Ancient Paths ~ Part 1

        Since we’ve left the old year behind and entered a new one, we look forward. Right?

        But what about looking back? Should we? Seems so when we travel back to biblical Jerusalem in Jeremiah’s time and see what was going on there.

        No wonder this man was known as “the weeping prophet” as he witnessed the Jewish people repeatedly turning against God. And how many chapters in the Book of Jeremiah does God say He will discipline them but not utterly destroy them?

        But the people fail to heed God’s Words via Jeremiah. Still by Chapter 6 & Verse 16 God gives these ones who are so precious to Him (yet outright disobedient) excellent guidance.

Thus says the LORD: “‘Stand by the ways and see

and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it;

And you will find rest for your souls.’”

 

        Ancient paths. Ways known to the people. Traveled before the time they turned their backs and hearts away from God. Had they forgotten how He guided them? Showed them right from wrong? Rescued them? Met them in worship? Gave rest in their utter weariness?

 

        Yes, they did. Still, in looking back and beckoning them to embrace the old paths—the former ways—God had good for them, rest, restoration, spiritual renewal, and the promise that this return would benefit them in the very best way possible.

        Further on in Jeremiah, the Lord again expresses the desire of His Heart—for His people to return to the ancient paths.

        There are other times in God’s Word where He told the Jewish people to, for example, build an altar that would actually end up under water but serve as a remembrance—a looking back—how God led them, saved them from drowning, carried them forward.

        Our very patient God didn’t give up! He doesn’t quit on us. And He won’t give up on you either.

        Look for the “ancient paths,” dear readers! They will remind you, encourage you, bolster your faith, provide rest and refuge for your soul!

        The ancient paths are where we met good, laid the cornerstone of our faith, learned morals, understood the importance of godliness, and embraced God’s guidance—paths that are still there for our return, if we just remember and backtrack.

         In contemplating this call for us to return, I consider the path our world is on. Our nation, in particular, as we celebrate this 250^th anniversary of our birth.

        Our forefathers prayed over this United States of America—a covenant nation, founded on God and His Ways. If it were possible for them to “turn in their graves,” I’m sure they’d be doing so now—for we’ve neglected the old path they carved out for us, clearing the way to build this great nation’s foundation on God—just like the Jewish people in Jeremiah’s time did. No mistaking their rebellion, as they state at the close of Jeremiah 6:16:

But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

        Talk about gall! Can you even comprehend facing God (which is what they were doing through the prophet who spoke for Him) and raising a verbal fist to His Face???    

          Oh wait. Yes, we can imagine it. Sounds familiar. If any of you’ve watched the news lately, there are great crowds of people standing against In-God-We-Trust. What a tragedy that this is the state of so many in our nation—our “under God” covenant country.

         How did this happen? The people forgot the old paths (or choose not to return to them), disregarded the teachings they might have learned there (or weren’t taught), rejected God’s guidance in exchange for their own sinful ways (even embracing “false gods” instead).

        There is Hope, though! There always is. For God is still beckoning His creations to visit the ancient paths—urging them to spend time there rest in Him, and heed to the guidance of the One Who leads the way onward.

           Oh, that we of this nation will turn back, seek and find the old ways, and carry those with us as we move forward onto the path lying before us!

        And, oh, that we who claim to love the Lord with all our hearts will not neglect what we learned and experienced from our times on the ancient paths as we travel onward!

Show Us the Ancient Paths (by Tom Inglis)

Show Us The Ancient Path - Tom Inglis

#ancientpaths #Godleading #Godshowstheway #rebellion #Jeremiah #weepingprophet

#UnitedStates #covenantnation

 

*NASB /  Photo credit: aninspiredpencil.com 

A “Dirty-Bird” Blessing

Dear Hubby,

        At this time of your 70^th birthday, I couldn’t find a Hallmark greeting with the sentiments I wish to share; so, this post is your “card.” It starts out very un-like a Hallmark though (and perhaps fails to do so overall—oh well).

        The biblical account of Elijah on Mount Carmel is one of your favorites—the prophet challenging King Ahab to prove his and his wife’s god, Baal, was the true one. Of course, they and their hundreds of prophets could not.

        Elijah would prove to them God was God, and that’s just what happened. Baal did not produce fire to burn the sacrifice on his altar, and nothing—absolutely nothing—the false prophets did succeeded because, to put it bluntly, Baal did not even exist.

        Next: Moses’ turn and wow! What had up till then been an all-day wait happened quickly. Elijah prayed to God to reign down fire on the totally saturated altar and dug-out area around it.

        God did what seemed impossible. Not only was the sacrifice on the alter consumed but so were the rocks and all the water!

        I remembered what happened after this account, but I forgot the timing of all prior.

        Jumping back a chapter, I reread about God directing Elijah to go into the wilderness, camp by the brook Cherith, and let God provide for him in a time when severe drought had come upon the promised land because of the people’s unbelief.

        God tells Elijah that He directed ravens to feed him.

        Ravens? Really? Dirty birds? Defiled in the eyes of the Jews?

        Yes.

