12. THE OLD LADY AND ANA-ROMANS 8:26-38 (God's Love)

Ana was worried all day long and just could not find an answer to her problem. Finally she sought out her favorite grandmother who was sitting at the dining room table cleaning the family silver ware. Taking a chair next to the old lady, Ana, looking intently at her, asked:
“Gramma, how does God know when we need help and how does he choose who should be helped and should not be helped?”
The old lady put down the vase she was cleaning, turned to her grand daughter and smiling reassuringly, whispered quietly but firmly:
“No my dear Ana, God has no favorites, he loves us all in the same way and does not choose sides. He knows our needs and does everything for us. The bible is very clear about this, let me read to you from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans:”

The Holy Spirit helps us because we are weak.
We do not know how we should talk to God.
But the Holy Spirit himself talks to God for us,

while we cry and cannot say any words.
God looks to see what is in people's hearts.
And he knows what the Holy Spirit is going to do.
The Holy Spirit talks to God for God's people.
And he asks for them what God wants them to have.

“He is telling us that the Holy Spirit takes care of us. He knows our weaknesses and our fears
and in fact, is always interceding for us. He carries our needs to God and speaks for us even when we are not able to do so. St. Paul went further, listen:”

We know that God works out everything

for the good of those who love him.
They are the people who are part of his plan.
He knew all along that he would choose them.
He chose them to be made like his Son.
Then his Son would be the first one of many brothers.
He chose them and he also called them.
He called them to himself as if they had never been bad people.
He made them right with himself

and he also made them great in heaven.

“God is making it quite clear that he loves all those people who love him. In fact he assures us that he sees us in the same way as he sees his own son. He went further to state that Jesus is the first of many brothers and as far as he is concerned he sees us all as part of his family and worthy of heaven”.

The old lady paused for a while to allow Ana to assimilate the information and then continued:

So what shall we say about this?
If God is on our side, who can be against us?
He did not keep his own Son, but gave him up for us all.
Because he has given him to us, will he not also give us all other things?
Who will say anything against God's chosen people?
For it is God himself who says they have been put right with him.
Who will say they are not right?
Jesus Christ died. Yes, he was raised from death.
He is at the right side of God. And he talks to God for us.

“what could be stronger than this statement of the commitment of our God to us? By Jesus dying on the cross for us and subsequently raising from the dead, he has guaranteed our eternal salvation and given us security in obtaining God’s love and the right to be called his chosen people. Even after becoming one of us and suffering and dying for us, Jesus continues to seek our salvation before God. So you see the bad people of the world can try to destroy our good name but Jesus, by paying the ultimate penalty has earned us the right to be declared righteous before God and he has given us his promise that he will do so”.

Ana, beaming with joy and relief was about to exclaim her pleasure and satisfaction, but the old lady gestured to her that there was more, and continued to read from her bible:

Who can take us away from Christ's love?
We may have trouble. We may have hard times.
People may make us suffer because we believe.
We may have no food to eat and no clothes to wear.
We may be in danger. We may be killed with big knives.
Can any of these things take us away from Christ's love?
I am absolutely sure that not even death or life
can separate us from God's love.
Not even angels or demons, the present or the future,
or any powers can do that.

“What a beautiful promise we have received from our God. Nothing, not trouble nor hard times
nor starvation nor death nor demons nor anything else, can separate us from the love of Christ.
We are indeed truly blessed and secure in the knowledge that we are eternally loved."

Ana jumped up from the chair hugged her grand mother as tightly as she could and exclaimed in a voice meant to be heard around the world:

“Our God is the greatest, most awesome God, and I am so glad that he loves me!”

11. THE OLD LADY AND ANA -PSALM 64:1-10 (Dealing with Evildoers)

Ana listened quietly at the dinner table, as her mother recounted the rumors that were being spread about her brother and his wife. Some wicked people were determined to destroy his good name by accusing of him of illegal business activities and mixing with questionable people. This was causing him to worry a great deal and he was getting very depressed.

Later that night while her grandmother was helping her get ready to go to bed, Ana asked her;
“Gramma why does God let these bad people say these things and hurt Uncle Joe. Everybody knows he is a good man?”
The old lady, sensing an opportunity to teach her grand daughter, replied that she was not correct in thinking so, for while God does not control what evil people may do, he certainly does not abandon his faithful. Sitting at the side of the bed, she beckoned Ana to sit next to her as she opened her favorite bible to Psalm 64.
“Listen to these words and see if you recognize them”. she said::

Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint;

protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,

from that noisy crowd of evildoers.
They sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim their words like deadly arrows.
They shoot from ambush at the innocent man;

they shoot at him suddenly, without fear.

