Grateful for Grandma

My daughter and I went grocery shopping together to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner. We unloaded the groceries at Grandma’s house, where we’ll be eating. Grandma, my mother-in-law, passed away last December, so this season is awakening memories for each of us. As I put the groceries away, I thought about the many meals prepared and enjoyed at her house.

Grandma lived in the same farmhouse for over sixty years. She worked side by side in the fields with her husband and sons, handfed baby calves, fixed meals at both ends of the day, including lunch to go, kept the farm books, sewed clothes and still made time for teaching Sunday School and serving in the community. When we’d come to visit with our young children, she’d make it a special time for us.

When we returned to live in Idaho, Grandma was a widow and no longer actively farming. She did, however, still have a large garden, a llama, lawns to be mowed, and, of course, cookies to be made. Our girls had the privilege of working with her, learning from her, and sharing in her life.

In her later years, we had the privilege and blessing of caring for her as dementia took its toll, and her health declined. Our goal was for each day to be a “wonderful” day, making the most of what she could still do. Putting together pre-school puzzles with her great-grand-daughter was a highlight of the day.

Grandma expressed her gratitude in many ways. She’d give us hugs or squeeze our hands. One time she said to me, “I’m not sure what you do, but I want to thank you.” We don't know all the things Grandma did for us, but we're thankful that she was a part of our lives.

Let us know about a special person that you're grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving. God bless…


Millie McNabb, B.A., B.Mus.

Christian values take on deeper meaning when modeled in intergenerational families. Learn other strategies for parents who are intentionally raising children to become Christian adults at www.ChristianValuesLegacy.com

The Clutches of Time

My daughter was just getting off the freeway, on the way to pick up her children, when the clutch on her car failed. A couple of guys pushed the car into a service station, where she called me. The car’s warranty would cover towing, but only to an authorized dealer—the nearest being two hours away. With the permission of the station, we left the car and went to pick up her children.

She has another car available, but it has no room for children’s car seats. So I offered to provide transportation while her car is in the shop. While she is considerate of my time, and does not make undue requests, it has added another dimension to my already crowded schedule.

Scripture encourages us to make the most of our time (Ephesians 5:16.) Am I redeeming the time wisely? What would you do?

God bless...

Millie McNabb, B.A., B.Mus.

Strategies and support for parents who are intentionally raising children to become Christian adults. http://www.christianvalueslegacy.com/

Rites of passage

Yesterday we attended church with our daughter and son-in-law for the dedication of their baby. The Scriptural basis for dedicating a child is in I Samuel 1:28. Hannah had been barren, and when God answered her prayer to have a child, she dedicated her son to the Lord.

Another part of the dedication service, was the parents dedicating themselves to raise their child in a Christian home, modeling a Christian life and teaching their child about God (Deuteronomy 6:7.) The pastor also had the congregation dedicate themselves to the support of the child and parents, in prayer and as future Sunday School teachers, etc.

This dedication service acknowledged a transition into parenthood. I think it’s important to have intentional “rites of passage.” They are a time to celebrate an accomplishment, but also a time to acknowledge transition to the next stage of life. When I received my college degrees, the words “…along with all its privileges and responsibilities” stuck in the mind. Each rite of passage brings new privileges, but also responsibilities.

As parents, what intentional “rites of passage” do you plan for your children?

God bless….

Millie McNabb, B.A., B.Mus.

Is your greatest desire to have your children become gracious, mature, productive Christian adults?

Visit http://www.christianvalueslegacy.com/ for strategies and support for parents who are intentionally raising children to become Christian adults.

Apples and Oranges

We celebrated our daughter’s birthday last week with a gathering at her house. We played a game called Apples to Apples.TM Each player had seven cards with people, places, or things on them. Each round of play another card would be drawn. Each player then was to select a card from their seven that most nearly matched the drawn card. The players took turns determining who had the best match.

