Reflecting on 59 Years of God’s Grace

I was born under a mango tree (actually, under the shade of a mango tree) in Ogbomoso, Nigeria, West Africa, 60 years ago at 2:00 AM on October 24. 

My practice prior to the passing of major milestones is to look back over the past and trace God’s grace in my life. My prayer journals are very helpful in this process. It seems that turning 60 is one of those milestones that warrants tracing God’s grace. I know many people—women in particular—do not like telling their age. Not me! I’m proud that today I turned 60.

How have I seen God’s grace in and through my life over these six decades? Here are just a few of my thoughts ….

• I am a sinner saved by grace! Praise the Lord!
• My parents were Christ-followers and taught me His Word and how to be obedient to that Word. They taught me to pray, to love and be kind to everyone—regardless! They taught me to love music and to have fun. They showed me how to live out The Great Commission as they would share the Gospel with all whom they came in contact—often, much to my chagrin.
• My Nigeria Mission family loved, encouraged, and cared for me. My missionary aunts and uncles treated me—and still do all these years later—as if I were their own child. That was great at times—but not when the discipline and correction came in! Not my favorite part. Ask Harriet Edwards Michael about my mom disciplining us! They modeled—and still do model—how to show the love of Jesus to everyone.
• My precious Nigerian aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters left their indelible marks upon my heart also! Even though I was an “outsider” how kind and loving they were to this lily-white, tow-headed child. They also loved me as their own.
  
• My homeland—Nigeria—was an incredible place in which to be born and grow up as a child. We spent countless days under the hot tropical sun climbing trees, catching and operating on lizards, making forts, running, eating mangoes right off the trees, and so many other wonderful things!
• “The States” were strange and foreign to me as we came home on furlough and then for good. The language wasn’t a barrier, after all, I was raised by Southerners but it was a very strange place. Today I love “The States” even with all of our problems. 
• Leaving Nigeria to live in Birmingham, Alabama, in the mid-sixties was difficult. I missed my friends in Nigeria who were from America, Great Britain, India, and Nigeria. Yet, I made friends easily and caught up—eventually!
• I have moved so many times I have almost lost count! In every new place I have lived, I have found wonderful Christ-following friends.

Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
    for he has done marvelous things! – Psalm 98:1*

• Friends I made through the years in Nigeria, Ashland AL, Gadsden AL, Nashville TN, Alexandria VA, Atlanta GA, and Birmingham AL are still precious to me. Many of these I keep up with through Facebook and other social media. What fond memories I have of climbing mango trees and sitting on a limb to each the mango I just picked, mission meetings, Sports Day, visiting my sister and brother at Newton, Ogbomosho market smells and sounds, the goldsmiths, snakes and more snakes, monkeys, baboons, parrots, hoe-downs, singings, covered dish dinners, watching baby chicks grown, swimming at the lake, mom’s home-fried donuts, barbeques, picnics, and so much more.
• The many church families who have welcomed me into their midst have loved and encouraged me, taught me to serve and then allowed me to serve. It has been my joy to watch their creativity in sharing the Gospel with everyone.
• Countless men and women through the years have taught me God’s Word and modeled for me how to live it. What amazing men and women of God each of these men and women were or are.
• Leaving has been a frequent theme throughout my life. It seems I left so many places and people behind—well not really because those places and the people there are still held close in my heart. I’ve become an expert in packing and unpacking and in being the new kid walking into strange new places. It never took long for the strange new places to become familiar to me.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you,
so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times,
you may abound in every good work. – 2 Corinthians 9:8

• Sounds of music permeate each and every moment of my life. These melodies range from sweetly soft to sad to peppy fun-loving to triumphal praise and thanksgiving. I have had wonderful opportunities to praise the Lord by singing and playing the piano.
• I am continually amazed at the opportunities for ministry the Lord has literally dropped in my lap: teaching, speaking, writing, biblical counseling, and playing the piano. Help me pray that I would honor the Lord in and through everything that I do.
• Loss has also been a frequent theme throughout my life. I cannot even begin to enumerate all my family and friends who have died. Memories of them are indelibly burned into my heart and I am grateful for all the things they taught me!
• When I drove myself to the ER with a temperature of 104 degrees to discover one of my kidneys was dead and that I was a very sick lady, God’s provision of medical attention, care from family and friends, as well as the prayers of people all over the world were great!
• God knew that two little MK girls living across the dirt road from each other on the Ogbomosho Hospital compound would be writing books together decades later and prepared each of us separately to become a strong writing team. What an amazing gift of God!

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy and
find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:16

These are just a few of the plethora of things I could list when I look back and see the Hand of God in my life and the ways His grace has gone before me to prepare me for what came into my life; His grace is with me now enabling me to recognize and repent of my sin, and to follow Him;  and His grace goes before me into the future.

I’ll close with a little story. I was delighted several years ago to be invited to speak to a group of ladies during the Week of Prayer for International Missions. Just as I was being introduced they wheeled in a dear little lady, who I found out later was 98, and placed her wheelchair right up front. When I talked a little about Nigeria and how the Lottie Moon Christmas offering provided a motorcycle that enabled my dad to get into some very remote villages, this lady said, “You’re Jeannie’s daughter!” She had been in a Woman’s Missionary Union “Jeannie Crowder Circle” here in the States and had faithfully prayed for my family every day while we were in Nigeria. In a conversation after my presentation, with tears streaming down her cheeks, said, “I am thankful the Lord allowed me a small part in preparing you for your ministry.”

I thank God for the gift of the innumerable men and women who have prayed for, loved, encouraged, and disciplined me throughout the years. Thank you for helping prepare me to do the things the Lord lays in my path.

I give God glory and honor for Who He is! I give Him praise for the gifts, talents, abilities, and experiences He has brought into or allowed in my life.

Won’t it be fun to see what the next decades hold for all of us?

As I am writing one of my many favorite hymns, Wonderful Grace of Jesus**, written by Haldor Lillenas is running through my mind. As we sing the chorus we proclaim,

Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
     Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
     All-sufficient grace for even me!
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
     Greater far than all my sin and shame;
Oh, magnify the precious Name of Jesus,
     Praise His Name!

Soli Deo Gloria! (To God Alone be Glory!)

*Scripture passages are taken from the English Standard Version.
**Find the complete lyrics by clicking here: Wonderful Grace of Jesus

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