Ana thought for a minute and then confidently responded;
“That sounds like the person is pleading to God to protect him from all these bad people.
They seem to be trying to destroy him with words and arrows, just like what they are doing to Uncle Joe”.

The old lady nodded her head in agreement and by way of reinforcing the idea she added:
“Yes Ana, this is what they do when they want to destroy good people. They don’t hesitate
to plan and devise any means to trap them, malign them and spread lies about them. Let me continue reading from the bible:”

They encourage each other in evil plans,

they talk about hiding their snares;

they say; "Who will see them?"
They plot injustice and say,

"We have devised a perfect plan!"

Ana, obviously perplexed and confused that God, knowing all this about evil people, allows them to continue to cause so much injustice and suffering to the good, God fearing people.

Turning to her grandmother she wondered whether God might be too busy to pay attention to all these people.
The old lady reacted quickly and replied:
“Heavens no my child, God knows and cares for all people. He is all powerful and does not hesitate punish those who deserve to be punished. Listen to these words:”

Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning.
But God will shoot them with arrows;

suddenly they will be struck down.
He will turn their own tongues against them

and bring them to ruin;

all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

Visibly relieved, Ana smiled broadly, for her confidence in God was restored, and raising both arms high over her head she proclaimed:

“Thank you God for never forgetting your faithful”
The old lady happy to see the relief in the face of her grand daughter, smiled broadly and replied:
Yes Ana, we must never ever forget that God will never abandon his faithful. We should never be afraid to declare our loyalty to him and always praise and honor him. Listen how the Psalmist spoke on behalf of all of us:”

All mankind will fear;

they will proclaim the works of God

and ponder what he has done.
Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD

and take refuge in him;

let all the upright in heart praise him!

Bouncing out of the bed with renewed joy and confidence, Ana hugged her gramma tightly, kissed her, and announced at the top of her voice, as she ran out of the bed room:

“I’m going straight to Mommy and tell her that she does not have to worry about Uncle Joe
anymore, because God will take care of the wicked people and destroy them!”

10. THE OLD LADY AND ANA - PSALM 62: 1-12(Trust in God Alone)

Ana listened intently, as her Uncle related his problems to her father. His business had suffered badly and he was worried that he might lose it. Yet he was calm and kept saying that he was not worried and had faith that God will provide an answer as he promised in Psalm 62.

After he left, Ana turned to her grandmother and with a worried look, asked her:
“Gramma, I don’t understand, how come Uncle Joe is so calm with all his problems?”

The old lady, sensing an opportunity teach Ana about the real meaning of having faith in God under all circumstances, replied:
“My dear child, your Uncle Joe is blessed with the kind of faith that only a genuine believer in the goodness of the Almighty can possess. He has the strong belief that God will never abandon him, even if the whole world turns against him. Let us read about God’s promise in Psalm 62”.

As Ana slipped beside her, the old lady picked up her trusted bible, opened it at Psalm 62, and started to read:

For God alone my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

“This is real, true faith. The Psalmist expresses his confidence to wait in silent hope for God to provide his salvation. With God alone as his rock and his fortress, nothing will shake him”.

The old lady paused awhile, to allow Ana to reflect on the statement, and then continued:

“You remember how your Uncle spoke of his troubles with the people who are trying to bring him down. Well listen to what the Psalmist wrote:”

How long will you assail a person,

will you batter your victim, all of you,

as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence.

They take pleasure in falsehood;

they bless with their mouths,

but inwardly they curse.

Upon hearing these words, little Ana sat up abruptly. Although she did not understand every word, she knew enough to recognize that these were bad people. Looking directly at her grandmother, with her mouth wide open with disappointment, she said:

“Wow! Gramma, are people really so wicked?”

“Yes indeed my child, they will do anything to hurt you. They will attack you, and take advantage of your weakness. Their aim is to bring you down. They will lie about you, or even say nice things to you, but curse you behind your back”.

Little Ana paused incredulously and with a voice saddened with concern, observed:

“Is this what is happening to Uncle Joe?”

The old lady nodded her head in the affirmative, but then quickly added:

“But your Uncle Joe is an honest, God-fearing man who is patient and firmly believes that at the right time, God will deliver him and provide salvation, exactly as promised by the Psalmist. Listen to the promise:

On God rests my deliverance and my honor;

my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us.

