Love In The Middle

By Lavenia Niblett

Every one of us desire love. We all have someone or something that we love. We desire the love of our spouse, our parents, our children. We all have love for family members, friends, or associates. However, there is no greater love than the love that our Heavenly Father has for us: agape love""an unconditional, undying love. He loved us so much that he sent his only begotten Son to be sacrificed so that we could have life everlasting. He was crucified by sinners, and with sinners, Jesus The Christ hung between two thieves"""The Man In The Middle." This makes our perception of love appear minute and empty. Love is a choice. We get to choose who we love. Jesus chose to love us regardless of the sins we've committed, despite what we've done or what's been done to us. Love requires action. "Love covers over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). The Lord loves and cares for us in the good times and in difficult times. Trust Him. He is faithful, He is wise, He is compassionate, and He will never leave us alone, regardless of how strong the winds of life may blow. "Cast your burdens and your cares upon Him, because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). God is all-powerful and all-knowing. He knows what we are in need of, and He possesses the power to supply all our needs. Man will disappoint you, hurt you, and oftentimes despise you. However, man cannot destroy the love that God has for us. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (Romans 8:35). The Apostle Paul says that God's ways are beyond us. "We cannot search the unsearchable, we cannot trace out the untraceable. For from Him, and through Him and to Him are all things: to Him be the glory forever!" Amen (Romans 11:36 NIV).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9781641408301

Book preview

Everywhere you turn, there’s sickness, death, murder, muggings, rape, burglaries, and the list goes on. Our elders warned us that these times would eventually come. I never thought about it much until I was responsible for a family of my own. Those words of old are finally hitting home. I’m recalling stronger and wiser words that they imparted teaching us not to fear because God is in control. He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

I truly thank God for my elders: Granddad (affectionately known as Big Pa), Grandma, Mom and Pop, uncles and aunts. One uncle comes to mind quite often. He walked around his home, hands clasped behind his back, while praising and talking to God. Praying without ceasing. An aunt that clothed most of the children in the community (yours truly included). Another uncle sat quietly on his chair with legs crossed; he didn’t speak much, but when he did, he made his word count. Another uncle was always good for a laugh, and his wife inspired my love of gospel music. I had uncles that didn’t mind going to war if necessary and an older aunt that was never too busy to listen to your problems, offering wise and sound advice.

I had cousins for every occasion, cousins to play with, cousins to study with, cousins to cook with, cousins to work with, and older cousins that made you feel safe and secure at all times. One cousin in particular always stepped in when you thought all was lost. She and her entire family are like brothers and sisters to me. There were three other female cousins that contributed their time, energy, and finances while building our confidence by assisting us in the upkeep of our appearance and hygiene. For that I am forever grateful.

Our neighbors were strong, determined, and caring individuals extending a helping hand whenever necessary. A family of warriors and champions—what a blessing! Their strength and courage, along with the Word of God, have made us more than conquerors.

Another aunt that took me into her home when I was seven years old introduced me to Jesus, the Christ. She taught me survival skills. Words can never express my gratitude to her. I thank the Lord for giving us power over all the power of the enemy. Back up, Satan!

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Were there bad times? Absolutely. But love covered and overcame. To God be the glory! To this day, aside from God, my children, my siblings, and my cousins remain my go-to people. I love them dearly. May God continue to bless and keep them in his care in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Whatever Happened to Family Time?

Remembering the past has taken me deep within myself, allowing a ton of emotions to erupt. I was born in 1951, the seventh of fourteen children. We had no time to focus on what we didn’t have (no phone, no television, no radio). Truth be told, we thought we had it all. The school-age children attended a two-room school, where the teachers wrote on large blackboards and each class only had about four textbooks.

Some students would beat the erasers during recess and considered it a privilege. Others went to the spring for drinking water. There were no cups for drinking; therefore, all the children drank from the same tin dipper. The remaining students gathered wood for the fire.

My Mama was always home, but it appeared that she never had a break from sun-up to sundown.

She was either working in the garden and doing housework or milking our cow, Daisy. The milk was put into a churn to make butter. Mama also made her own soap, which she used to do our laundry by hand, hanging them on a clothes-line to dry. There was no running water; therefore, the laundry was done using either rainwater or water from the spring.

We used an outhouse, which was a pretty scary place. Anything from spiders to snakes could be found in there at times. My brother Jimmy was always mischievous and quite a jokester. One afternoon, while in the outhouse, Jimmy accidentally dropped the keys to the smokehouse (the place where all the cured meats were kept), realizing that his quarter had also fallen in.

Jimmy plopped in behind it. Peering into the darkness, all I could see were my brother’s eyes. I did what any five-year-old would do—run and scream. Mama came running, with the rest of the crew in tow. With help from the mule and some rope, Mama had him out of there and in the old tin tub in no time, where she scrubbed him at least six times before he was allowed into the house.

Needless to say, Jimmy didn’t retrieve his quarter that day but came up with the keys in his hand. Berry picking was one of my favorite things to do. Mama would take us along with all the neighborhood children, which she referred to as chaps. Mama said yestiddy instead of yesterday. She had no formal education yet was one of the bravest and wisest women I’ve ever encountered.

The wood-burning stove that Mama cooked on also served the purpose of heating several rooms in the house. Mama made the best fried chicken and