November Scripture Challenge | Proverbs 17:6 and 2 Timothy 1:5
Have you ever opened an old box of photographs, stumbled across a handwritten recipe, or heard a familiar phrase that instantly transported you back to your childhood? That's exactly what happened to me this week as I worked on the November Scripture Challenge, Gathered in Grace: 30 Days of Faith, Family, Food & God's Goodness.
Yesterday, I was working on Day 6, Proverbs 17:6, and Day 7, 2 Timothy 1:5, and I found myself remembering my grandmother, whom I called “MaMa”, my mom and my mother-in-law. I originally wanted to find a photograph of my mom and her mother together, but unfortunately, I wasn't able to locate one.
However, while searching through boxes of old photographs and family memorabilia, I discovered all kinds of treasures. Some of them I'm not even sure I'd ever seen before! There were report cards, handwritten poems, photographs, and little pieces of family history that brought back so many wonderful memories.
It's funny how something as simple as an old photograph or a handwritten note can take you back fifty or sixty years in an instant. Suddenly, you're not just looking at a piece of paper. You're remembering the people, the laughter, the smells coming from the kitchen, and those little everyday moments that you didn't realize would become such precious memories.
The Blessing of Generations — Proverbs 17:6
What a beautiful picture of family! As I studied this verse, I began thinking about how much of our lives is shaped by the generations who came before us. Sometimes we think about leaving a legacy as something grand or extraordinary, but I believe some of the most meaningful things we pass down happen in the simplest moments. It's the time we spend together, the stories we tell, the traditions we create, and the love we show through everyday acts of kindness.
When I think about my childhood, I don't necessarily remember every Christmas present I received or every special occasion we celebrated. Instead, I remember sitting on the back of my grandmother's sofa, helping in the kitchen, laughing at jokes read on the inside of “Laughy Taffy”, and enjoying meals that somehow tasted better than anything I've been able to make as an adult.
Ilene Snodgrass Duncan
MaMa's Fried Potatoes, Sweet Pickles, and a Little Mischief
I remember my MaMa letting me sit on the back of her sofa when I was about six or seven years old so I could style her hair. Now, you can only imagine the hairstyles I created! She would patiently sit there while I combed, twisted, and arranged her hair into what I was certain were beautiful creations. When I finished, she would look in the mirror and always say, "That looks beautiful!" I'm quite sure it didn't, but she made me feel like the best hairstylist in the world. Looking back, I realize that it wasn't about her hair at all. It was about a grandmother taking the time to make her granddaughter feel special.
And then there were her fried potatoes. Oh, my goodness! My MaMa made the BEST fried potatoes! She would peel russet potatoes, slice them thinly, coat them in flour, and put them into a hot skillet with Crisco. She would let them cook for a while, turn them over, and stir them around. They weren't like potato pancakes, and they weren't like ordinary fried potatoes either. My mom and I tried several times to recreate them, but we could never figure out exactly how much flour she used or how she managed to cook them to perfection. I wish I had paid more attention when I had the chance because I've never tasted fried potatoes quite like hers.
Another memory involves sweet pickles. When I was little, I would go straight to MaMa's refrigerator, pull out the jar of sweet pickles, and eat them right out of the jar. Apparently, I ate a few too many because it was years before I could eat sweet pickles again! Even today, I don't want to eat them straight from the jar. I suppose I learned that you really can have too much of a good thing!
But MaMa wasn't just a wonderful cook. She was quite a character and absolutely loved playing pranks. One year, she decided to dress up as a drifter at a family reunion. She put on a long coat, pulled a stocking over her head and face, and topped off her disguise with a hat. She walked into the reunion looking like a complete stranger, and everyone was getting nervous. I think somebody was about ready to call the police when she finally pulled off her disguise. She thought the whole thing was hilarious! That was my MaMa. She loved to laugh, have fun, and keep everyone guessing about what she might do next.
There was also one question she would ask me every time we sat down for dinner: "Carol, you don't like tomatoes?" Every. Single. Time. It became such a family joke that even today, my sister will occasionally ask me the very same question, and we both start laughing. Isn't it amazing how one little sentence can bring back a lifetime of memories?
My Mom's Kitchen — A Place of Love
My mom was quite different from her mother. She was much more serious, although while looking through that box of family memorabilia, I discovered some rather silly photographs of her that made me smile. I also found her old report cards, poems she had written, and even a scrapbook filled with movie stars that I'm sure she must have been in love with! I enjoyed discovering that side of my mom because sometimes, as children, we forget that our parents had lives, dreams, interests, and personalities long before we came along.
Growing up, my mom cooked dinner almost every night. We always had meat, potatoes (because my dad didn't like rice), bread, maybe a salad, and usually something for dessert. She was a wonderful cook, and she made the most delicious pies. My favorite was lemon pie, and if there happened to be any left over, I knew exactly what I was having the next morning. Breakfast of Champions! I can still remember how good that lemon pie tasted, especially when I could sneak a piece for breakfast.
Another favorite was her pot roast with potatoes and carrots. She would put everything into the electric skillet before we left for church on Sunday morning, and when we returned home, dinner was ready. The roast was tender, the potatoes were perfect, and the carrots were delicious. Bob and I have tried to recreate that meal more times than I can count. We've used different recipes, cooking methods, and appliances, but somehow, the roast isn't tender, the potatoes turn to mush, or the carrots aren't quite done. I don't know how she did it, but she made it look so easy!
The more I think about those meals, the more I realize that perhaps it's not simply the food I'm trying to recreate. Maybe it's the feeling of being home, sitting around the table with family, and knowing that someone has prepared something special just for you. There was something comforting about those Sunday dinners, and I didn't realize at the time how much I would treasure those memories years later.
Sarah Rowene Marsh Adams
Ronnie — A Mother's Love in the Little Things
My mother-in-law, Ronnie, was another wonderful woman who loved her family dearly. I still remember the first time I had dinner with Bob's family. Ronnie had all these little dishes sitting on the table, and my first thought was, "How in the world is she going to feed everybody?" I soon discovered that those little dishes held plenty of food, and there was more than enough for everyone!
Another thing I noticed was that everyone drank milk with their meals. That was completely different from my family because we never had milk at dinner. My mom hated milk, and I remember her telling me that drinking milk always brought back memories of growing up in an orphanage where she was made to finish her carton of milk. So, when I had dinner with Bob's family that first time, I drank water instead.
But here's what I remember most about that experience. After that first dinner, Ronnie started making iced tea just for me. She didn't make a big announcement about it or call attention to what she was doing. She simply noticed that I preferred something different and made sure I had it whenever I came to dinner. What a beautiful example of love and thoughtfulness in something so simple! Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness leave the biggest impressions on our hearts.
Ronnie also made the most delicious bread-and-butter pickles. Now, I've never been a huge fan of bread-and-butter pickles, but hers were wonderful! I actually have the cookbook she used, but unfortunately, she didn't always follow the recipes. She had written a few notes in the margins, but I've never been able to figure out the exact measurements. Just like MaMa's fried potatoes and my mom's pot roast, it's another recipe that I wish I could recreate.
Ronnie passed away just two months before Bob and I welcomed our first child. She never had the opportunity to meet our children, and that still makes me sad. I know she would have loved them dearly and probably spoiled them rotten because she loved her family so much. Although our children never had the opportunity to know her personally, I hope that through the stories we share, they can understand what a wonderful mother and grandmother she would have been.
A Faith Passed Down — 2 Timothy 1:5
When I read this Scripture, I immediately thought about the women in my own family. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul reminds him of the sincere faith that first lived in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. What a beautiful testimony! These women may not have been famous or accomplished extraordinary things by the world's standards, but their faith made an impression on Timothy that would influence his life and ministry.
I especially love the word sincere in this passage. Paul wasn't describing a faith that was simply talked about or practiced only when others were watching. He was describing a genuine faith, one that was real and evident in the way these women lived. Timothy had seen that faith demonstrated through the lives of his mother and grandmother, and their example helped shape the man he became.
As I thought about this passage, I began reflecting on the women who influenced my own life. I remember their cooking, their laughter, their personalities, and their little acts of kindness. I remember how they made family gatherings special and how they made ordinary days memorable. But this Scripture challenged me to think about something even more important than the memories and traditions we pass down. What kind of spiritual legacy are we leaving for the generations who come after us?
Recipes are wonderful, family photographs are treasures, and handwritten notes can tell beautiful stories. But the greatest inheritance we can leave our children and grandchildren is an example of genuine faith in Jesus Christ. That doesn't mean we have to live perfect lives or never make mistakes. It means allowing our faith to influence the way we live, the way we treat others, the way we respond to difficulties, and the way we extend grace and forgiveness.
Timothy didn't automatically inherit salvation because his mother and grandmother believed in God. He had to respond to the Lord personally, just as each of us must do. But Lois and Eunice helped prepare the way by demonstrating what sincere faith looked like in everyday life. Their example reminds me that we may never fully realize the influence we're having on the people around us, especially the children and grandchildren who are watching and learning from us.