“He continued further by advising us to avoid anything that involves cheating or stealing or putting all your trust on getting rich. Listen to these words:”

Put no confidence in extortion,

and set no vain hopes on robbery;

if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

“finally, as if to make sure we understood the message of God’s trust, he went on to state that when God speaks, the power belongs to him, while our love must steadfastly belong to him and he will repay us according to our worth. Listen to his promise:”

Once God has spoken;

twice have I heard this:

that power belongs to God,

and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.

For you repay to all according to their work.

Relieved by the words of her grandmother, little Ana jumped up, hugged and kissed her, and headed directly to the telephone as she announced, in a happy and positive voice:

“I am going to call Uncle Joe and tell him that God Loves him and he should not worry for God will make sure that every thing will come out alright”

9. THE OLD LADY AND ANA - PSALM 180:1-6 (The Good and the Wicked)

Ana listened intently as her father related the story of the taxi driver who had found a briefcase full of money and rather than keep it, he chose to return it to the owner. His friends and co-workers mocked him and tried to encourage him the keep the money, but he refused to do so because he felt it was wrong and was against God’s teaching.
When her father was finished, Ana turned to her Grandmother and asked her:
“Gramma is that really true? Did God really teach that we should always be honest and
never cheat anyone?”

The old lady, sensing an opportunity to teach a very important lesson to her grand-daughter replied;
“Oh yes Ana, the Bible, God’s written words, has many examples of people who chose
honesty over dishonesty and who pleased God for doing so. One of the best examples
is contained in Psalm 180:1-6”.

Opening her bible, she began to read:

Blessed is the man who does not walk

in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

“God makes it very clear that the man who does not mix with the wicked person, or is not associated with the sinner or does not share with those who mock and redicule others is a man who has his blessings. He went on further to describe this man”:

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

“This man is happy to live under God’s law and studies it day and night to make sure that he understands everything. This means that he does not have to be forced to do so, but considers it a pleasure”.
Ana, listening intently, asked her grandmother:

“Gramma, how do you get to know this kind of man from all the other bad ones?

The old lady nodded appropriately and continued to read:

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

“God described that man as one who stands out like a fruit tree that grows with plenty water. It is laden with fruit and its leaves are abundant, healthy and not withering. You will know this man because whatever he touches will prosper”.

Ana added quickly, to underline that she understood:

“Like Uncle Peter, who you always say whatever he touches turns to gold.”

The old lady nodded affirmatively, and continued to read:

Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

“God did not hold back in describing the wicked as chaff, which is like straw, that is easily blown away by the wind. They have no substance and therefore no respect.”

The old lady then lifted her head to make sure that Ana was listening and that she understood,

then continued:

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

“God was absolutely clear that the wicked will never be allowed to stand in judgement, nor will he be allowed to be among the good people. He promised to take care and protect the honest and good people, while the evil and the wicked will perish.”

Relieved, Ana got up, kissed her grandmother and as she walked away, shouted confidently:

“Don’t worry gramma, I am going to please God and be good all my life!”

8. THE OLD LADY AND ANA -PSALM 27(Confidence in God)

Little Ana put down her Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book which she was reading for the third time and walked deliberately towards her grandmother who was sitting on her favorite chair in the family room.
“Gramma” she asked “Do you think God knows who I am and does he have time to think about me and to help me if I get into trouble?”
The Old Lady held out her hand and pulled Ana towards her and with a voice ringing with confidence replied:
“Yes indeed, my child. You, like every one of us, are his child and in the same way your parents take care of you and protect you, so does God in every conceivable way. In fact there is a section in the bible in which King David expressed total faith that God was not only his light and his salvation, but his protector, let us read it together”.
Opening her favorite Bible to Psalm 27 she began to read:

The Lord is my light and my salvation

— whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life

—of whom shall I be afraid?
when my enemies and my foes attack me,

they will stumble and fall.
Though war break out against me,

even then will I be confident.

“You see Ana, the very wise King David had no doubt about God’s love. In fact his main concern was whether God will bother to accept him to dwell under his care and protection. Listen:”

One thing I ask of the Lord,

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

Ana, somewhat perplexed that King David, the wisest of men, might have doubts about God accepting him, listened intently as her grandmother continued reading:

Hear my voice when I call, O Lord;

be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"

Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,

do not turn your servant away in anger;

you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

O God my Savior.

Ana was now very confused, that King David should continue to ask God to be merciful to him and not reject him, looked at her grand mother and asked:
“Gramma, I am very worried. If King David, a great and wise man, could be so unsure of whether God will notice him and take care of him, how can I be sure that God will even bother to look at me?”

