Wisdom of our Elders

Dear Elder Christian,
Our Sunday morning class is about "Making My Life Count." I want to build my life with meaning and purpose for God. You can help me by sharing the ways God has given meaning and purpose to your life. Thanks for your help.
Your Young Friends,
Joshua Scott
Ryan Scott
Eric Rogers

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June 11, 1997

Dear Joshua,
As I get older it is so hard for me to understand how fast time goes by, it was May 11th when you wrote to me, sorry. It sounds to me like you had some good instruction that Sunday morning as you studied Psalms 127. You asked me to share with you the ways God has given meaning and purpose to my life. Joshua, there are so many ways, I only hope in some way I can impress upon your mind, early in life, to look for the way God would have you live. 1 Samuel 3:10; Ecclesiastes 12:1. I can remember before I accepted Jesus as my Savior, having the desire to be close to God. To help you understand this think about your parents and how you feel about them. Joshua, I realize all things come from God, including our parents, things we enjoy in life, food, pets, flowers, sunshine, rain, knowledge, health and so many things: Everything is from God. There are so many blessings that I know can only come from God. This are a few of the ways God has given Meaning and Purpose to my life. He also sent His only begotten Son to live and die that I might have hope beyond this life, John 3:16-19. Some verses that have helped me are Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:12-17; Philippians 4:13 & 4:11. Hope this helps you, thanks for asking. May God bless you and yours.

May 14, 1997

Dear Ryan,
Thank you for your interesting and thoughtful letter! I am pleased to give you some thoughts from my own life experiences; but first I want to commend you and your entire class, and your teacher for thinking seriously and studying Bible passages so that you might better understand "why" and "how" to give meaning and purpose to individual lives. Ryan, I am 80 years old, a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. I have been there and done that. Once I was young like you and your friends, having fun, going to school, listening to older folks, and seeing what was going on around me. I was seeing, hearing, and feeling all sorts of notions and just beginning to try to sort out the good, bad, and indifferent. I guess that is what growing up is all about. Oh, it helps not to drift, but stand firm--like a rock. Psalms 61:2, Psalms 71:1-5. As you have heard in sermons and in class, the Apostle Peter recognized Jesus and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus told him that upon that acknowledgment, the Rock, He would build His Church (Matt. 16:16-18). I was young when these scriptures began to make sense, so an Evangelist named Brother Wiles, baptized me in the cold waters of the Current River. About the same time (in the 1920's) this same Brother Wiles came preaching in the Flat Rock community and drew believers to establish the Church of Christ there...after years of moving from country to cities, from state to state, getting an education, losing my dear mother as I began High School, finding employment, saying "yes" to my husband Ray, skimping through the lean years of World War Two, giving birth to two precious sons--one of whom was never able to walk or talk, but is now 50 years old and has been a blessing to family and friends... Yes, along with much happiness there was some sadness; but never did I say or think, "why me?" but instead, "why not me, Lord?" Always I have felt the presence of Jesus. I have a friend and Holy Father in the Almighty God, and I can speak to Him boldly in Jesus' name. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)!! Ryan, I believe you will follow a different but similar path as you give meaning and purpose to your own life. You can find strength and joy as you stand firm on that Rock.

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5-19-97

Dear Eric,
I was surprised and pleased to get your letter. I'm sure you are having a great study with Dwain. I've known him for many years. Every life can count for God no matter what the age. The purpose of everyone is to serve God. The ultimate is the rewards of this and for eternity I don't know your age for sure--but maybe Jr. High. I am 70. I had a good start in life. My parents were Christians, as were each of their parents. But it has been said, "God has no grandchildren, only children." I think that means I can't ride in on my parents coat tail, I must be responsible for my own faith, as each of us must be. I've had a good life--much happiness and some sorrows. My husband was a wonderful Christian man. I've been a widow now for 11 years. I have 3 sons and their wives, 7 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson. I've been truly blessed. The most important thing I have to do now is keep the faith. It is never too early to start living for God and His Son Jesus--and there is never a time to quit. That means a lifetime of service and blessings. I want to encourage you to hang in there with the "good life." It's well worth it!