Unlocked Doors

Today I would like to talk to you about an unusual subject. The subject of “unlocked doors”!

I remember when we never used to lock our house doors except for night time before we went to bed. That was then, this is now. Anymore, you cannot keep your doors unlocked even in the daylight hours or even you garage door opened. I finally started keeping my doors locked, even in the day time.

There is a time, however, that I do unlock them. If I think there is any possibility that one of my children will be stopping by, I leave my door unlocked. Why? Because I want them to be able to walk in and feel like I was waiting for them and expecting them. It’s that “open door” policy. My door is always open to my children and grandchildren. They are family.

Well, two times last month something happened. I knew my daughter was off work and I just knew she would stop by to visit so I unlocked the door. The day passed and no one came. Sadly, I locked the door as I went up to bed that evening. A few weeks later, my son was coming into town for a few appointments. We had not talked ahead of time, but I just knew he would stop by to visit with me so I unlocked the door.

The later it got in the afternoon; sadness came over me that he was not going to come by. Later he called and he was on his way back to his house. After I hung up the phone, I went to the door and locked it again. Now, that is not always the case. There are many times when I unlocked the doors and they came and what a special time we shared.

I remember my parents and how they longed for me to stop by. So many times, I did not take advantage of that opportunity and now there is no “home” to go to anymore as my parents are both deceased.

Am I just a spoiled Mother? I was heavy hearted by my children not coming by especially when I had unlocked the door for them! Then it hit me! UNLOCKED DOORS!!!!!

My Heavenly Father has UNLOCKED DOORS everyday. He has told me in His Word that I could come boldly before His throne. He is waiting and wanting me to come. He loves to visit with me because I am His child. I am a part of His family. He has the “open door” policy with me. I am welcome at any time for any reason. His message to me is “Come”!

I wonder how many times, as my Lord sees me going off to bed, that He is “heavy hearted”. He was waiting for me with an unlocked door and I never came. He wanted to listen to me, comfort me, forgive me, direct me and guide me. He wanted to tell me of opportunities that He had for me, but I failed to come. He wanted to bless me and talk with me and He wanted me to bless Him and talk to Him. An unlocked door is set before me every day to go to my Heavenly Father. What do I do with that open door? How often do I just pass it by?

There are things that are different between my Heavenly Father’s open door and my open door.

Sometimes, I am away and not home. My Heavenly Father is never away. At night, I lock my door, He never locks His. One day, this home of mine will no longer be here as I will pass on. My Heavenly Father’s door will be open for all eternity. I always have a home to go to even though my parents are gone and so will my children and grandchildren.

Father, forgive me for not taking advantage of the “open door” policy that You have. Forgive me for the times I have not come. I understand when my children do not come…they get busy and I know they really care about me anyway. Thank you that through Your grace and mercy, You understand when I do not come. But, oh the sweet fellowship there is when the children do come and how I am blessed when I walk thru Your open door. Thank You for this lesson You taught me through “unlocked doors.”

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The Bell

When I was a little girl, my mother had a bell that was hanging on the wall of the back of the house. Whenever she wanted us to come home, she would ring the bell and we would come running! Usually it meant that playtime was over and it was time for supper or for us to go somewhere.　I must admit, sometimes when I wanted to get out of a situation and I would tell my friends that I could hear the bell ringing and I had to go! Then there were other times that I did not want to leave my play and pretended that I did not hear the bell.　Just the other day, I was thinking about the old bell. One of our dear friends was called HOME to heaven suddenly on May 10^th. I was thinking that he heard the bell and God said it was time to come HOME.Then I thought of my Mother since we just recently celebrated Mother’s day. She heard Heaven’s bell over 20 some years ago.　My thoughts turned to a picture of everyone standing around the stock market while the bell is ringing and everyone is clapping.　How much more for us as Christians, when the bell is rung and we are called HOME …I wonder if so great a cloud of witnesses are clapping as we enter in.Most of all, we want to hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” from our Lord!　Are you ready to hear the bell when God says it is time to come home or are you so wrapped up in the “fun” of this world that you don’t want to let go? Perhaps some of you are longing to hear the bell but it is not time yet. Keep on keeping on until the Lord rings that bell for you.　There is an old song that says, “When they ring those golden bells.” I would like to share the words with you.　“There’s a land beyond the river, that we call the sweet forever,　And we only reach that shore by faith’s decree.”　“One by one we’ll gain the portals, they’re to dwell with the immortals, 　When they ring those golden bells for you and me.”　“Don’t you hear the bells now ringing? Don’t you hear the angels singing? ‘Tis the glory hallelujah Jubilee.”　“In that far off sweet forever, just beyond the shining river,

