns as she made us lunch and I would listen carefully to the words pouring from her heart of praise and watch her joyfully serve us. She was gentle and had the peace of God in every part of her countenance. Even when we would get a little out of hand and need some discipline, her method of correction was to send us to the bedroom to pray about the way we were behaving. She was always directing us to Jesus. Her life permeated His presence.

These memories bring peace to my heart and I am thankful beyond words for the gift of my grandparents who chose to pour into us and give us a safe place to grow. Both my grandma and grandpa had made the choice to serve the Lord as young adults, and their decision to give their lives to Him paved the way for the trickle down effect in each generation of my family. I now serve the Lord because of their influence and how they modeled a beautiful relationship with Jesus to their children, and then to me.

With the approach of long summer days and warm summer nights, it has me reminiscing of my grandparents – their gift of time spent with me and the amazing peace that Jesus has brought into my life. I have peace because I too have made the choice to follow Jesus, just as my grandparents did.

The beautiful thing is, if you did not grow up in a peaceful home (or perhaps your home right now is far from peaceful), the cycle can most definitely end with you. It can end today. We can each be that person in our family. The one who makes the change. The person who chooses Jesus and models for those watching us how to live in His freely given peace. We only have to decide to follow Jesus – then the Peace floods in.

He is the utmost definition of peace. It is never too late to start fresh. It is always a good time to be the change and to break the chains that continue to be passed down from generation to generation in your own family’s heritage.

Jesus is that peace. His peace flows deep and wide, like a rushing river of life. His peace is a gift for each and every one of us.

I hope this summer brings you a fresh awakening of who Jesus is. I pray this years season in the sun will bring you closer to The Son. I ask the Father for His peace to engulf you, engulf your family, and that from this day forward you know Jesus and you know His peace.

Thank you Grandma Dorothy Marie Smith and Grandpa Ira Clinton Smith for being the chain breakers in our family heritage – for providing a refuge of peace for me as a child and for showing our family how to live in relationship with The Almighty God. Heaven is your great reward, and I know I will see you again soon in the land of life. Until then, your legacy lives on.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

Be blessed, friends!

~ Stephanie