Our granddaughter, Hannah, is turning 18 this week and I want to recognize her by posting a muse she wrote several weeks ago. Hannah graduates from high school this year and her career goal is to become a political journalist. Currently, she is in the process of applying to colleges, SAT’s, and, and a week of semester exams! Happy birthday, Hannah, my beautiful!
Sundays, or as my Grandmother would call them “Sondays” because you’re suppose to rejoice and draw close to the Lord. Sundays are lazy, boring, and, almost sad to me. Everyone wakes up early, cleans up, gets dressed in a nice outfit, and drives to church. So, we get to church, we stand up and sing, bow our heads, pray, nod and listen. But, do we hear?
We get comfortable and it’s almost as if we’re in a trance and everyone seems obligated to listen and soak everything in. As the preacher is speaking you feel as though everything he’s saying is directed towards you and you begin to let it surround your thoughts and contemplate it. Then the last song is finished and you walk out of the building.
I’ve noticed that people don’t take anything with them after that, they might discuss it on the ride home but that’s it. We all come back to the stresses, nuisances and anxiety, it is as though we’ve left our safe place and entered the real world, back to reality. People are back to their ways, they nag and pick at each other, quarrels happen abruptly and it’s like we never even went to church.
Sundays for me have always been going to church, coming home/going out to eat lunch, watching football and just slowly coming back to reality. Today, during service I didn’t want the sermon to end, the last song seemed so short. As the preacher was closing I said to myself, “I could sit here and do this all day, just keep preaching and singing, please.” But then he said “Amen,” and we stood for the last song.
Church is my safe place, I forget everything and I am overtaken with the message and the songs. It’s as though everyone has a big force field around them and nothing can hurt you. Walking out of church, I remember that I have to go to work, I need to finish all my assignments, I have to clean my room, and I need to study. Maybe that is what is suppose to happen, I don’t really know. Church is our pitstop, our checkpoint, our intermission for the week. You go to church, you think about everything that happened, you pray about it, sing about it, and listen to it. When I was little I use to almost not want to go to church but now that I’m growing up, I’ve come to realize that I need church.
The many faces and graces of Hannah – happy 18th, my heart!
xo
What a fabulous job you all have done that she knows this and feels this! The fruit of this will be excellent. Thank you for sharing you little lovey! She is beautiful inside and out!
Debra, she really is!
first, Happy Blessed Birthday, sweet Hannah. What a blessing you truly are. You have grown into a beautiful lady of grace. So many prayers have been said for you thru the year, you are so loved. You have such a gift honey, always remember that no matter where you go, you are so cover in prayers, you are loved, kind, sweet, truly a Princess of our Abba. Love ya honey….
Yes, Hannah is all those things and MORE! Aunty HM…
Our pastor spoke a few weeks ago about how there is more than just listening. We need to take action. Church is a time to take a break and through it we can focus on God, but to walk away unchanged with no goal to put what we learned into action isn’t what we should do (but often do as we get busy with our lives). I am trying to be more intention with the message I hear each week. And somehow focusing on what I learned has helped me learn new things each week. Such a brave and honest post! Happy Birthday Hannah.
Thank you, Amanda!
What a beautiful example of Godly young womanhood Miss Hannah is. She obviously got the “writing gene” from her grandmother and I enjoyed reading every word of this “guest blog”. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HANNAH! Keep walking with Jesus……..you are lovely inside and out. Curt and I love you.
Ahhh. Thanks Kath’
Hi Hannah,
It’s obvious that you have your Grandmother’s gift of writing and even more important her gift of knowing the Lord to the fullest. Thank you for being brave enough to represent Christ as a young adult. You are a gift to all of us. I’m so happy you are a friend to my girls.
Happy Birthday.
Love, Karen
Happy 18th! It’s an exciting time in your life. But, you’ve kept the most important – your relationship with Jesus & His Body – the most important. You are wise beyond your years regarding the “safe place” you wrote about. So glad you think this way at 18. Never leave Jesus behind, keep pushing forward to know and love Him with all your heart. He is the Rock, the Anchor, the Hope, the Everything.
Love you gal!
Thank you all! I enjoy hearing your feedback and reading all your comments 🙂 Thank you for all the birthday wishes also!
xo
Happy 18th Birthday, Hannah! I’ve never met you but from reading your blog today, you are everything your Grandma (Mimi, right!) brags about…a very talented and Godly young woman!
🙂
I have only met Hannah once but have heard about her over the past 17 years by knowing her grandparents, Susie and Lowell.I certainly enjoyed her blog and want to wish her a beautiful year! What a blessing she has in the exposure to such faithful grandparents!
Hannah,I pray that the Holy Spirit surrounds you and holds you in safety and love through all the years of your life, whether in church or out in the world spreading your light! Go girl!!
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Wow! Way to go Hannah. Loved this!!!
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I find it so sad and personally challenging that you don’t see the adults around you being changed by what they hear. What an indictment! Isn’t that why so many young people don’t want to go to church at all? More to the point – is this what God sees every Sunday? May your precious life be constantly challenged and changed so that others can see in you that Christ our safe place is with us 24/7 and can make a difference in one girl’s life. Go out and make a difference. Happy Birthday Hannah!!!!!!!
🙂
Happy birthday, Hannah! I’m glad that you’ve found a safe place in church :). At our home, we don’t just go to church, we make it a whole day of rest. We start on Friday night by listening to our favorite Christian music, go to church on Saturday, and then spend time at home with visitors or out on a hike or horseback ride or drive in search of beauty and further quiet time with God. We try to avoid doing things that we can do other days of the week so that the whole day feels special and set apart. It is without a doubt my favorite day of the week!
Anita, you truly exercise Sabbath rest – that is so encouraging. (Hannah’s Grandma!)
Happy Birthday Hannah. 18…..where did the time go when you were such a little girl. Grown up now and still learning each day to walk with God. Your smile just comes across as a “Godly woman of faith. ” The roads ahead may twist and turn but keep your eyes on the Lord and he will guide you in the right direction. Many more wonderful, fulfilled birthdays. ( Hi Mimi!!!)
Merry, where DO these years go? (xo, Mimz)
Thank you Thank you Thank you Hannah and happy birthday! What you wrote reminded me of that peace that only comes from our Father…when we truly rest in Him we don’t want it to end. We don’t need the world and it’s temptations, just Jesus. It’s great to share that with a good church family isn’t it. Keep writing and sharing! You write beautifully, just like your Grandma : )
Jan, I am learning that those second generation apples don’t fall far from the tree either! (The Grandma!)
Church is my safe place too…
Wendy, I love quiet and true rest – I can’t say church is my safe place, but it is certainly a place where I receive and give encouragement and love to attend!
Hannah, I have never met you but met your grandmother in Florida while visiting a friend of my sister and also your grandmothers friend. I know from your writing you are following her footsteps and that she must be very proud of you. I can see that as you are growing older you treasure your relationship with the Lord and know that it will continue to blossom with your kind and loving heart. We need more young people like you to brighten the lives of others. HAPPY BIRTHDAY
and may the Lord bless you abundantly.
🙂 thank you Donna for those kind words.