The old lady sensing Ana’s disappointment drew her closer, and placing her arm around the child’s shoulder, said in a calm and reassuring voice:
“King David said this because he recognized that he was only human and although he knew otherwise, he still could not believe that God will pay attention to his needs. This is a sign of true humility and you will see it among people who are genuine. He wanted to be sure that he was worthy of God’s graces. He was not ashamed to admit to his faults and weaknesses, and was not ashamed to ask for help. Listen to this:”

Though my father and mother forsake me,

the Lord will receive me.
Teach me your way, O Lord;

lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

for false witnesses rise up against me,

breathing out violence.

“You see Ana, this great man, a King among his people, was not afraid to express his fears and his worries, and to ask God to teach him to stay on the straight way. He knew that his enemies will do anything to destroy him yet confident that God will receive him.”

Ana was relieved, and turning to her grandmother with a look of sudden revelation, said:
"Gramma now I understand why we always pray to God before receiving the Holy Communion with these words;"

“Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,

but just say the word and I shall be healed”

The old lady, startled by her grand daughter’s remarkable insight, sighed deeply and replied:

“Ana, you are so right, we must never ever lose our humility in the sight of our God, even as we remain confident in the faith that he will always be present for us. King David expressed this in these words”:

"I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart ,

and wait for the Lord "

7. THE OLD LADY AND ANA -MATTHEW 5:43-48(Love your Enemy)

Little Ana sat quietly next to her father in front the television. It was 6.30pm and the NBC Nightly News had just begun. Once again, as he had done last night and the night before, Brian Williams began by reporting about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and the destruction caused by the enemy. He then went on to report about the condition of the enemy prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay. Ana got up and went directly to her Grandmother who was absorbed in the scarf she was knitting.

“Gramma”, she asked, “Everybody is saying we should hate our enemies because they are killing our soldiers. Is that true? ”

The old lady, sensing a genuine concern in her grand-daughter’s voice, put down her knitting and beckoned Ana to sit next to her. She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts and then as she picked up her bible said:

“My dear Ana, yes it is true that most people still hate their enemies and prefer them to be punished or killed because of what they believe, or what they do. But that is not what God teaches, or expects from us. We do this because we do not have the courage or strength to be true Christians and follow his words and his example. In fact if you check the bible Jesus specifically commented on this problem in this way":
(Reading from Matthew5:43)

You have heard that it was said,
'Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.'

“He was referring to the teachings of the Pharisees and the Scribes who were the leaders of the Jews. They taught, as we still do presently, that all enemies and evil doers must be punished and as a result of this, the community was consumed in hatred and retribution. But Jesus rejected this outright and said so in these terms:”

But I tell you: Love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

“You notice Jesus very clearly stated that you must love your enemy and even went further by advising you to pray for those who persecute you. This is the exact opposite of what the Pharisees were doing. This must have surprised the audience a great deal, but you see Jesus was telling us that this is what God expected of us, and that if we really wanted to be true Christians, true children of God, we are obligated to do so”.

Ana, somewhat stunned by this revelation looked intently at her grandmother and with the innocence and simplicity of her tender age, asked:

“Do you mean that God wants us to love everybody in the same way. That we must love and pray for everybody, even though they don’t like us or want to hurt us. How could that be right or fair?”

Anticipating this, the old lady quickly answered by reading the next verse:

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

“God does not make a difference between good and bad. We are all his children and God loves us all in the same way. When Christ died on the cross for our sins, he made no discrimination between anyone of us, he forgave us all. In fact, if you remember, he forgave a thief who was crucified next to him and promised him a place in heaven. God’s love is infinite, it has no boundaries. That is what this verse is saying. The sun will rise and the rain will fall whether we are good or bad, or we are right or wrong. It makes no difference to God’s love, he will treat us the same”.

The old lady paused for a short while to allow Ana to assimilate the information, and continued to read:

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?
Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers,
what are you doing more than others?
Do not even pagans do that?

“God is very clear about what he expects from us. He said what good is it if we only love those who love us. Even the taxpayers, who in those days were considered the worst, do the same. And again, are you doing any better if you only greet your brother, even the non-believers do this. He wants you to make no distinction, your love must be even and universal”.


Ana, with both hands cupping her face and eyes wide open in disbelief, exclaimed:

“Wow gramma! God expects so much from us!”

The old lady responded by nodding her head in confirmation as she continued reading:

Be perfect therefore,
as your heavenly Father is perfect.

“You are correct, If we are true followers and true believers then we must recognize that by dying for us, God has earned us the right to be like him. In the same way that he forgave all and unconditionally loves all in a perfect way, he expects us to be perfect. We have no excuses, if we want to be a true Christian then our love must be without condition or boundaries”.

