Like most
summers, this one has flown by. This summer included a first for the Knabes as
Craig and I spent two weeks of July in Sweden with extended family.
The year I
graduated from high school, Bjorn and Anders, cousins on my Mom’s side of the
family, came to stay with my family for one month. We had a wonderful time with
these 2 very handsome, very fun, Swedish guys, who were my age. Years later
their younger sister Jenny, came to stay with my parents several times. We
loved our cousins. 44 years have passed since we have seen Bjorn and
Anders, and 20
years since Jenny’s last visit. Now it was time to be reunited in their
country.
Because of the
planning done by Jenny, her husband Olaf, and her mom, Berit, we experienced
the trip of a lifetime. We slept in 10 different places during our 13-day stay.
We toured the stunning, very old, capital city of Stockholm. We took a 3-hour
boat ride to the quiet, untouched, natural beauty of the Archipelago, where we
experienced “Glamping” in tents overlooking the Baltic Sea. We spent two nights
on the beautiful island of Oland, where
our family had a quaint summer home and where we swam in the icy Baltic, close
to midnight, while it remained light outside. We drove to Kosta, an ancient
glass blowing town. There I watched
Craig blow a piece of soft, super hot glass, as it came out of the fiery
furnace. It turned out to be a lovely, small, cobalt blue vase for me, a
treasure from my husband. All of this and much more was over-the-top wonderful.
But one part of the trip changed me.
We visited the
town, the farm, and the house where my Mom’s Dad, Jarl Karlson, was born. At
18, he and his best friend boarded a ship headed to America, never to see his
parents or his 10 siblings again. I saw a picture of him and his friend at 18,
all dressed up, and handsome as can be, before they set sail for America. We were
given a family picture of him, his parents, his sisters and brothers. I learned
that his youngest sister, Karin, loved him more than her other siblings and had
always carried the memory of saying good bye to him on the road as she was
walking home from school, never to see him again. I learned that his mother’s
name was Johanna and they called her “Hanna”. Finally, I got to hold and page
through the Bible that he sent to his parents from the USA, his new home. It
was addressed to them and signed; from your loving Son, Jarl Karlson. I got to
see his handwriting. It was a very
special and moving moment.
My mom had said
that she was a Daddy’s girl and I recall Christmastimes when she would cry
because she still missed him. Her dad had passed away at age 53 from a brain
tumor before my mom was married. Thus, I never knew him. From the things my mom
had shared I knew he was special and I now believe, from things I have just
learned, that my mom was much like her dad.
Within minutes
of seeing that Bible, I was praising God for my Grandfather, whom I never knew.
I thanked God for his faithfulness. He and my Grandma were Christians and they
passed it on to the next generation; to my mom and her 2 brothers. My Mom
passed the love of Jesus on to me and my 2 sisters. My sisters and I have
passed it on to our children. Our nephews are passing it on to their children. My Grandparents were disciple makers.
I am so thankful
for the Holy Spirit’s work in and through generations in my family. My life,
our family’s lives, without Christ, would be so very different day in and day
out. Additionally, our eternal destiny is secure, we are heaven bound. I am thankful
for God’s promises and His blessed assurance.
Thus, as we move
into fall, Women’s Ministry will continue to focus on Disciplemaking. Jesus
said in Matthew 28:18-20, “Go and make disciples”. This is the central
mission of Christ’s church. As we are going about our lives, we ordinary women
are to take the Gospel outside the walls of the church to our families,
friends, neighbors, co-workers, community, and beyond as God leads us.
Today, as we Engage
with others, will you and I work on being more Intentional about finding
ways and times to tell people about Jesus and what He has done for us? God
wants us to obey His commands. When we share our story of Christ’s work on the
cross and share our Jesus story with someone, we are not responsible for the
outcome. That is Christ’s job. Our job is to obey Him when He prompts us to
share and makes the opportunity available.
Joy is found in
obedience. Are you and I ready to obey?
Save the
dates:
All Women’s
Groves start the week of September 4
Taste and See - September
26
