The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philemon 1:7, “For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love,

because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.”

Onesimus was a slave owned by Archippus. He had escaped and ended

up with Paul. Paul knew Onesimus needed to return to his master, but he

wanted to pave the way to eliminate any harsh punishment that he might

encounter for having run away. Archippus was a Christian man, so Paul

appealed to Archippus’ loving nature in the effort to spare Onesimus.

There is no greater power anywhere than the power of love.

Sometime last night during my sleep, I had a dream. I dreamed that two

young people living on my street were being virtually hidden from view by

their parents because they were autistic. But, for a brief moment they were

outside, so I hurried to them and hugged them both to show them love.

In reality, I met an autistic girl the other day when I was working out at the

Fitness Center in Fayetteville. She just smiled continually, as the instructor

helped her on one of the exercise machines. I walked up to her said, “You

are having much too much fun, girl.” Her smile was “pasted” on her face,

but she reached out to me and I took her hand. It was a love connection.

Think about how love acts and how much it accomplishes. Someone

sees an accident and calls an ambulance. Why? He doesn’t know the

person who has been injured. Why would he even get involved? Love.

A house is on fire, and someone just driving by calls for help. Why does

he get involved? Love. Neither may know he is acting in love, but it is

love that wants to help. Interestingly, too, is the fact that angry people

don’t know how to respond to love. They usually just go away. The

next time you find yourself in a conflict, show love and just see what

happens.

We LOVE you and pray for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas