"Seeking Balance in Ministry, Life and Grandparenthood!"

"Seeking Balance in Ministry, Life, and Grandparenthood!"

by Cresenti Squire Williams on Monday, January 16, 2012 at 8:29pm

APRIL 9, 2012 will be two years since the parents of Jayden Miguel and Lailie Nichole Williams were married by Yours Truly. I was at the hospital during the labor and delivery of my son Brandon's first children, twins who are now almost seven weeks old. Graciously I am also the Mother, Mother-in Law and Grammie to this loving family.  They are my children and an important part of my Harmony 2020 Ministry, life and grandparent hood. I am happy to be living close enough for the first time in over 12 years to be able to help care for Jayden and Lailie after their mother, Sarah returns to work. I am thrilled to be involved in this second phase of my life after working as a retail manager for a major company for the last 28 years .  God is truly an Awesome God! He is giving me a wonderful opportunity to see Him in a New Light as I watch the miracle of birth and life bring more aspects of God's Own Awesomeness into focus through closely observing my newborn grandchildren.
Here is where I need to make a disclaimer as these are not my "first grandchildren." Cierra Norshea and Alease Ize Williams are my elder son Sheron's thirteen and eight year old daughters. Sheron is in the military serving in the US Navy.  As a result, he has lived in various countries and other parts of the USA. He currently resides in San Diego, CA. We live in North Carolina.  Because I was almost obsessively dedicated to my job in past years, I was not available to be with him when his daughters were born,  Cierra in Norfolk, VA and Ize in Greece.  I love them so much, however, and I'm grateful for the time that Grammie does get to spend with them. They are absolutely beautiful, brilliant and loving children and I am so happy to be their Grandmother.
My heart leaps with joy and thankfulness each time I see these new precious offspring the Lord has Blessed us to have! I am in Life's School of Instruction again, but this time my instructors are all of 9 and 10 lbs!  It is really amazing how much you can learn about life from newborn grandbabies. It seems that they are an open book on one hand, reaching out and sliently observing everything in their view. Then on the other hand,  they can be just little complicated balls of of confusion. There have been many calls from a frantic mom and dad asking what to do when they just can't begin to understand what is wrong and what to do to stop the crying!  This reminds me of my own experiences as a young mother. I was always so busy trying to Be a good mother that my 'being' a good mother took precedence over being a 'fun' mother!  The babies were safe, happy and well taught, but I missed out on the Fun they shared with my parents!
During this second 'life season', I am finally able to enjoy some of the 'fun' parenting experiences I missed with my own children more than 30 years ago.  It is my hope that I will have a positive impact in the lives of Jayden and  Lailie and that I will also learn to appreciate the FUN side of living. I want ot be so happy that being a grandparent takes on the accronym of being a "FUNPARENT"! Note some of the following life lessons I have learned from the twins:

1. When you've eaten to satisfaction, STOP-- Great advice for those of us weight watchers!
2. In order to be acknowledged, Make Noise! Stop crying when you've gained an audience!
3. When you have a goal to reach, Push! Especially when you have to get rid of wasteful energy!
4. After being fed, bathed and content, Sleep in positive energy, but no more than 3-5 hours at a time!
5. By the ripe old age of six weeks, Recognize the importance of family time!
6. When all else fails and crying no longer works, PRAY! Find a Fellow Prayer Partner with Experience!

Speaking of Family Time, it is interesting to see how alert the babies' schedule allows them to be when Daddy comes home in the late afternoon! Spending time all day with Mommie has been great but now its time for the four of us to play, eat and have more fun! Not to mention that Mommie needs a helping hand and Daddy could use some of our love. Where has he been all day anyway?  Did he really think we would not miss him? By the way, what is this thing called 'work'? He surely loves being here with us. Just look at how happy he looks when he lays loving eyes on his son and daughter.  What a great way for Daddy to unwind at the end of the day by just feeding us and changing diapers. We really brighten his day! Just look how happy Mommie seems to be to hand us over to him!

Even though the experience of sharing and giving love to my grandbabies is quite enjoyable, I realize that I am only a part of the "village" that it will take to help raise Jayden and Lailie. Sarah's parents Mike and Barbara Myers, are Grandma and Grandpa Myers who are there as well as Grandpa Ronnie and Grandma Williams. Uncles, Derick and Sheron, although through the use of somewhat unconventional methods; and their wives, will be in the village arena also.  As will their cousins, Kylie and Nate; Devarn, Cierra and Ize; Margaret, Lorenza and Victoria. All of the cousins are big enough to play with and administer care to Jayden and Lailie as they get older. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah! 

Being Balanced in Ministry, Life, and Grandparenthood, atleast for me, means to remember the village that God has allowed to be in place to assist in the care and nurturing of the twins. I am so thankful for family, Christian friends from the faith community, doctors and nurses, mentors and coaches, laypersons and educators;  as well as many    other positive role models in the community who will be instrumental in the health, growth, safety and learning processes for these precious little ones. And just as I welcome the love and advice of others to help in this process, it is instrumental for me to be a part of the nurturing, faithbuilding and mentoring process for the children of other parents who welcome my input and love for their young ones. The Almighty God is indeed the "greatest network provider"  of resources for happy, positive living that I know. He has given us His Son, His Only Son, to look to as The Perfect Example of the Greatest Love.  Find Balance by taking the time to pray and meditate on God and His Son Jesus. As we are admonished in Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things will be added to you." We are further advised in Proverbs 3: 5,6 to Trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. In all our ways ACKNOWLEDGE HIM and HE shall direct our paths." (paraphrased)  Very good advice for anyone seeking to find balance for life's daily challenges. After all Jesus is The One Who made us, bought us and set the example for us. Follow His lead!






