So very different yet the same

August 12, 1894 a baby girl was born in Armenia, her given name was Margaret. She came to this country as a young girl, to escape the massacre the Turkish Empire had ordered for the Christian Armenians. She became a naturalized citizen of this country, married and raised five sons and a daughter, having lost two baby boys during their infancy. Three of her sons became ordained ministers of the Word and her daughter married a minister! This was a household of faith. She raised these children during the depression and had to make the most of every penny her husband brought home. Her face lives on in at least one of her granddaughters and her eyes and spirit was in the son that was my dad.

August 12, 1907 a baby girl was born in South Georgia, USA, her given name was Addie Mae. She grew up in the country and learned to sew; this is from her mouth to my ears, so that she wouldn’t have to go out in the fields to pick cotton along side of her sisters. Proof that she didn’t spend the same long hours in the sun as her sisters was evident in her beautifully smooth complexion, as she grew older! She raised four girls and two sons. Both of her sons were ordained ministers of the Word and her daughters married ministers of the Gospel, whether by preaching over the pulpit or working in the ministry of the church. This was a household of faith. Her face lives on in at least one of her daughters and her dry wit most definitely in her younger son.

Aside the fact that both these women of faith were born on the same day, what is the common thread that brings them to this article? Their children went to a convention in Birmingham, Al, one came from LA, California, the other from Cleveland, Tennessee, there they met and within three hours of this God-connection, Margaret’s son asked Addie Mae’s daughter to marry him and she said yes! These two young people were both raised to honor the Word of God and to serve Him was their highest calling.

Excerpts from Psalm 31 a good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, Her children respect and bless her; 
her husband joins in with words of praise: “Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!” Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!

These two women, born thousands of miles from each other, different cultures, both raised children to be proud of. These women were my grandmothers and today was their birthday!

As a parent, I hope that my children will always be proud of me, will continue to call on me when they have a need for prayer, and will follow the perfect will of God for their lives.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

We have all done things we aren’t proud of, and our children will also, but just as you are striving to do your best, they will too! Feel the love tonight!