"Because He Lives" (Day 12)

Verse of the Day
“Because I live, you also will live.” – John 14:19

I was born and raised on a farm in Houlton. We did not have much, but we had each other. My parents taught us honesty, perseverance, and kindness. We worked hard. We learned responsibility early. Looking back, I see how those simple years were shaping my heart.

I remember listening to the radio during World War II. The broadcaster would begin, “There is sad news tonight.” We covered car headlights because of the war. We had no electricity at first. No indoor plumbing until I was in third grade. We cooked on a wood stove. Life was simple, but it built strength in us.

Faith was planted early. On Sundays, Mamma gathered us in the front room. We read Scripture and sang hymns while she played the piano. Later, during a very hard season in my life, I truly turned to God. That was a defining moment. My faith became personal.

Meeting Jim was another turning point. We married in 1959 and shared 51 faithful years together. I cared for him through kidney failure. Those were painful days, but God’s grace carried us. The hymn Because He Lives has always reminded me that no sorrow is final.

I worked at the bank for 36 years. I served in my church in many quiet ways. Through every season—joy and loss, health and illness—God was steady. Because He lives, I can tomorrow. - Shirley Ward

Thought for the Day
Looking back on your journey so far, which hymn resonates most deeply with you—and why?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“Learning to Love like Christ” (Day 1)

Verse of the Day And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18 My journey of transformation did not happen all at once. It unfolded through moments of joy, sorrow, calling, and surrender. I was born the youngest of eight children in a devout Christian family. My grandfather died in a tragic accident while installing a bell in our church—a final act of devotion. His life and death taught me that faith is not theory. It is offering oneself fully to God. Music shaped my early years. Singing drew me close to the Lord. Later, serving as a chaplain assistant in the military in Korea opened my heart to ministry. Through the encouragement of an American chaplain, God led me to the United States for theological study. Then came a devastating car accident in college that nearly took my life. Injured and w...
Read more

"Becoming" (Day 3)

Day 3: “Becoming” “So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” - 2 Corinthians 4:16 I grew up in a small town where life centered on hard work and family. Some of my earliest memories are of picking potatoes with my siblings. The mornings were cold, and as a child I sometimes cried from the chill, but we worked together. As the oldest, I felt the weight of responsibility. Those early hardships shaped a resilience that later helped me raise my children and grandchildren with guidance and love. Childhood also brought moments of freedom and growth. Summers with my grandparents and long days exploring outdoors taught me independence. Yet school was difficult. I was not bullied, but I was afraid to speak or be noticed. I kept to myself for many years. Then, after I married Bonnie, something changed. It was as if a switch flipped. With her beside me, I found the courage to stand on my own. Marriage and family b...
Read more

"Transformation Through Every Season" (Day 2)

Verse of the Day "I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." - Psalm 40:1-2 (NRSV) When I look back, my life was not marked by big dramatic moments, but by steady steps through many seasons. I grew up in a simple home in the country without running water or many comforts. We worked hard, but we had what we needed, and we had each other. Those early years taught me contentment and gratitude. Faith came to me through relationships. As a teenager, friends invited me to the Methodist church in Mars Hill. There, my faith began to take root. I did not come because of pressure. I came because I felt welcomed and loved. Bob and I married young and built our life slowly. We lived in a small trailer and worked hard to provide for our three children. Over time, God blessed our efforts. I worked in the school system for thirty years and loved serving ...
Read more