Breathing a deep sigh of relief, Ana stood up, thanked her grandmother and as she walked away, she looked directly at the television and said in a firm and determined voice:

“I only wish someone would remind Brian Williams to stop talking only about how we are punishing our enemies and start thinking about how God expects us to treat them”.

6. THE OLD LADY AND ANA -MATTHEW 5:38-42(Revenge)

Little Ana was unusually silent as she entered her mother’s vehicle after school. Her normal jovial grim was gone and in its place was a sad, disappointed sag. She did not speak and when asked by her mother about her day’s activity, she replied with an unenthusiastic: “OK”.

Upon arriving home, Ana bolted out of the car as fast as she could and headed directly to her Grandmother who was sitting in front of the television watching her favorite “Oprah” show, and blurted out:

“Gramma, is it true that God said an Eye for an Eye and that we should punish everybody who sin?”

The Old Lady, sensing a troubled and confused child, switched off the television, beckoned Ana to come and sit with her and as she opened her bible replied slowly and deliberately:
“Yes Ana that is correct, the old bible spoke of revenge in several passages, ….listen:”

Opening to Leviticus 24:20, she read:

Limb for limb, eye for eye, tooth for tooth!
The same injury that a man gives another,
shall be inflicted on him in return.

Ana sat up, mouth opened and stunned, as the old lady quickly continued:

“But that was the old bible and Jesus Christ in The Sermon on the Mount corrected that statement and even went further to advise us how we should treat evil people;.. Listen”:

You have heard that it was said,
'Eye for eye and tooth for tooth’,
But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.
If someone strikes you on the right cheek,
then turn to him the other also.

Immediately Ana’s features changed, she was relieved with this response, but still confused about Jesus’ advice.

“Did he really mean that, Gramma, if someone hits you, you should let him hit you again?”


The Old Lady paused a little, carefully selected her thoughts and looking directly into Ana’s big brown, trusting eyes, said:

“Yes indeed Ana! that is exactly what Jesus instructed us. As true Christians we are taught that when someone does evil to us we cannot respond with evil. If we did, then we are no different than the evil doer and we will only encourage more evil. Instead, Christ teaches us to respond with Love and to pray for them. By doing this we will stop the evil”.

Little Ana, obviously taken aback the power of these words, exclaimed:

"Wow! Jesus us wants us to love everybody, even those who hate us!”

The old lady, delighted by her grand daughter’s insight, continued to read:

And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic,
let him have your cloak as well.
If someone forces you to go one mile,
go with him two miles.

“Jesus did not hold back on his advice. He further stated, if someone wants something that was your own, like your dress, don’t refuse, in fact give him more. And even more than that, if he forces you to do something, don’t object, in fact try to do more. By saying this, he is confirming that as true Christians ours lives must be guided by the fundamental principles of love, caring, concern and service to all our brothers, no matter if they are friend and foe. He went further in his final statement, to stress this, listen:”

Give to the one who asks you,
and do not turn away
from the one who wants to borrow from you.

“Jesus leaves us with no excuse. To be true followers we must obey his advice. We must forgive those who hurt us, resist any attempt to seek revenge and extend our love and help to all our brothers irrespective if they are friends or enemies. After all, that is the way God treats us. He never seeks revenge. Instead he forgives us over and over again and has accepted us all as his children”.

Ana sat in awe of her grandmother for sometime, then rising slowly and deliberately, she grasped the old lady’s face and kissed her over and over and then, with wisdom far above her tender age, she stated for all the world to hear,

“Dear God, why don’t all the leaders and politicians and religions just follow your advice and
stop listening to themselves and to the old bible alone”.

5. THE OLD LADY AND ANA -MATTHEW 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes)

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. little Ana, wearing her pretty blue dress that her mother bought for her, had just returned from attending morning mass with her family. As they entered their home, Ana grasped her grandmother’s hand and gently tugging it, asked her, in all sincerity;
“Gramma why was the priest telling everyone may God bless you?”

The old lady beckoned Ana to come sit at the table next to her and opening her trusted bible at Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 5, she said:

“Listen to what God said when he addressed the people and his disciples from the top of a mountain about his blessings”.

She slowly read:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

Little Ana looked perplexed and confused,

“What does poor in spirit mean?” she asked.
The old lady replied:

“Poor in spirit refers to people who are humble, gentle and caring. They are the ones who do not hesitate to help others, who give of themselves and do not ask for anything in return. These are the people who will be welcome in heaven”.