Often, it seemed, there was nothing in my seven cards that had anything at all to do with the drawn card. Still, you had to put some card out for consideration. One of the intriguing aspects of the game was not only to determine what you thought would be a match, but to also consider the player who would judge that match. What would they be thinking?

Have you ever found life to be that way? You’re in the game, but none of your cards seem to match. Have you ever had what you thought was the perfect card, but someone who just did not think your way made the decision?

The ultimate player in this game of life is God. “…My thoughts are not your thoughts…” (Isaiah 55:8.) To play the game well, we consider God’s thoughts above our own, because He will be judging the match.

Look forward to hearing from you…

God bless….

Millie McNabb, B.A., B.Mus.

Strategies and support for parents who are intentionally raising children to become Christian adults. http://www.christianvalueslegacy.com/

Is your greatest desire to have your children become gracious, mature, productive Christian adults?
Are you concerned that your children might miss, dismiss, or reject your Christian values?

Millie McNabb, founder of Christian Values Legacy, offers parenting seminars that focus on passing on your Christian values. Request your free report “Considerations for Intentionally Raising Children to Become Christian Adults” today at http://www.christianvalueslegacy.com./

Castles in the Walkway

I was playing with two of my grandchildren yesterday, and the older one wanted to build a castle. Interestingly, she started the construction project in the middle of a narrow walkway. She was soon joined by her younger sister, who accidently knocked over part of the castle on her way by.

Soon they were both building castles. One preferred long blocks which she laid end to end, making a low sprawling castle. The other chose squares that she could stack into towers. Both castles suffered losses because of being built in the walkway.

I was thinking of Luke 14:28 and calculating the cost of building a tower before you start. Certainly one of the costs to consider is where you build the tower. Building in the walkway carries with it high costs of rebuilding.

We face similar challenges in growing as a Christian. We grow in different ways: we may be reaching upward to God, or stretching out to share God’s love with people around us. We grow in the midst of the walkway that is our culture. We get knocked over. We suffer losses. We rebuild.

May you not grow weary of rebuilding as you grow. God bless….

Millie McNabb, BA, BMus

Millie McNabb, founder of Christian Values Legacy, offers parenting seminars that focus on passing on your Christian values. Request your free report “Considerations for Intentionally Raising Children to Become Christian Adults” today at http://www.christianvalueslegacy.com./

A Slice of Life

I was carving a turkey this weekend for our church dinner, and it reminded me of watching my father slice the meat. My father was a farmer, and spent most of his time outside, but when it was time to carve the meat, he was there in the kitchen.

My dad would don a dishcloth around his waist, take the carving knife and whetstone, and sharpen the blade. He’d slice the roast or turkey, then arrange the pieces attractively on the serving platter.

Meat has a “grain.” If you cook it for a long time, it falls apart along those grain lines and you get “shredded” meat. However, for the fine slices of meat, and the best flavor, you cut across the grain.

We each have things ingrained in us. We have strong inclinations from before birth. This inborn temperament determines how we interpret life, how we interact with others, and how we make choices. Left only to our basic nature, we would fall apart when the heat was turned up, and end up with shredded lives.

Fortunately, we also have training that slices across those inborn grains, and brings out the best in us. Childhood training will long be ingrained in us. As parents we are responsible to intentionally train our children in Godly ways (Proverbs 22:6.)

May your training bring out the best in you. God bless….

Millie McNabb, BA, BMus

Are you concerned that your children might miss, dismiss, or reject your Christian values?

Millie McNabb, founder of Christian Values Legacy, offers parenting seminars that focus on passing on your Christian values. Learn more at http://www.christianvalueslegacy.com/

Investing for Future Delegation

Sometime in October, one of my daughters asked me a question about Thanksgiving dinner. At some level I knew Thanksgiving was coming, but I wasn’t into the details yet. This daughter has been handling many details for me over the last year, which is something to be very thankful for.

