Growing up in Illinois as an only child, I looked forward to holidays when my cousins from Iowa came to visit. Nancy and Mary were fun. We loved to play hide-and-go-seek in my grandparents’ creaky old house and scare ourselves with ridiculous spook stories. One memorable, snowy day we foolishly lay under a sun lamp for a winter tan and ended up with our faces burned and our eyes swollen shut. We got in trouble for that, but other adventures turned out better.
Then sadly, my cousins’ parents divorced, and our good times together ended.
Promise Broken
Grandma Kortkamp was distressed by the separation within the family. "Honey," she often said to me, "Promise you will always keep in touch with Nancy and Mary." Solemnly I promised.
My cousins and I corresponded well into early adulthood, but then, as time went by, addresses and last names changed. Other priorities claimed our attention, and we lost contact. I often wondered about my cousins. I always felt a pang of remorse that I’d not kept my promise to Grandma. If only I had answered my cousins’ last letters back in the 1970’s, we wouldn’t have lost touch. But now I didn’t know how to find them.
Then in January 1997 my mother received a note postmarked from a town we’d never heard of. It was from Nancy. She and Mary had found Mother’s address on the Internet and wanted to hear from us.
Promise Kept
Thrilled, I immediately I sat down and wrote. How grateful I was that God was giving me a new opportunity to keep my childhood promise to Grandma. My cousins and I began communicating several times a week through email, sometimes several times a day.
The last time we saw each other we were just children. Now we are mothers and grandmothers ourselves. It has been a great joy for us as adults to build a new relationship. And yes, we have even met together for several reunions in Iowa. We treasure our moments together with a deeper realization of just how precious family relationships are.
Our grandmother was a woman of prayer who invested countless hours praying for us, her grandchildren. Although she died 45 years ago, her prayers are still bearing fruit in our lives. She always prayed that Nancy, Mary, and I would have a close relationship so that we might encourage one another spiritually. After many decades that prayer has now been answered. Prayer is the most worthwhile investment we can make in our family’s future.
Worth repeating: "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results" (James 5:16 NLT).
Today’s prayer: "Dear Lord, thank You for the power of prayer. Help me to invest in my family’s future by faithfully praying for each member. Thank You for answering our prayers in Your perfect way and in Your perfect timing. Amen."
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12/4/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Ruben Fierro as told to Maria Luisa Navarro
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10/30/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
Enemies No More, Part 1: a faith based Beatitudes story from the Story Powerline
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10/22/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
The Father's Blessing: a faith based Beatitudes story from the Story Powerline
10/13/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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10/10/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Paula Kortkamp Combs
Hill of Woman's Fidelity: a faith based Beatitudes story from the Story Powerline
10/1/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Retold by Becky Cerling Powers
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9/28/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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9/10/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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8/21/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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8/16/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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Grandpa Thure Cerling, Part 2: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
8/4/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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7/23/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Glen A. Hinshaw
TALK: A Simple Way to Help Kids with School: tips from the Parent Powerline
7/21/2020 9:00:00 PM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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7/14/2020 11:00:00 PM by: Randy Limbird
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6/24/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Glen A. Hinshaw
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6/10/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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6/3/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
Ruby Bridges, part 1: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
6/2/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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5/29/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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5/26/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Eileen as told to Becky Cerling Powers
Family Funnies: Tips from the Parent Powerline
5/22/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
Joey's Letters: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
5/21/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Lee Merrill Byrd
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5/13/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Paula Kortkamp Combs
New Bride Confusion: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
5/12/2020 4:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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4/28/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Lee Merrill Byrd
Losing Poetry: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
4/22/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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4/15/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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4/14/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Paula Kortkamp Combs and Becky Cerling Powers
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4/9/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Paula Kortkamp Combs
The Hundred Chart: math lesson tips from the Parent Powerline
4/8/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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4/7/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Beatriz Balcort as told to Becky Cerling Powers
Turned Around: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
4/2/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Brian Bolton with Becky Cerling Powers
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4/1/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
Elijah & the Captain of 50 Men: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
3/31/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Retold by Becky Cerling Powers
Fear in Residence: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
3/24/2020 10:00:00 PM by: Paula Kortkamp Combs
Household Management During COVID-19 Time: tips from the Parent Powerline
3/23/2020 10:00:00 PM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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3/12/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Paula Kortkamp Combs
No Complaint Dinners: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
3/10/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Laura Jane Cerling
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3/5/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Jennifer Cummings
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3/3/2020 7:00:00 AM by: Retold by Becky Cerling Powers
My Two Dads, part three: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
2/27/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Janimarie Rowe as told to Becky Cerling Powers
My Two Dads, part two: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
2/26/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Janimarie Rowe as told to Becky Cerling Powers
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2/25/2020 7:00:00 AM by: Janimarie Rowe as told to Becky Cerling Powers
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2/20/2020 12:45:00 PM by: Jennifer Cummings
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2/13/2020 12:00:00 PM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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2/5/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Glen Hinshaw
The Grumble Family: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
1/28/2020 7:00:00 AM by: Anonymous
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1/22/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Paula Kortkamp Combs
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1/13/2020 10:00:00 PM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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1/9/2020 10:01:00 PM by: Laura Jane Cerling
All Things Bright and Beautiful: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
1/7/2020 6:20:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers, poem by Cecil Frances Alexander
One Dollar for a Donut: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
1/1/2020 6:00:00 PM by: Becky Cerling Powers
Star of Wonder
12/26/2019 6:00:00 AM by: Paula Kortkamp Combs
The Shepherds
12/24/2019 6:00:00 AM by: Paula Kortkamp Combs
Mary and the Angel
12/18/2019 6:00:00 AM by: Paula Kortkamp Combs
Zechariah
12/17/2019 6:00:00 AM by: Paula Kortkamp Combs
Christmas Cookies: a a faith based story from the Story Powerline
12/10/2019 6:00:00 AM by: Laura Jane Cerling
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11/28/2019 6:00:00 AM by: Rami Scully
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11/28/2019 6:00:00 AM by: Rami Scully
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11/27/2019 6:00:00 AM by: Rami Scully
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11/22/2019 6:00:00 AM by: Néaouguen Nodjimbadem as told to Becky Cerling Powers
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11/12/2019 6:00:00 AM by: Nodji (Néaouguen Nodjimbadem) as told to Becky Cerling Powers
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11/4/2019 5:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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11/1/2019 6:00:00 AM by: Jennifer Cummings
Safe Amid Snakes and Semi-Trucks: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
10/30/2019 3:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
The Love & Diaper (Nappy) Connection
10/25/2019 6:30:00 PM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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10/22/2019 7:00:00 AM by: Becky Cerling Powers
Saving Butterscotch: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
10/16/2019 6:00:00 AM by: Karen M. Pickett Ward
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10/8/2019 9:10:00 AM by: Paula Kortkamp Combs
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Reading to Babies
9/30/2019 2:37:00 PM by: Becky Cerling Powers
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9/26/2019 3:17:00 PM by: Becky Cerling Powers
Keeping in Touch with Cousins: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
9/24/2019 3:20:00 PM by: Paula Kortkamp Combs
How the Ostrich Got His Long Neck: a faith based retold story from the Story Powerline
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When Life Goes Up in Smoke: a faith based story from the Story Powerline
8/20/2019 3:28:00 PM by: Glen A. Hinshaw
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8/20/2019 3:24:00 PM by: Joe Herman
