Norman Vincent Peale might’ve been a famous preacher and author, but he was Grandpa to me. We grew up a half mile from their farm in upstate New York. Grandma would serve up her world famous hamburger noodle casserole. Grandpa told us stories about an imaginary trio named Larry, Harry and Perry who had adventures all over the world.
My grandparents traveled a lot. I wasn’t sure why. Then in third grade I was asked to do a report on peacocks. I went to the encyclopedia and found the entry. On the facing page was an article on “Peale, Norman Vincent.”
I asked my teacher Mrs. Bortle who this famous person was with Grandpa’s name. Could this really be the same man whose lap I sat on?
“This is your grandfather,” Mrs. Bortle said. “You should be proud.”
Over the years I learned more about what my grandparents did, how they started the magazine you’re reading, for one. I recognized some of the famous people in photos with them, but they were still Grandpa and Grandma to me. Maybe that’s because they always put family ahead of everything else.
Grandpa died in 1993, Grandma just four years ago. I’m so glad my children got to sit in her lap, hear her stories and eat her hamburger noodle casserole. She and my mom introduced me to the good work Guideposts does, how it’s more than a magazine.
There are ministries like OurPrayer, spreading the power of prayer worldwide with over 700,000 requests prayed for by name and need each year. There is military outreach, distributing free material to our soldiers.
I’m now getting involved in this outreach part of Guideposts, following in the footsteps of Mom and Grandma. The reach of Guideposts might surprise you. It did me. Just like an encyclopedia entry in volume “P.”
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