I have a story to tell of an individual not so randomly chosen. It is Ella’s story.
Ella is Mike’s dad’s wife, but not Mike’s mom. My mother-in-law Irene passed away almost fifteen years ago. We appreciate the passion Irene had in life, particularly for her sons and for her Savior. We love and miss her dearly. Yet God, out of His great mercy and compassion, sent another sweet soul to soothe our sorrow and bring additional joy - as well another grandmother for the boys - to our lives.
Ella is no ordinary American. As a matter of fact, she has only been a citizen for a few years. Pilipino by birth, she spent a number of her adult years working in Italy, where she met my father-in-law, who served as pastor of her church. She remained single for almost fifty years of her life until their marriage twelve years ago.
Kind and generous, with a servant’s heart, Ella is greatly loved by her newest family. While it is common to hear others pour out negative comments regarding their mothers-in-law, you will not hear these types of remarks coming from me.
The boys adore their grandma Ella and are very thankful for her presence in our family. She likes to play games with them, she searches around the house for trinkets to give them, and she cooks delicious spaghetti for them almost every time we visit. Mesmerized by her tales, they also consider Grandma Ella an entertaining storyteller.
The most wonderful story Ella has ever recounted was set well before her entrance into our lives. It is the story of how she became a Christian, which she recently related to her grandsons.
At the age of 28, in a small mountain town in the Philippines, Ella overheard some children singing “Jesus Loves Me”. Although well-known by many, this song was new to Ella. As she listened more closely, a feeling stirred within her, and she felt compelled to find out more. After inquiring of the group, she began attending their missionary church. Two preteen children were the first to tell her another amazing story, the story of Jesus Christ.
Ella attended the church for two years before fully understanding her sinfulness and need for a Savior, God’s Son. She surrendered her life and became a Christian at the age of 30. As she began her new life in Christ, the Lord placed a burden on her heart to share the good news of the gospel of Christ with her own parents and siblings. She refused to leave her country for a more lucrative job in Italy until her entire family became believers in Jesus Christ.
While this might be a simple task for some, Ella had quite a job on her hands as the second oldest of twelve children. However, she persevered in prayer, in sharing her faith, and in authentically living out her own personal relationship with God. Over time, her resolve was rewarded as, one by one, the other thirteen members of her family became Christians.
Ella’s story is both intriguing and heartwarming. Yet what most inspires me is that she intentionally and willingly shares her testimony with others, including her grandsons. I am among the many that fall short in this area. Cowardice rears its ugly head when it comes to sharing the story of our salvation with others, even within our own families. However, our journey to the Lord should be so special to us that it is one of the first stories we tell about ourselves. Even more, our soul-saving story should be retold to our children and grandchildren, allowing it to be passed down from generation to generation, while also establishing a pattern for them to continue.
Thank you, Ella, for not only sharing your story with us, but also your life. We are blessed to have you in our family, and we love and appreciate you very much!
"…we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done." Psalm 78:4
1 comment:
Another good post! Thank you for putting our lives into print. I love you!
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