        I might have wondered about my meals being delivered by filthy foul, but Elijah obeyed, and God kept His promise. Elijah drank from the brook and enjoyed his bread and meat in the morning and again in the evening. Every day until the brook dried up.

        Then God told Elijah the next step to take.

        How interesting that what followed involved a widow and her son who didn’t have enough food for themselves yet alone to share with Elijah, as he instructed of them. But, hadn’t God just proven He provides—even by dirty-bird delivery? Fresh on full-stomached Elijah’s mind was the fact God does what He says (and I wonder if he smiled at the memory of those birds).

        Minus the dirty birds this time, God provides all the ingredients the widow needs to feed the three of them.

        Then the woman’s only child dies.

        What does God do? Answers Elijah’s prayer for The Almighty to raise the child (and I’m sure the boy’s mother cried out to God for this also). I don’t believe the prophet was shy asking God such a huge request. After all, he knew God could do anything by any means.

        Next, God sends Elijah on another mission—all this prior to the prophet’s meeting with Ahab on Mount Carmel where God does the miracle mentioned earlier.

        Imagine the stunned on-lookers on the mount. Even the false prophets had to admit there was a true God, and that wasn’t Baal.

        But the enemy detests being proven wrong, so he makes sure Elijah’s courage flees along with him when that no-good, evil, crazed woman, Queen Jezebel, sets out to take care of that man of God who just caused her to lose face, not to mention all her false prophets who were slain.

        But God shows up to minister to Elijah—quietly. Asking questions to help Elijah. Counseling him. God knew Elijah was exhausted from ministry. And Jehovah Jireh, Who not only ordered dirty birds to deliver meals to meet Elijah’s physical needs, now ministered to his emotional and spiritual ones too. He also told Elijah it was time to pass the mantle. Retire. Elisha’s turn.

        Oh, dear hubby, I almost weep at this point in writing because I recall the more-times-than-we-could-count when Jehovah Jirah cared for us one way or another—even using dirty-bird equivalents! And He’s comforted us in our most hurting times. In times we thought we’d die—just like Elijah cried out to God after the Mount Carmel contest. And, oh, how very tired we’ve been at times! Perhaps the time isn’t far off when we, too, will pass the mantle.

        You’ve now reached this milestone birthday. Looking back, there are so many times God used “unconventional means” in your life and the ministry. Yet God has proven faithful in and through all.

        I give you this blessing as you step into a new year of challenges, assignments, time in wildernesses, rest beside brooks, and maybe even a few more dirty-bird experiences if that’s what God has in store.

A “Dirty-Bird” Blessing

May challenges you face in your next decade minister to your soul and produce growth.

May unexpected times of harm bring to your mind God’s means, using these for the good.

May you always recall God surrounding you in near-death times.

May seasons of drought spring forth fountains of joy.

May your wilderness experiences affirm your message to others—

that God always cares—always provides.

May those who serve baals shutter at the sight of the Army of God surrounding you.

May you always have praise on your lips and carry hope for the ones

who’ve come to know the Lord through your being obedient.

May you not forget the battle is the Lord’s in Whom there is victory over death,

and may you experience His peace until and beyond the passing of the mantle.

Amen.

 

So Send I You** by Outreach Quartet, 1999

11 So Send I You

 

        Lovingly ~ always,

       Wifey

 

#birthday #Elijah #ravens #JehovahJireh #Godprovides #blessing #faithful #missionary #ministry

 

*These accounts of Elijah are found in I Kings 17-20.

**Written by E. Margaret Clarkson—lyrics & John W. Peterson—melody, 1964

Photo Credit: godsverse.org

Putting Away Jesus

     Growing up, we didn’t celebrate Epiphany in our church although I had aunts and uncles whose churches did. We were aware, though, January 6^th was the date for remembering arrival of the wise men to worship the Child Jesus. Other than that, we didn’t keep all the Christmas décor out that long.

     At one time we had an Asian pastor and wife who kept their Christmas decorations out until after Chinese New Year.

     When we lived in Appalachia, many folk there set up and decorated their Christmas tree November 1^st and took them down by December 26^th.

     I guess you can say our experiences living in different locations and varied cultures introduced us to several timetables in regard to the whens of Christmas.

     For us? Mostly we struggle to get a tree up and all the rest by mid-December, and I admit—I’m ready to put it away by Christmas. I mean, hey, it’s been up a whole 2–3 weeks! (I do hold on until the others in our household are ready though.)

     One of our most special Christmas “somethings” is an olive wood nativity set my parents gave us for our 1^st Christmas as a married couple. When I pack it away, I make sure each piece has some type of protection around it just in case there’s an earthquake, the house collapses, or a disaster happens but never has. And I’m especially careful to wrap the Infant Jesus with his animal-feeding-trough bed so He will be ready for next year when we again remember this is all about Him.

     Then it’s time to put away Jesus.

     Put away Jesus? Is that what I do when I pack Him amongst our other Christmas decor?

     I’ve thought a lot about this for some reason—perhaps more than in previous years.