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, saw how Moses was doing everything himself. He told Moses, “This is not good. You will wear yourself out.” He then went on to advise Moses how to delegate his responsibilities (Exodus 18.)

For parents, children are a natural resource to help you from wearing out. I know, we often complain that the children are the ones wearing us out. However, children really are quite capable at a very young age. My two-year old grand-daughter helped me load the dishwasher this evening. (She also counted the silverware, getting to thirteen, then ending with two.)

The challenge is to intentionally invest time in training our children, as a part of our everyday lives. Growing up, I eagerly got up early so I could go milk the cows with my dad. I started out watching him get the cows in while I played with the kittens. He involved me in more of the process over time, and I remember being surprised and pleased, at about junior high age, when he asked, “Do you think you could handle this on your own today?”

Part of Jethro’s advice to Moses was to teach the people, observe who was following the teaching, and promote the good followers to positions of leadership. We go through that process over and over with our children. We teach them, we work with them as they learn, and then we turn them loose to do it on their own.

May you invest time in training your children to be your right-hand-man or woman. God bless….

Millie McNabb, BA, BMus

Strategies and support for parents who are intentionally raising children to become Christian adults. www.ChristianValuesLegacy.com

Is your greatest desire to have your children become gracious, mature, productive Christian adults?

Millie McNabb, founder of Christian Values Legacy, offers parenting seminars that focus on passing on your Christian values. Request your free report “Considerations for Intentionally Raising Children to Become Christian Adults” today at www.ChristianValuesLegacy.com.

Sprouts Gone Wild

I recently re-discovered potatoes from last year that had sprouted in Grandma’s basement. I hauled them out for the garbage truck to take away tomorrow. As I disentangled the “sprouts gone wild” from the nearby metal shelving and plastic bag of Christmas decorations, I appreciated the pervasive energy of life in these little vines.

The potatoes had been put in the basement and kept in the dark to preserve them. Yet they could not resist reaching out to the light, and using all that was in them to spread out.

One of my favorite Bible verses is Deuteronomy 32:47a: "For it [God’s word] is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life.”

Sometimes we’re tempted to stay in the dark and preserve our safe world. But God’s Word doesn’t let us stay there. That pervasive energy of life will not allow us to be idle, but causes us to reach out to The Light, which is Christ, and use all that is in us to share God’s Word and ways with others.

May God’s Word sprout in you, and be your life. God bless….


Millie McNabb, BA, BMus

Strategies and support for parents who are intentionally raising children to become Christian adults. http://www.christianvalueslegacy.com/

Seasons of parenting

The weather has cooled off, and last night I was enjoying the smell of fallen leaves. Today, I have a different reason to be grateful for the cool weather—I left the groceries in the car when I got home today. Two hours later, the ice cream was still okay.

Parenting has its seasons, too. Maybe that gives us time to “chill out.”

I recently read a note from one mother who was concerned that the Terrible Two’s never ended, but became the Terrible Three’s and Four’s. I remember observing our girls and asking myself, “Is that a stage of life or a character flaw?”

Universally, women discuss their children. One complains about her two year old. Another says, “Wait ‘til they start school.” Yet another adds, “Wait ‘til they’re teenagers.” A grandmother in the group sniffs and says, “Wait ‘til they’re forty.”

At every age, even as adults, we test the limits. It is our character training and grace of God that keep us in line.

One of my goals was—and is—to enjoy my children at every age. If I didn’t enjoy being around my children, I figured other people wouldn’t find them enjoyable either. Sometimes, I’d see a child trying out a naughty behavior, and I heard myself thinking, “Isn’t that cute?” I trained myself to also think, “How cute would this behavior be with my teenager?” That kept me motivated to correct the children when they were young.

May your season of parenting be enjoyable. God bless...

Millie McNabb, BA, BMus

Strategies and support for parents who are intentionally raising children to become Christian adults. http://www.christianvalueslegacy.com/