The View from Chester

Category: Family

Posts involving immediate and extended family

  • Rejoicing with the Rejoicing

    Rejoicing with the Rejoicing

    Romans 12:15 tells us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” I’ve found that we believers often do a better job of weeping with others than we do rejoicing. Speaking only for myself, rejoicing with someone can be difficult because I want what they have as well. Being genuinely happy for someone can be challenging when my circumstances don’t seem as good as someone else’s.

    Some years ago my brother, Doug, dropped a three-word phrase on me that started a lot of soul searching: “Comparison kills contentment.” I might be happy with what I have UNTIL I see what you have. Only then do I realize mine doesn’t quite measure up to yours. This, incidentally, is part of why a lot of time on social media isn’t a good thing.

    Speaking of my brother, He and Debbie are near the end of a cruise that started in Australia and will end in New York. From time to time, they’re able to send photos my way when the WiFi is good. If you want to join me in rejoicing with them, I made an online album that can be accessed here.

  • I Want to Be a Better Storyteller

    I Want to Be a Better Storyteller

    This month marks the first anniversary of us moving here from where we’d lived for over 20 years. That experience taught me that I never want to move again! The best part of where we are now is that we’re closer to our kids and grandkids. In those frenetic days of buying and selling property and packing I came across a verse that stopped me in my tracks. This verse showed me the reason we were moving and what we were to be about afterwards. Finding this verse when I did infused me with the drive and energy needed to keep going.

    Here’s the verse: “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come” (Psalm 71:18 ESV).

    Now that I can spend more time with my kids and their kids, I’m going to be looking for opportunities to tell them a story. The stories will be true, gleaned from actual events years ago. Some will be funny, others not. No matter what the story is, the hero will be Jesus. I’ll tell them about real struggles we faced and how the Lord Jesus showed himself faithful to guide and provide.

    We all have stories to tell, the key is telling them well.