Brandon and Sarah Williams
The future Proud Parents of Jayden and Lailie

April 2009











May I have a little elbow room please?
Lailie one month old. Born Nov 29, 2011

Jayden ar one month old. Born 11/29/11
You speak first. No you first!
Mommie's big boy!
Daddy's princess!

· · · Share · Delete

• 
  
• Sheron Williams likes this.
• 4 shares
• • 

    Brandon Williams great job.. and yes i am very happy to hand the kids over to dad at the end of the day!!! lol

    January 17 at 8:43am ·
  • 

    Cresenti Squire Williams I know you are! I am proud of the way you are both parenting your young ones. I am blessed to be an observer and a participant. hang in there and you will wonder where the time has gone. Enjoy your family!

    January 17 at 11:15am ·
  • 

    Barbara Myers Wow now that must have taken some time and a lot of thought. LOL but I think it was great and well said.

    January 18 at 6:08am ·
  • 

    Cresenti Squire Williams Thank you. Yes it tool a while because I am a slow typist. I enjoy the babies so much! Now I have a reason to try to improve my writing skills. How are You Grandma?

    January 18 at 11:48am ·
  • 

    Cresenti Squire Williams I need new glasses too. It took a while to write. Next week will be a very new experience for me. I am sure Jayden and Lailie will be looking for mom, dad and their other grandparents by the end of their day! Pray for us! LOL!!!

    January 18 at 11:55am ·
  • 

    Barbara Myers

    I think those babies are very blessed in that they have a grandparent that is able to be with them while mom and dad work. I only wish I had that luxury when my children were small however I did not. I had to have a Day care, Day care is go...See More

    January 18 at 6:17pm ·
  • 

    Cresenti Squire Williams Oh don't be envious, grandma, I will have weekends off! LOL!!! Brandon was in daycare also, but my oldest son was cared for by my mom and grandmothers before starting school. He often refers to how much he learned from them. I only hope I can be as successful with Jayden and Lailie. Thanks for the prayers...

    January 18 at 9:38pm ·
  • 

    Sheron Williams wow! You really do have a gift. You really do need to get started on your book!

    January 18 at 9:56pm · · 2
  • 

    Sheron Williams I see that something has sparked or rekindle.

    January 18 at 9:59pm ·
  • 

    Cresenti Squire Williams Thank you Sheron, my love. You inspire me. I am very nervous about writing. This is a "safe" fun topic. Mom loves you!

    Thursday at 11:36am ·
• 

  
  

  Write a comment...

The Road To Salvation

Harmony 2020 Ministries Founder Cresenti S Williams, M. Div. presents:

The Four Spiritual Laws by Matt Slick

If you've gone through a discussion with someone and you want to present the gospel message in a simple and systematic way, the well-known "Four Spiritual Laws" can be of help.  They are simple, to the point, and use Scripture to convict, convince, and convert.  They are:

1. God loves you:
1. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life," (John 3:16).
2. Man is sinful and separated from God.
1. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Rom. 3:23); "For the wages of sin is death," (Rom. 6:23); "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God," (Isaiah 59:2).
3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin.
1. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6); "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," (Rom. 5:8).
4. We must individually receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.
1. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name," (John 1:12); "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved," (Rom. 10:9); "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God," (Eph. 2:8).

The Roman Road

Another list of verses usable in the same way as the Four Spiritual Laws is the "Roman Road."  The advantage to these seven verses is that they are all in the book of Romans.  Sometimes this is an advantage when you don't want to flip through a lot of pages

Rom. 3:10, "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, not even one...'"

1. Rom. 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
2. Rom. 5:12, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned."
3. Rom. 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
4. Rom. 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
5. Rom. 10:9-10, "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
6. Rom. 10:13, "For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

I recommend you put the Roman Road in your Bible.  Go to Romans 3:10 underline it and write Romans 3:23 next to it.  Then go to Romans 3:28, underline it and write Romans 5:12 next to it, and so on.  That way all you need to do is memorize where you start: Romans 3:10.

Being Idle is Not an optional

Thoughts of Harmony
Wednesday, March 16, 2011Being Idle is not an option

Last night while attending a meeting with a focus on ministry, I realized that God is more that patient with us. Even after showing us that He loves us and wants to brag on us as His own, we still sometimes miss the boat when it comes to Standing up for God and letting others know that He is Our Father. I left that meeting with a renewed commitment to look for opportunities to share God with others I encounter. This week as I look at the world's tragic conditions, I know that God is not to blame. I believe that each one of us in the Faith Community should go all out to let the disgruntled and the brokenhearted know that our Heavenly Father is able to do wonderful things for those who have faith in Him. Indeed, the Great Commission commands us to "Go ye, therefore into all the world" and teach others to observe all the things that Jesus has taught us about the Father. Matt 28:19-20

We get this very important knowledge from studying the Word of God as we yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is therefore vital to set aside time for personal or group study of the Bible. The Bible is God's letter to His family of faith. If you are a member of a church, make sure its teachings are Bible based and not man made. Pray for understanding and Jesus will lead you into all Truth.

at 6:45 PM 0 comments Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Google Buzz

Posted by Harmony2020Ministries

Thoughts of Harmony for Today

God is doing a GREAT Thing today as He urges people to come together in times of trials.