More From Julie Lavender

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. — 2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)

I love that Timothy’s mother and grandmother—though we know nothing else about them—are mentioned in reference to Timothy’s faith. Obviously, they both played a huge role in his walk with the Lord.

I was blessed as a youngster and teenager to have both of my grandmothers living close by. Really close by, as a matter of fact. My family lived in an old farmhouse on 83 acres of land in the country, and both of my grandmothers’ mobile homes were just a stone’s throw from our back porch.

I’m quite certain that there were many times during those teenage years that I didn’t consider their close proximity and ever-watchful eyes to be blessings. I was probably a “bratty” teen more often than I care to admit. I probably often behaved much like the teenagers that I wrote about in my meditation. Thankfully, my grandmas and my parents showed me the kind of faith that Lois and Eunice demonstrated, and they granted me grace and mercy on those “bratty” days.

Interestingly, my paternal grandmother just happened to be named Eunice, though to me she was Grandma Bland. I called my maternal grandmother Grandma Parker. Grandma Bland attended First Methodist on South Main Street, and my mom and Grandma Parker took us kids to First Baptist on North Main Street. For as long as I can remember, Grandma Bland brought home copies of a small magazine from her church that contained these really cool devotions—brief meditations that I loved to read! 

The Upper Room that Grandma Bland shared with us was my introduction to spiritual literature and the only words about Jesus that I read outside of my Bible as a kid. The magazine was instrumental in the formation of my faith at an early age.

Now, some fifty years later, my name resides on a page of The Upper Room as the author of a meditation. When I think about the transforming words of The Upper Room having touched generation after generation, I can’t help but be reminded of the faith that was passed down from my grandmothers, to my parents, to me, and then to my own four kids. I believe that The Upper Room, as well as my kids, will continue to encourage a sincere faith in the people that follow.

I’d love to connect with you on social media or my “lessons from God’s creations” blog to chat about faith, kids and grandkids, writing, nature, or just life in general! You can find my blog, On My Walk with God, here: http://julielavender.blogspot.com/.