by Denise L Shaw

Recently, on a spring cleaning adventure, I had opportunity to clean out my dresser drawers which are filled with as many memories as clothing items – maybe more. Tucked away in the backside of a rarely-used drawer was found a stack of handkerchiefs. I laundered and folded each one, and oh the memories that flooded my soul.

My grandmother was born in 1911, 13 years before the invention of “Kleenex.” This means she was raised in a manner that taught young women the finer graces of ladies handkerchiefs. Even though, as an adult, she always had a box of giant Kleenex available in her home, her handbag was always populated with a supply of handkerchiefs. Store-bought Kleenex was considered a luxury on the farm. Very rarely did she use them.

In this stack of now-paper-thin sheets of cotton are some of the most beautiful handworks of needlework and embroidery one could possibly imagine. Grandpa’s sister, Great-Aunt Bessie was a master at the old-fashioned art of tatting. And her handiwork graces many of the pieces in the pile.

I addressed my grandmother by various titles in my lifetime. When I was very young, she was “Grandma” or “Grandma Kelley.” When I was a teen, we called her “Gram.” When she became a great-grandmother, my mother became “Grandma” and her name changed to “Granny.” But for me, there was only one Grandma. Her name was Lola. She was my father’s mother. My mother’s mother, died three months before my second birthday. I have no memory of her. So Grandma Kelley, Gram, Granny became very dear to me.

Why do I share these things? Because if I don’t they will be lost. I want my grandchildren to know that women used to carry handkerchiefs. My Grandma Kelley used them regularly. She washed them in an old ringer-type washer (and before that, on a scrub-board by hand), hung them to dry and then would press them (iron them with an iron) – every last one of them – even my Grandpa’s big red work hankies. No one ever dreamed of a day when pocket packages of “Kleenex” would replace such an important part of every woman’s wardrobe.

The type of event determined the type of handkerchief. If it was fancy and hardly ever used, it was probably reserved for use at a wedding, funeral or special church event. If there was no special embroidery on it, perhaps a simple print, it was for everyday use. The fancier the handkerchief, the fancier the woman carrying it or the event she was attending. They were as much a status symbol as they were practical. God forbid that anyone would ever really blow her nose on one.

She always kept one in her purse for me, especially if we were going to church. Most of them were simple prints, because I would indeed blow my nose. For really special occasions, she would have one for me with purple violets embroidered upon it. It was too pretty to use. I adored her for making me feel so special as to have one just for me.

I will add that on my wedding day in 1988, I carried a handkerchief tucked inside the left cuff of the sleeve of my bridal gown. It had belonged to Grandma Freeman (the one I never knew). And for those who were there, we’ll all remember: I used it!

​Fear came creeping into my house last night
He thought he’d step in to see if I’d put up a fight
But an angel from the Lord stood by, and that was the end of that.
Not so much as a cold chill; no need for a scarf or hat.

We must always be sensitive to God’s holy touch
And never give place to doubt
I’m so glad I know Him and His ways
His victory is my victory; makes we want to shout

These are extraordinary days
A gateway to greater things
As we wait impatiently in our homes
Soon we’ll mount up on eagles’ wings

It’s important to take time to rest
To linger in His presence and His word
Running with the glory is next
Eye has not seen nor has ear ever heard

I’m overwhelmed at His goodness
His joy is the light of my soul
To put on Christ and His anointing
Is the mantle that makes us bold

I’m a new creation, re-created in Him
Greater is He that is in Me
Greater is He that is my closest and dearest friend.
It’s no longer I that lives
But the greater one has overtaken that which once was me
He has made all things better; His love has set me free

It’s a new day
Now rejoice and be glad regardless of what you see.
It’s a new day
From now on, we’ll all need to stay on bended knee.
It’s a new day
From the winter to the spring we pass
It’s a new day
The day we all long to see is upon us at last.

It’s a new day
Corona is finished and done
It’s a new day
Time for the One and only Son
It’s a new day
Soon to be followed by a season of harvest
It’s a new day
No time to waste, His glory will not be harnessed

Now is the time for the precious fruit
A season for which we have long waited
The time of preparation is over
No more delays; no more hesitation

Awaken

​The Lord asked me one day, "What if?" and then He took me to a familiar passage of Scripture and re-scripted it for me:

• There once was a land known as America, a nation designed by the Father to be perfect and upright, one that feared God, and eschewed evil. There were many sons and daughters of liberty. It was a land of great substance, and eventually became one of the greatest nations in history.
• Now there was a day when the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
• Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My beloved nation of America, that there is none like her in all the earth, a blameless and upright nation, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
• So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Has America feared God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around her, around all the sons and daughters of liberty, and around all that she has on every side? You have blessed the work of their hands, and you have made her the most prosperous and powerful of any nation. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that she has, and she will surely curse You to Your face!”
• And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that she has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on those who belong to Christ.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
• And thus he commenced to make an end of the beautiful land of the free and home of the brave. Slowly but surely,
• He stirred up strife, jealously and dissension from within and without
• Other nations took oaths to destroy her
• Other gods were lifted up to be worshiped by her
• He planted messengers of corruptions into her government and communications networks
• He stirred up the seas and all that in them is to overtake the borders of her coasts
• The mountains began to tremble at the very thought of what might come next
• And many within her borders began to exclaim, like Job, “That which we have greatly feared has come upon us.”

Could this be what has happened to America? God allowed Job to be tested because He believed that Job would, in the end, do the right thing and prove himself to be a shining example of righteousness regardless of his circumstances.

So, I believe the bigger question is this: What are we going to do about it?

• Let us not take the role of Jobs’ comforters - condemning & judging him before all the facts were known
• Let us not take the role of Job's wife - who encouraged him to curse God and die
• Let us not take the role of Job – claiming righteousness when there is plenty of need for repentance
• Let the Church rise up and take her place - having been made righteous by the Blood of the Lamb
• Let Her lift up her voice, first of all, praying for those who are in authority that we may lead a quiet a peaceable life.
• Let Her stand the gap of intercession for the lost and those who are perishing; a voice a supplication for those who are suffering
• Let Her be a voice of clarity; a voice crying out for repentance and righteousness
• Let Her take her place of authority; never wavering or giving in to fear
• Let Her come together in unity; until we all come into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
  

​​I will also add here for your consideration, in the end:

• The Lord turned the captivity of Job - when he prayed for his friends
• Also, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before
• All of his friends and family came and comforted him; showering him with gifts and money
• God blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning - multiplying him greatly - granting unto him longevity and the right to see his descendants to four generations.

(c) 2017 ~ Denise Shaw, Adoration International