Last month I shared a portion of an old post, along with some new thoughts that were stirred. Well, just this last week another old post was stirred in my memories. I’ve copied a portion of it here today, along with some new thoughts that came like a treasure for my 65th Birthday this week. Growing older may have been the catalyst for those memories, and yet God used those memories for a new and precious gift …
She was my Great, Great Aunt Lois, the younger half-sister of my Mother’s Grandfather. And she always carried an air of mystery to me. In a family of farmers, she left that title behind and followed her heart to become a stenographer in the “big” city of Toledo. By the time I came along, she had already retired, and was living above The Historical Museum in the town close to all of the family farmers. She was a caretaker at that museum, and that is where the mystery trickled down to me.
For my young heart that thirsted after stories and poems and the telling of all things wonderful, she found ways to slip extra gifts of books about dreamers of dreams to me. One year in her travels to visit a friend who lived out West (another impossible dream to my small town existence) she met a teacher who had written a book about a cat that came to stay at school. “Room 8” the cat became a bit of a local celebrity there, and inspired a whole collection of children to write their own stories about their beloved mascot. My Aunt Lois never knew that her gift of that book and the collection of children’s homemade stories inspired me, along with my best friend, to dream up hours of our own writing and plays from the children’s words about Room 8.
Aunt Lois always seemed to know which books would stir a new longing within me. The biography of Janet Lynn, an ice skater in the 70s, spurred me on, not to be a skater, but to live out my faith wherever life found me. And when she saw my teenage poetry journal, she didn’t chide me for choosing overly-emotional or sappy selections. No, she just slipped me a copy of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, and my vista of possibilities soared along with the gulls.
Recently my dear friend, Anna Smit, asked me if there was a book on my wishlist that she could purchase for my Birthday. And I felt a little silly telling her that a reprinting of my childhood favorite, A Cat Called Room 8, was on the list. She replied that she didn’t feel it was silly at all, and I became teary-eyed thinking of how the book had affected me.
Later, after the sweet book arrived, I wrote her that the Lord showed me another deeper blessing that had been planted in my young heart. I realized this book played such a large part in my loving to listen to the hearts of children, and to be a teacher alongside them. It was the children in the book who convinced their teacher to let the cat stay there, and it was the children who made sure the cat was fed and cared for. Then it was the teacher who allowed them to keep the cat. It was a beautiful story of learning to love and to share in caring for each other, all given thru one of God’s creatures, an adventurous little cat.
Another author who touched me so deeply with her stories of loving children was a dear long-distance friend who stepped into Heaven just last month, Lisa Enqvist. I called her one of my RA sisters, years ahead of me in the chronic illness journey, but we shared a love and heart for children. Her life-path of being a missionary who started an orphanage in Thailand, along with her husband, was also influenced by a childhood book she had read. You can read her post about it here on her Substack site that is still open:
Lisa Enqvist, A Writer’s Journey
Her stories were incredible, and I pray that God makes a way for her own book to be shared someday. You can be sure I will let you know when that happens.
My heart became so blessed as I thought of all the children through the years that God had allowed my husband and I to love and care for. Some of those precious hearts have searched us out and shared about the blessings they had felt in our classroom and in our home. My heart is overflowing with thanks and prayers for them, even as I pray for my own grandchildren and loved ones.
As the Lord was directing my prayers for the young ones, He reminded me of a Scripture He had spoken decades ago in another time of prayer. This month a simple poem was birthed. I pray it blesses you as we all feel the weight of this world crushing down upon our hearts. God has not abandoned us! Oh how He longs to join our hearts ever deeper to His, if only we will listen:
"Choose life
In your praying,"
God called to me.
Death HAS come ..
Jesus paid the price
Of dying
For us
So that now
We can
CHOOSE LIFE
SPEAK LIFE
PRAY LIFE
When the enemy roars
Death all around,
Speak Jesus
The author
And perfecter
Of our faith:
LIFE
--bg
I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
And may this song become a prayer in your heart for all our lives to turn to Jesus in these troubled times:
I am linking with Traffic Jam Reboot
BettieGsRAseasons 
Bettie,
Your post touched my heart so deeply.
You are such a beacon of Light…, leading all of us to Jesus always.