Ana seemed to be satisfied with the answer, so the old lady continued reading:

"Blessed are those who mourn,

for they shall be comforted”.

Raising her eyes, the old lady looked at the startled face of the little girl:

“You see Ana, the second blessing is for all those people who mourn or feel sorry for whatever reason. Mourning does not only mean the loss of a loved one. It also includes those who hurt for, or feel the suffering of others or who are sorry for their own sins and transgressions. All of those will receive God’s comfort."

The old lady paused for a second and then continued to read the third blessing:

“Blessed are the meek,

for they shall inherit the earth”.

“I think I know this one gramma”, Ana interjected, “If you are good you will be happy on earth”

The old lady smiled and added:

“Yes Ana, you are correct. But it also includes all those people who are gentle and kind even in the face of adversity. Who live with peace and love for all, friends and enemies alike. These are the people who bring peace to the world.”

Little Ana nodded knowingly and listened eagerly as her grandmother proceeded:

“Blessed are those who hunger

and thirst for righteousness,

for they shall be filled”.

The old lady said:

“This simply says that all those people who spend their lives searching out and doing the right things in life, such as honesty, goodness, truth and love will achieve full satisfaction”.

Reading on, the old lady confidently said:

“Blessed are the merciful,

for they shall obtain mercy”.

"This is my favorite. Being merciful means being willing to show kindness, compassion, understanding and forgiveness to our neighbors and doing everything to relieve distress and suffering. This is the only way to bring peace in your life and God will reward you in kind."

Ana promptly sat up and, as if suddenly inspired, looked intently at the old lady’s face and said:

“Gramma, is that why you always say ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”

The old lady nodded her head in agreement and continued:

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they shall see God.

“Pure of heart means to be free of any selfish desires or jealousy or scheme to take advantage of others. It means approaching everything with pure love and free from personal gain. In your life you will get to know of a few of these people like Mother Teresa and St. Francis of Assisi and they will inspire you as they have inspired me”.

Ana, jumped up out of her chair, hugged her grandmother tightly and whispered;

"Gramma you are pure of heart, I know that”.

Smilingly gently, the old lady continued:

“Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called sons of God”.

“Peacemakers are not people who are peaceful and avoid problems. But they are people whose hearts are full of peace and love and who spend there lives bringing peace and love to others. They are doing God’s work and that is why they are called children of God”.

Closing her eyes in silent prayer, the old lady then turned to Ana and said:

“This last blessing is meant for all of us, listen":

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you,
and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven,
for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Ana was confused and baffled and with her hands outstretched, asked:

"But gramma, I don’t understand what you mean. No one persecutes me, why should this worry me?"

The old lady held Ana’s hand firmly and said:

“Ana, throughout your life people will try to ridicule you or embarrass you to make you believe what they want you to believe, or do what they want you to do. They will lie or make up false stories or even persecute you. But you must remain honest and steadfast and stand by your beliefs. Always believe, like the prophets of the past, your final reward is the Kingdom of Heaven. That is God’s promise and his blessing”.

Ana, smiling broadly and visibly relieved, kissed her grandmother and as she ran off, she shouted:

"AMEN! AMEN!, Thank you God for Gramma!”

4. THE OLD LADY AND ANA - PSALM 91(Living with God)

The night was particularly dark and gloomy. It had been raining continuously all day with bouts of lightening and thunder so strong that the windows shuddered. The television repeatedly warned of the risk of tornados.
Little Ana sat huddled close to the old lady, visibly frightened, she pleaded with her:

“Please Gramma, I am afraid, why is God causing all of this to happen?”

The Old lady smiling sweetly, calmly sat up and looking intently at the face of her grandchild, whispered reassuringly:

“Don’t ever be afraid of anything bad my child. Always know that God will never leave you alone”

Picking up her trusted bible, she opened it at Psalm 91 and said:

"Let us listen to what God has promised those who believe in him”.

Reading slowly and deliberately:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD,

"He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.

Turning to her grand daughter she said:

“He promises that if you trust in your God and make him your strength and your protector, you will live under his shadow”.

She continued reading:

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare

and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

“God is promising you that in the worst of times when you feel threatened and deadly disease abound, he will cover you with his feathers and shield you with his faithfulness”

Ana, somewhat puzzled, asked:

“But Gramma what can I do when I am afraid like this?

The Old lady held her closer and continued:

You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes

and see the punishment of the wicked.

The old lady lifted her head and looking into Ana's eyes, said:
“God said to us we must not be afraid of anything, be it terror or threats or disease. He promised us that although thousands of others will succumb all around us, it will not happen to us. We will see how the wicked are punished”.