When they ring those golden bells for you and me.”

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Blessed!!!

Would you allow me to share one of my happiest birthdays ever with you? I share this to perhaps encourage you who are Mothers. 　I have known for a long time now that I am not the perfect Mother. Oh, I think we all start off wanting to be but because we are human, we stumble and fail in so many ways. I often remember reading Proverbs 31:28a. which says “Her children arise up, and call her blessed:” and thinking, “I wonder if I will ever in my lifetime experience such an honor”…not because of my children, but because of me!　So often, we as Mothers must be firm and sometimes “crack the whip” so to speak. So that our children learn to stand on their own and be ready to meet the big world that is awaiting them after they are no longer under the umbrella of a Father and Mother. 　Often that is not understood by our children. Then there are so many times (at least for me) where I was a complete failure and there was no way my children could have called me “blessed”…and yet…God in His mercy watched over and protected them and me!　Well, this past March 26^th, I celebrated my birthday. Oh, all of my birthdays have been special but this year, I felt “blessed.”　Here are the events. A few weeks before my birthday, our Daughter, Angela who lives in Oklahoma took time off from her job and boarded an airplane with our youngest Grandson, Micah to come and visit me! Do you have any idea what that does to the heart of a Mother and Grandmother?! What a wonderful visit we had! Angela also called on Sunday to wish me “Happy Birthday!”　Then on Sunday, our Daughter, Amy and Daughter –in-law, Mandy prepared a delicious meal for the other family members and me. It was the first meal we all shared together in our new home! To complete the meal, our other 3 Grandchildren, Josiah, Bryior and Cyrus baked me my favorite birthday cake…. Angel food cake …complete with icing and decorations. Our Son, Tim was there with his special love and hugs even though he was in great pain as he awaits back surgery.　Here are some of the words from the cards they gave me:　“Children do not realize””As children, we can’t comprehend or fully realizeThe meaning of our Mother’s love,How tender and how wise,Her patience and her guidanceHer helpful, caring ways,The special, thoughtful things she doesTo brighten up the days.Years go by, before we knowThe depth of her concernThe love in her protectiveness-It takes so long to learnIt’s these and many other things That makes her grow more dear,More admired and more appreciatedWith every passing year.”　Another card said:　“Blessed is the mother who follows the LordBlessed is the mother whose faith keeps her goingBlessed is the mother who meets all your needsBlessed is the mother who shares so much love.”　I share this with you…. Not to “toot my own horn” (for I am so unworthy) but to encourage any of you Mothers who are thinking “will I ever in my lifetime be called “blessed”? 　I will look back on this birthday as one of my best ever. I was also honored by my Husband, received phone calls from my brother, sister and mother-in-law and many lovely cards from friends.　Praise God that He looked beyond my faults and saw my need. I thank Him for His purifying and trying of me that He might bring me forth as gold. I thank Him for calling me to repentance. I pray that I will allow Him to be on the throne of my life so that others will see Him in and through me.　I thank Him that even though I was not the perfect Mother, He gave me ”perfect” children….”Perfect” for what I needed to shape and form me to be more like Christ. I thank Him for the reward of being called “blessed!” 　

Mothers…may you too be encouraged!

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His Love Is Perfect!

This past Valentine’s day…I did something I had not done for a long time! I am sharing this with you as a testimony to the great LOVE of our Lord Jesus Christ.