Gathered in Grace — Preserving Our Stories Through Scripture and Creativity
When I first began planning the November Scripture Challenge, I chose the theme Gathered in Grace: 30 Days of Faith, Family, Food & God's Goodness because I wanted to combine my love of God's Word with the warmth and nostalgia of a vintage kitchen. I envisioned old recipe cards, handwritten notes, gingham fabric, lace, family photographs, and all those wonderful little things that remind us of home. What I didn't realize was how deeply personal this challenge would become for me.
For my November Scripture Journal, I'm repurposing a copy of The Frugal Gourmet Cooks American cookbook. I've removed the inside pages and am using them as ephemera throughout the journal. I've also added pockets, vintage music paper, coffee-dyed pages, background papers, tags, and other little treasures. Each day, I'm creating a page inspired by the Scripture passage, and I'm enjoying finding ways to connect the verses with the vintage kitchen theme.
I've created coordinating background papers, tags, and ephemera that I'll be using throughout the month. Some pages will include Scripture cards, while others may have pockets for handwritten notes, family recipes, or special memories. That's one of the things I love most about Bible journaling. It gives us an opportunity to slow down, spend time in God's Word, and creatively record what He's teaching us.
When I study Scripture, I usually begin by reading the passage and praying about what God wants me to learn. I often visit Blue Letter Bible to look up the meanings of words I may not understand and to read several commentaries for additional insight. I also like to use Bible Gateway to compare different Bible translations. After spending time studying and reflecting on the passage, I begin creating my journal page.
I want to encourage you that Bible journaling doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. You don't need a lot of supplies, and you certainly don't need to create something that looks like anyone else's work. You can use scrapbook paper, old book pages, fabric scraps, handwritten Scripture, or even pictures from magazines. The important thing isn't how beautiful your journal looks. It's the time you're spending in God's Word and what you're learning along the way.
Join Me for the November Scripture Challenge
If you haven't started our November Scripture Challenge, Gathered in Grace, I would love for you to join us! And please don't think you're too late. You don't have to begin with Day 1 or try to catch up with everyone else. You can start right where you are, choose a Scripture that speaks to your heart, and begin creating.
I've created a FREE download that includes our November Scripture Calendar and four pages of coordinating ephemera in beautiful vintage kitchen colors of teal, orange, gold, and a touch of red. These printables can be used for Scripture cards, recipe cards, MemoryDex cards, Bible journaling, junk journaling, or art journaling. Throughout November, I'll also be sharing additional FREE downloads and creative ideas, so be sure to follow Carol Adams Creations on Facebook so you don't miss anything.
If you're interested in creating your own altered-book journal, I've also shared a tutorial explaining how you can turn an old book into a beautiful place to record Scripture, memories, and creative projects.
[Insert link to your altered-book journal tutorial]
What Will They Remember About Us?
As I've been writing this blog post and remembering my MaMa, my mom, and Ronnie, I keep coming back to one thought. I hope my children and grandchildren have wonderful memories of me. I know I haven't always done everything right. I've made mistakes, had days when I wasn't as patient as I should have been, and I'm sure there are things I would do differently if I had the opportunity. But isn't that where God's grace comes in?
God doesn't ask us to leave behind a legacy of perfection. He calls us to love Him, trust Him, and faithfully share His love with others. I hope my children and grandchildren remember the laughter, the family gatherings, the things we created together, and perhaps even a few of my favorite recipes. I hope they remember that I loved spending time with them and that they are always important to me.
But more than anything, I hope they remember my faith. I hope they remember that I loved Jesus, that I prayed for them, and that I wanted them to know Him too. I hope that even through my mistakes and imperfections, they could see God's grace at work in my life.
Maybe one day, they'll open an old box and discover something I made, find a handwritten note, come across one of my Bible journals, or remember something silly I used to say. Perhaps they'll smile and say, "I remember when..." just as I've been doing this week.
And wouldn't it be wonderful if, among all those memories, they could also say, "She loved Jesus, and she taught us to love Him too".
Because in the end, the most beautiful things we leave behind aren't always things at all. They're the memories we make, the love we share, the kindness we show, and the faith we live.
That, my sweet friends, is what it means to be Gathered in Grace.
A Little Something to Think About
As you go through your week, I encourage you to spend a few moments remembering the people who have influenced your life. Was there a grandmother who made you feel special, a mother who faithfully cared for her family, or someone whose love and kindness made a lasting impression? Perhaps there's a family recipe, an old photograph, or a handwritten note that brings back wonderful memories.
But I also want to encourage you to think about the legacy you're creating today. What will your children, grandchildren, friends, or loved ones remember about you? More importantly, what are they learning about Jesus through the way you live? We may not realize it, but those little everyday moments of faith, love, forgiveness, and kindness can have an impact that lasts for generations.
Until next time, keep creating, keep studying God's Word, and keep sharing His grace!