Visibly relieved but still incredulous, Ana asked:

“What does God want us to do so that he can do all this for us?

The Old lady, still smiling shook her head gently and continued:

If you make the Most High your dwelling—

even the LORD, who is my refuge-
then no harm will befall you,

no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“You see Ana, God has told us clearly. If you chose him as your home and protector, he promises that no harm will ever befall you and no disaster will come to you. He will also command his angels to guard you and lift you away from danger and strengthen you so that you could trample the lion and snake, which means your enemies."

Ana’s eyes opened wide with joy as she heard these words. But then she paused for a moment , and with a frown on her small forehead and a very serious tone in her voice asked:

“But Gramma, why would God want to do all this for me?”

The Old lady laughed out loudly and quickly replied:

“You see Ana, God knew you would ask that question and this is his answer:”

Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.
God will do all this if you love him,

acknowledge him and call upon him.

He will respond to you, be with you

and deliver you when you are in trouble.

And he will honor you.

And without pausing, the Old lady continued:

With long life will I satisfy him

and show him my salvation.

At which point, little Ana jumped up, hugged her grandmother as hard as she could and spoke, with a voice full of faith and confidence:

“I know Gramma, God will give me a long life and salvation, if I love and trust him”.

3. THE OLD LADY AND ANA -MATTHEW 6:23-24(Do not Worry)

“Gramma I am very worried” Ana said, looking at her grand mother with a frown borne of genuine concern and anxiety. “My best friend’s daddy has lost his job and might lose his home
and she is crying all the time and I don’t know what to say to her. Why is God not helping them?"

The old lady, sensing stress beyond Ana’s tender age, beckoned her to come sit with her on the couch.
“Let us listen to what God has to say to people who are worried about their lives”.

She then opened her trusted bible to the Gospel of Matthew 6: 25-34, and began to read aloud:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink;
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more important than food,
and the body more important than clothes?

“you see Ana, God is telling you that you need not worry about what you have to eat or drink or wear. None of this is as important to God as your life."

The old lady continued:

“Listen to this, God has more to say”:

Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?

“Have you ever wondered how the birds that fly around get there food. They don’t grow anything and have no home to store anything. They get everything from God. Don’t you think God will do the same for you who is more valuable to him than them.”

Ana nodded her head in approval but still appeared worried and confused. The old lady drew her closer and said;
“Let’s read some more”:

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the lilies of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon
in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,
which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,
will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“God said worry does not help, you don’t live any longer. Also worrying about clothes makes no sense, the beautiful lilies of the field do nothing but get their beauty from God. Even Solomon the wisest king could not match this. And if God will do this for the lilies, don’t think he will do the more for you, his favorite.”

Ana smiled, she was relieved and asked her grandmother, what should she do.
The old lady answered;

“God has the answer, listen”

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?'
or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things,
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

“Notice he said stop worrying about what we eat, or drink or wear, leave that for those who don’t believe in God. You must trust that God knows what you need and he will always provide for you”.

Now, beaming with joy, Ana hugged her grandmother and thanked her for all her help and then asked;

“Gramma, how should I tell my friend not to worry?”

She replied, "God gave us the answer”:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.

“Tell you friend, trust in God and his goodness and know he will provide everything. And do not worry about tomorrow, you have enough to worry about today”.

With eyes wide open and a deep sight of relief, little Ana jumped up, kissed her grand mother and as she ran out of the room, stated loud and clear, for all to hear:

“Thank you God, you are wonderful”.

2. THE OLD LADY AND ANA -PROVERBS 31 (The Virtuous Lady)

It was a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon and the family had all gone out of the house. She was sitting outside in the porch doing what she most enjoys to do; reading and meditating on the word of the Lord. On this occasion she was reading some of her most favorite passages contained in Proverbs 31, often referred to as The Virtuous Woman. She still recalls her first encounter with this passage. She was no more than 9 or 10 years old when Isabelle, her late nanny, read and explained it to her and then prayed with her, asking God to guide her to follow the path of a virtuous woman, so that the world will be proud of her. She never forgot this and has spent all her life trying to follow the advice.

Some time later that afternoon, Ana came out to greet her. She had a glass of milk and a cookie in her hands.

“Gramma, she asked, what is God saying to you today?”

The Old Lady greeted her, asked to sit next to her and said:

“Let me tell you about the story in the bible about a very good woman who lived a long time ago and who God wants us all to be like. It is written in Proverbs 31, and describes what every woman should strive to be in all aspects of their lives. In their personal appearance, their family life and their daily responsibilities, they must strive to obey and live by God’s teachings”.

