Laced With Grace – Christian Devotions

Not an Ordinary Gift

By Lynn March 5, 2008 Life, Marriage, Scripture, Special, Women

wedbible.jpgTitus 2:4 These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children,

A few weeks ago I experienced this scripture firsthand. I watched this bible verse unfold before my very eyes. Charlotte, a beautiful woman with strawberry red hair and a twinkling smile rose to take the microphone at the women’s monthly Connection Breakfast. This wise woman, rich in years and abounding in God’s grace “trained” us in the ways of the Lord.

She shared a story about a unique gift and now I want to share it with you.

The Gift!

The event was Charlotte’s eldest daughter’s wedding day. This was the day she gave “the gift” for the very first time. It was her heart’s desire to bestow to her first born a memento she would treasure for the rest of her life.

It was a bible.

However, this was not an ordinary bible. This particular bible was a personal experience between the Lord, Charlotte and her daughter. You see, about three months before the wedding, Charlotte began reading this bible.

Beginning in Genesis, she read the entire bible cover-to-cover. She was searching for specific verses which would bear special meaning. She highlighted passages and also wrote tiny notes in the margins. She selected chapters with teaching about a God-centered marriage. She sought out verses regarding parenting. Charlotte picked out the scriptures which offered wisdom a mother would want to share with her daughter. She highlighted words knowing they would provide comfort during times of struggle, and most importantly she shared verses of love, spoken from a Savior to his daughter.

Charlotte spent three months reading this special bible. God revealed unique treasures as she read with new eyes, that of a young bride. On the day of the wedding, Charlotte delighted in her daughter’s squeals and tears as she opened the box to reveal “the gift.” It is a precious heirloom shared by mother and daughter and by a Savior.flowbibwed.jpg

But the story does not end here. Charlotte went on to tell us that “the gift” turned out to be hers. She spent three months alone with the Lord. She gained wisdom and intimacy because she dedicated herself to reading his word in addition to her regular morning bible reading. Reading the scriptures from a new perspective allowed the Lord to work something new in her heart. In the end, she received “the gift.”

Isn’t that just like our Father?

I dabbed a Kleenex to my eyes. I knew I wanted to give “the gift” and I would order a slimline bible or two this week. My son will be receiving one on his wedding day in the not so distant future and perhaps his new wife. I also will have one ready for my daughter when she graduates from High School.

As the morning concluded, Charlotte said she has also bestowed “the gift” to her three sons, three daughters-in-law and a son-in-law. What an amazing legacy.

And it is a legacy she shared with us that we may also give and receive “the gift.”

Lord, thank you for the gift of your word. Thank you for Titus 2 women who share their wisdom and grace with the next generation. In Jesus name, Amen.

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41 thoughts on “Not an Ordinary Gift”

  1. Shawna

    Thank you for posting about Charlotte, a beautiful example. The most important gift we can give our children is the knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus. There is no one else we as parents should soley depend on, to teach our young ones of our marvelous Saviour; because no one else will love them as much as their momma and daddy. They need to see Christ in our lives as well as from our lips. Deut. 6:7 exemplifies to us that we should teach our precious children God’s Word diligently: “when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” As a young person I wanted to be a foreign missionary, yet God has brought the mission field to my home. I have to ask myself, am I being a good missionary to my 5 precious gifts?
    Please “Enter Me”

  2. ginger

    WOW! I wish I would of thought of that for my son and daughter. But I sure will do it for my grandchildren. Thank-you for sharing this beautiful story. Please enter me.
    Ginger

  3. Natalie

    I love this!!! I will do it for my brother, he’s getting married in 7 months.

  4. Jenny

    I love that! My girls are younger, but that would be special for them as they reach big milestones, like high school etc.

    Thank you for sharing that with us and for “entering me” in the give away!

    Have a great day,
    Jen

  7. Patricia

    What a beautiful gift!! This is certainly one to pass down!! Thank you, Lynn, for sharing this!

  9. HisGirl

    That idea is actually so BEYONDO, so personal, so delightful, that I know for certain I will do this for my children as well. Thank you so much for sharing.

    Also, if we’re still entering… Please enter me as well!!!

  10. Wendy

    God is so good! Every moment we seek to share Him with others He’s teaching and sharing with us.

