It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. (Philippians 1:7)

I am the oldest of fifteen grandchildren on my mother’s side and I count it one of my greatest earthly honors to have that place in our family. Our grandma Jan called us “The Darlings of Her Heart.” I wonder if she had this verse in mind? I think she did. This title was so important that she and our grandpa actually have it engraved on the backside of their tombstone with a charge listing several things that they desired in each of us; the most important being faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior.

I know that my grandma Jan loved her children and their spouses but I am convinced that I, along with my cousins, were the ones that she held most dearly in her heart; just like the apostle Paul held those in Philippi in his.

Proverbs 17:6 says, “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged.” I don’t feel ‘aged’ yet but, by God’s grace, the Lord has given my husband Paul and me two of our own precious ‘darlings of our hearts’; Lucas & Caleb. What joy they bring us! When I am with these two little ones, I am able to let everything else go and just be in their presence; two little mercies from the Lord; two little ‘darlings of my heart.’ I know fully how much my grandma Jan loved me and my cousins because of how much I love these two boys.

As I close, I want to ask who you are you holding in your heart? Who are you praying for? Who are you investing in? There is no greater investment than investing in the next generation.

Blessings to you,

Heather