(Editors Note: The following is an email sent from Grandma Rosy to an unknown recipient. I love how this email/ letter embodies Rosy’s generous and encouraging heart and desire to always make people feel welcome in her home. Even in the midst of losing loved ones, she was looking to serve and bless others.)

Hi!

No, I haven’t forgotten about you or our possible day on the 20th. I have been living one day at a time since both my mother and Uncle Jay are nearing death. But now I am feeling I would rather plan toward the 20th and give you time to get a babysitter and then if the day before I need to cancel I will.

This is my heart’s desire. To have you all out here on the 20th. Perhaps coming at 10am. I desire it to be lovely sunny day, like it is this morning and for you to have a time of relaxation and peace and calm before your busy summer begins. We would have a little Bible Study in the morning and then lunch and then a time of sharing in the afternoon and then you would be free to go or stay as you wished. 

As I was thinking of having you enjoy my peaceful porch with the flowers and hummingbirds I was reminded of Isaiah 32:18 “My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings and in quiet resting places.” Then I was reminded of a study I had prepared and given before on “Peaceful Habitation” and thought that it would be very appropriate for the day you are out here. Talking about making our homes a place of peaceful habitation in the midst of children home from school, much activity in the summer and many stresses of various sort. The Lord is so good. I had been thinking that right now I didn’t have the time or concentration to prepare a study but as I looked at this old one I felt it was prefect and also had much that I had forgotten and needed to recall and remember for myself. 

At the beginning of the lesson I had written this: “Things helpful to me in healing with pressures of the moment-daily life.” Oh, yes, Lord I need help in that right now, with the pressures of the moment in my daily life. As I read the 9 points I thought they might be helpful to you gals also and decided to include them in this letter. So if it happens we cannot have the 20th, at least I feel I have given you something to hang onto. The 9 points were helpful to me this morning and I pray they might be so to you also. Here they are:

1. Remember Romans 8:35-39 “Who then can ever keep Christ’s love from us? When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is it because he doesn’t love us anymore? And if we are hungry or penniless or in danger or threatened with death, has God deserted us?  No, for the Scriptures tell us that for his sake we must be ready to face death at every moment of the day—we are like sheep awaiting slaughter;  but despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us.  For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.” Remember the THINGS PRESENT (the stresses of our everyday life) cannot separate us from the love of God. 
2. When disaster starts happening remember:
   1. I Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
   2. Romans 8:28 “We know that in EVERYTHING God works for the good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.”
3. When you feel pressed in by pressures and do not feel peaceful, remember:
   1. Isaiah 26:3 “Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, BECAUSE HE TRUSTS IN THEE.”
   2. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
   3. Collosians 3:15 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.”
4. Start the day with the Lord. Write down all the things you THINK you have to do. Then ask him to show you a better way. 
5. Remember Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Look at your list. How many of the things are you doing because of pride- be honest. Could you buy some cookies or cinnamon rolls instead of making a fancy dessert? Is it that special to the person or deep down do you love the compliments of being a great cook? Or could you make a simpler dish? (Jane- this is pretty good isn’t it and I must have forgotten. In regard to our conversation of my being sad because I didn’t get the raves I wanted. Oh, the Lord does have a sense of humor.) Also does the house have to be THAT clean or does EVERYTHING have to be done in the yard?
6. In the midst of turmoil remember Psalm 22:2-3 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES (Makes me think of this morning when I told Dick I was going to work a while in the house and lie in the sun and do a little more and then out to the sun again. Now I think I will tell him…THE LORD MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES!!) He leads me besides still waters; he RESTORES MY SOUL (Oh, aren’t there times when our soul and spirit and body need restoring!). He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
7. Admit your helplessness- that you are unable in your own strength. Remember: Matthew 9:36 “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, BECAUSE THEY WERE HARASSED AND HELPLESS, like sheep without a shepherd.” When you feel this way, allow Jesus to be your shepherd. He WILL guide you into paths of righteousness.
8. Be willing to walk into a situation UNKNOWING OF WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO- BUT COMPLETELY TRUSTING GOD TO PUT IT TOGETHER. 
   1. Psalms 56:2b “I trust in the steadfast love of God for ever and ever”
   2. Isaiah 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and WILL NOT BE AFRAID; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
9. THANK GOD– I Corinthians 15:57 “BUT THANKS BE TO GOD, WHO GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

If the 20th will work for you lets plan that way. Coming here at 10am and having lunch here.