    I have very young children and love the thought of the Bible for milestones. Personalized like Charlotte’s gift, of course. My mother-in-law sent me an email when I was planning my wedding telling me that she had been praying for me long before she knew me, since we were kids actually. She had prayed for her sons wives (someday). It was so touching to know that someone prayed for me before she ever saw my face or knew my love for her youngest son!

    Would love to hear more about the monthly “connection breakfast”.

    And, enter me, please.

  11. Lisa E.

    Talk about the gift that keeps on giving. There is nothing as precious as the Word of God shared with us by our mothers. I will keep this in mind as my 3 children grow up and toward marriage. Thank you to all older women who just by sharing examples train us….

    Lisa E
    “Enter Me”

  20. Sherry

    Praise God! What an awesome gift to give on the day her child received her perfect gift from God- her husband. Our God, our perfect God knew the man to be Charlotte’s husband and created him just for her- to mold her, shape her and encourage her to be like Jesus. And I pray that Charlotte received God’s perfect gift as He intended. 🙂

    In His Grip,

    Sherry

    PS, enter me in the scholarship contest, please!

  21. Valarie Elswick

    What an amazing story. My pastor’s wife did the same with all 3 of her children and now she is battling cancer so those “gifts” are all the more special. Be in prayer for Teresa Brown and continue this amazing legacy.

    Enter me please.

    Val

  22. Kara Akins

    This “gift” has multiplied to many “gifts” because I know every Jesus hungry momma who reads this will follow her wise example. Her gift was not simply to her own daughter but to many daughters, sons and loved ones. God multiplies more than just fish, doesn’t He. What an awesome testimony.

    Please “enter me” for She Speaks

  23. e-Mom

    Marvellous! What a wonderful legacy. There is nothing more valuable than the gift of God’s Word. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story!

    Have a blessed day. Hugs, e-Mom

    P.S. Wonderful to read all these precious comments. :~D

  24. Joanne

    What a beautiful idea. Since I found out I was pregnant with each of my four children, I have kept a journal for them. Now I know that I will be giving them a Bible, seasoned with my marking of love for each of them.

    I am so happy I read this today.

    Joanne

    Psalm 45:1 My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
    I recite my composition concerning the King;
    My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

    **************ENTER ME****************

  26. tracey

    that required a tissue alert. Beautiful story. Wonderful challenge. I have a friends daughter getting married this fall, I have mentored her since she was 5… This will be a wonderful way to share lessons learned with a new bride.

  29. Rachel Temple

    What a beautiful gift, to give.
    This could even be done for the grandkids from grandparents and so on…..
    I will tuck this idea away and use it one day.
    Please enter me in the virtual drawing.
    Thank you.
    With blessings from the heavens,

    Rachel

  30. Angela

    I am so amazed every time I read another devotion from LWG. It is as if someone was inside my head and heart and bringing life to my thoughts. I than God for again reaffirming my direction in life through your devotions. How blessed I fill.
    Your friend in Christ,
    Angela,

    “enter me”

  35. Shalee

    And the wonderful thing about the gift is that it is the gift that just keeps on giving. It will never go out of style and is always usable, making life so much easier if used correctly.

    I loved the idea of this post. I too am thankful to God for the gift of Titus 2 women who share their love for the Lord and their wisdom.

    Enter me please.

  36. Mary

    What an inspiring devotion! My daughter is 12 years old, and you have given me a wonderful idea to pass on. The Word truly is the gift that keeps on giving. 🙂

    Please “enter me” into the contest. Thank you.

  37. AngieAngie

    Oh Lynn…what a precious story. I loved that. That is a gift I love giving….and receiving. You have blessed me yet again. I love you.

  38. Charlotte

    Lynn, You did a wonderful job of sharing the story. I am so blessed to know that others will be blessed in the future.
    Charlotte

  39. Irene

    The world needs such mothers…I pray that we shall all be bale to do this for our loved ones. Thank you for a beautiful post. I am blessed.

  40. Janna

    Lynn, what a beautiful story about passing down the gift of God’s Word to someone else. God bless you. 🙂

  41. eph2810

    Wow – that is so cool. What a precious gift to give to your children – God does amazing things – doesn’t He? He is always willing to give us wisdom if we are willing to receive it.

    Thank you so much for sharing the story of the special gift.