We share a love for reading…, even children’s books which I love…
I pray every day for you and your family. Sending you so much love and prayers
Colleen
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Dear Colleen, I am so glad to know that we both share a love of books, and children’s books! They are such gifts to be treasured. And your friendship and prayers are treasures to me also. May we both keep our eyes lifted to our Savior in these trying times. And may He carry you through every painful place my dear sister. ❤️🙏❤️🦋
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This is so beautiful – thank you for the glimpse into the younger you. And your poem, amazing. 💜
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Thank you for your encouraging words Angie! I’m so grateful for the fellowship we have to lift our prayers together before Him, and to speak life! Blessings to you dear friend
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What a beautiful message! Thank you for sharing your heart with us. God bless you. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Melissa! I am so grateful for the ways you share your heart also. What a gift from God along this journey. Blessings to you also, dear sister 💞🙏
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This is so heartwarming, Bettie! Thank you for sharing it again along with new thoughts. I read the sample of the story of Room 8. It truly is delightful! I love your poem, too. Also Lisa’s. Thank you for adding sunshine to my day. 🙂 Happy 65th Birthday, my friend! Love, hugs, and blessings of strength and peace for each day 💕
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Dear Trudy, I’m so glad you were able to read that sample. It really is such a heartwarming story for this time especially. Another of my friends just found a recent podcast talking about it, and I’m going to listen to it this afternoon! Thank you so much for your love and blessings. I pray blessings over you today too, my dear friend! 💕😘
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Isn’t it incredible how books sow seeds that bear such beautiful fruit? What a sweet Aunt she was in the way she noticed you and gave you what so touched your heart and still does today. Love never ends. He just keeps giving.
Thank you for sharing. Can’t wajt to see Lisa’s book in print also.
So grateful for how your memories prompted me to get a copy of that book the Holy Spirit was reminding me of also from my childhood. Every detail matters, doesn’t it? Oh to pay attention. To be still enough to notice. Keep helping me to see, Lord.
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Dear Anna, oh you are so right that every detail matters. Our Lord never overlooks any small act of love and compassion, or any small wound that He longs to heal.
And what an amazing way that He weaves all our lives together! My Aunt and those books, and then your questions to me led to your memory of those books from your childhood too!
Thank you so much for being open to his promptings. And yes I join you in praying for an open heart to listen more clearly. Love & hugs!!❤️❤️❤️
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Beautiful post and story, Bettie. What wonderful memories and I am so happy you were able to get a copy of the book!
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Thank you dear Lisa. And thank you for encouraging me to seek out those old books and stories. After reading my post here, another friend actually pointed me to a podcast on youtube, where I found a documentary about Room 8! So this book has remained more popular than I realized. I’m so glad I have a reprint of it again.
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This was so lovely to read, Bettie. I love how our stories are inspired by the one’s who came before us. Gosh, would I be so blessed for my story to inspire another generation of my family! And what a lovely gift from Anna–so thoughtful.
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Yes, Lynn, wouldn’t that be awesome if our stories brought inspiration to the young ones? I know I told my Aunt thank you for all she shared with me, but I can’t wait to tell her in person in Heaven! Thank you Lynn, for the ways you inspire me also. God bless you.
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I am fortunate that I get to read to some of my grandchildren through the week – so I have the luxury to read and re-read to them the children’s books I loved – and see their eyes light up with delight in them, too! A grown-up is never too old for a children’s book! Thank you for sharing your poem – sometimes poetry speaks truth better than prose: Choosing, Speaking, Praying Life along with you, sweet friend!
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Thank you dear Maryleigh! What a blessing to know that our prayers are joined together for the young ones. And you are right, we are never too old for a children’s book! Be blessed this week my friend. ❤️🙏
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Thank you for sharing the photo of your great great Aunt Lois. I love seeing pictures of people who lived and breathed in the past!
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Dear Lisa, oh I love to see those old photos too! People just like us, from another time and season, and yet they helped to shape and form who we are–its so interesting to help us understand ourselves and God’s working in our lives! Blessings to you dear friend!
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Bettie, Love the poem and even wrote it down to think on it. Jesus is definitely the answer to everything, every problem, every anxiety, every… everything. I love to hear others talk about Jesus and who He is. So inspiring. Best wishes, Linda @craftsalamode
visiitng from Weekend Traffic Jam Party
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Thank you for your visit here! Our Jesus really is such a joy to share about! He takes care of us so well. Blessings to you! I look forward to visiting your site too!
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What a beautiful post, dear friend! I’m so happy your friend has able to find this precious book and get it for you. What a blessing! May the Lord continue to bless you!
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Thank you dear Cheryl! Yes it really was such a gift to see this book republished for a new generation (or old ones that needed reminding!) God’s blessings travel thru the ages, and show us eternity in our prayers. Thank you for sharing your gift of encouragement and prayimg dear friend! Love and hugs! ❤️
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