Grandma's Locket

When I was a young teenager, my grandmother gave me her locket. She had received it as a gift when she was a child. I like to think she understood my love for old treasures, because she seemed to take joy in giving me some heirlooms.

In case you don't already know, my grandmother passed away this morning, after a week & a couple days in the hospital. I had been keeping her locket locked up in my jewelry box for years, partly in fear of losing it if I took it out, but it felt appropriate to pull it out and put it on this week. I felt a little closer to her when I was wearing it...

There are even photos inside of her loved ones from days past...

And her initials engraved on the back. For Mary Kathryn Baker, her birth name.

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In loving memory of my grandmother, Mary Kay Erwin.

December 2, 1927 - April 16, 2012

 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39

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Good Friday

I love hymns. 


Last night we sang this one for our Maundy Thursday service. I keep humming the tune today, it's one of my favorites. It's Holy Week, and this is a wonderful time of year. It's a time that really drives home the Christian truth: we are no longer dead in our sin, but alive in Christ. With Christ's crucifixion, the sting of death is overcome. 


Abide With Me
by Henry Francis Lyte


Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings;
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea.
Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile,
And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee.
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

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