She continues:

“The passage begins with a description of a Virtuous Woman, a woman of strong character”:

Who can find a wife of noble character?

For her value is far more than rubies.

The heart of her husband has confidence in her,

and he has no lack of gain.

She brings him good and not evilall the days of her life.

She obtains wool and flax,and she is pleased to work with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships;

she brings her food from afar.

She also gets up while it is still night,

and provides food for her household
and a portion to her female servants.

“These words simply describe that a good woman must be honest and strong, must be respected by her family and willing to work hard, hand in hand with her husband to take care of her family and others dependent on her”.

Referring to the woman’s image and appearance, she continues to read:

She makes for herself coverlets;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is well-known in the city gate

when he sits with the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and honor,

and she can laugh at the time to come.

Looking at Ana, the old lady explains:
“A good woman must not only work hard, but must make sure that as she does so, her appearance creates an image that deserves the respect of others and adds to the good name and reputation of her husband and family”.

The old lady continued;

“Remember, however successful you become, God expects you to be charitable and to share your blessings with your poor and needy neighbors”. She then read out these lines:
She extends her hand to the poor,and reaches out her hand to the needy."

Finally, the old lady turns to little Ana and holding her close to her, says with a voice firm with conviction from a life-time of experience of trying to live the good life:

“This is how God expects the good woman to be. She must speak wisely with truth and honesty and she must take care of her household and avoid idle behavior.
And when she does this, her children will raise their voices in appreciation, and her husband will praise her and give her just rewards and announce her praises to all the world as a woman who fears the Lord and who lives by his words”.

She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

The old lady paused for a moment, said a silent pray of praise, and then slowly closed her bible.
Little Ana remained silent for a short while, then as she got up, she turned to her grand mother and, with words of wisdom that belied her tender age, said;

“Gramma, I believe I know what God wants me to be, because I have just heard his voice”

1. THE OLD LADY AND ANA -PSALM 23 (The Psalm of David)

She sat comfortably in her favorite chair, her bible opened at her favorite spot, Psalm 23,
The Psalm of David. As she began reading the first verse, Ana her 9 year old grand daughter came bouncing in. Gramma she asked, why are you always reading that book?
Smiling sweetly, she replied;

“When I read this book, I listen to God speaking to me through his words. Every line in this book has a message from God, if you listen. She continued, Look at this passage, it is called Psalm 23, the Psalm of David”.

Ana came closer and together they read the first line;

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD,

I SHALL NOT WANT.

The old lady paused for a moment, then spoke:

"Just like a shepherd who takes care of his sheep, providing all their needs, so too, God is
Assuring us that he will provide all our needs, care for us, protect us and guide us. We must believe and trust that God will always be there for us”.

HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES,
HE LEADS ME BESIDE QUIET WATERS,
HE RESTORES MY SOUL.

With her hands resting gently on Ana’s shoulders, she continued:

“Again like the good shepherd who takes his sheep to good pastures and provide water and rest, God will provide us with places where we are sustained and refreshed and where we can lift our spirits when we are down”.

HE GUIDES ME IN THE PATHES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE.

Holding Ana’s hands, the old lady continues;

“Like a good shepherd who keeps his sheep from straying away, so God will be there to guide us in the path of a true Christian, whenever we falter."

EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY

OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME,
YOUR ROD AND STAFF COMFORT ME.

Smiling knowingly, she stresses to her granddaughter;

“He reassures us that there will be no need to be afraid for he will be present in our worst
hour, always guiding us and supporting us. He will always be faithful to us’.

YOU PREPARE A TABLE BEFORE ME,

IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES.
YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL,

MY CUP OVERFLOWS.

Raising her voice slightly she assures Ana,

“Like a faithful caring father, God provides us will all our needs in spite of our enemies around us, and he continues to bless us with overflowing bounties”.

SURELY GOODNESS AND LOVE WILL FOLLOW ME

ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE,
AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF MY LORD FOREVER.

With her hands firmly clasped, the old lady paused for a moment to allow Ana time to absorb the information and then she concludes,

“And after all of this, be assured that with God’s blessings, your life will be full of Goodness and Love and with a promise that you will live in his house for eternity”.

At this point Ana, eyes wide open and overwhelmed with awe, looked at her grandmother, and slowly said;

“Gramma thank you for helping me hear God speaking to me. Can you please ask him to come back soon”.

With great joy and happiness, the old lady replied;

“Yes Ana, very soon”.