     In the weeks leading up to this holy time, I’ve answered the so-are-you-ready-for-Christmas question the same. “Yes,” I smile and say, “because I have Jesus in my life, so it’s always Christmas!”

     But do I live like Jesus is foremost in the hundreds of days moving forward?

     There are times I fail to treasure the Gift of Him. The Gift of all He’s done for me. The Gift of being able to commune with Him whenever I need to or just desire to do so. The soaking in of His Word.

     Jesus—the olive-wood, tiny-infant Him—is now neatly packed and shelved along with His mother, stepfather, an angel, shepherds, sheep, an ox, a donkey, and wise men (who, by the way, never arrive at our nativity in the 2–3 weeks we have Jesus unpacked, being they come from the east and take much longer to get there).

     May I remind myself every day of this coming year to keep Jesus—Redeemer of the world but also my personal Savior—foremost in my thoughts, decisions, prayers, reading of His Word…

     …and may I remember to introduce Him to a world full of people who’ve packed Him away or may not have even invited Him to His Birthday Party at all.

     My prayer for you, dear reader? That you will remember Jesus every day of 2026!

All Year Long sung by Larnelle Harris

All Year Long

 

#Christmas #Epiphany #Jesus #nativity #decorations #newyear #hope

 

Photo Credit: Infant Jesus—Etsy, 2026 calendar—free-calendar.su

Silence ~ Then…Boom!

     Four-hundred years.

     One-hundred-forty-six-thousand days.

     God—silent. Why? His people—the apple of His Eye, the ones He created to love Him and enjoy Him forever, the nation of promise—turned away from Him.

     Repeatedly. So many times that God finally said, “Enough.” And His silence “deaf ears.” The ears of the ones not listening or seeking.

     Until… 

     God sent a heavenly messenger to Zachariah who spent his days worshipping Him—Hashem*. In fact, he was a priest. High priest. One who carried out his “duties” with a heart devoted to the calling he was given. And this timely visit happened while Zachariah offered the sacrifice at the altar.

     God’s silence ending.

     Then why did Zachariah doubt what God was about to do? Bless this elderly couple (who up until this time were unable to conceive) with a son**? He knew the Scriptures, what God had done. Miracle after miracle. His wife did too.

     Yet, the angel Gabriel’s message did not compute. And, because of this disbelief, Zachariah would be unable to speak until his and Elizabeth’s son’s brit***.

     Silent—281 days (or there abouts).

     Then God sends Gabriel to deliver yet another astounding message to a virgin—a morally-pure, teen-aged girl.

     The most astounding announcement of all time.

     Ever!

     The message? Mary, who loved Hashem with all her heart, would become with child through a miracle by the Divine. She’d bear a son named Jesus, and this Child would be…

     …the Savior of the world!

     Unlike her cousin-in-law Zachariah, Mary praised God with a song from her heart for choosing her to bear this Child Who would change…

     …Everything!

     Then there was the visit to Joseph. He certainly looked to be facing the toughest decision of his life amidst the gossip and character assassination he must’ve endured when word got out that—

     What!!! His betrothed was pregnant???

     So, what does God do? He again sends Gabriel to minister to Joseph through a dream and assures him this is all going to be fine.

     More than fine. Part of the divine plan. 

     But the messages from the 400-year, no-longer-silent God weren’t over yet. He sends Gabriel again to proclaim to the lowliest of the low—stinky, poor, but faithful shepherds. And not only do they experience this single beaming angel, but God sends out the choir!

     The heavenly hosts! Praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest…”

     Why write this to you—many of you who likely know more about the deep theology behind it all and have heard the announcements read over and over again?

     Or maybe you haven’t.

     My husband and I were relaxing, listening to Christmas music. The old carols in particular draw my attention because of the depth of the message in many of them. I was taken aback by such words even though I’ve heard them hundreds of times.

     But between the songs, I turned to Brian and said, “I’ve been thinking about the 400 years when God was silent. Can you remind me if that all happened just prior to the events we’re remembering now—the pronouncements?”

     “Yes,” he said thoughtfully, “starting with Zachariah.”

     “Thinking of this, I cannot fathom for the life of me God being silent all that time. I mean, I can’t even imagine Him being silent one single day, and then…Boom!”

     “Boom?” asked Brian giving me the odd look he tends to at times. (You’d have to know us.)

     “Bursts of Hope! Like an unexpected meteor shower or something! All of a sudden! So close together when you think of Gabriel’s visits! This astounds me!”

     “Yes, it really does,” he agreed.

     Yes.

     It really does.

     We live in times where it might seem God is again silent. Times when the people He’s created do not acknowledge Him. Turn away from Him. Do evil upon evil to the point of killing each other, setting up false gods to replace Him, and more.

     Is the “silence” God weeping? Waiting?

     Is the silence us not paying attention?

     As we come upon this Christmas time, may we who love God—the wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace—celebrate His birth and the reason for His coming with hearts bursting with Hope—

     Like a meteor shower or something!

     If you’re going through a season in your life where you cannot hear God and think Him silent, be like those shepherds on the hillside outside Bethlehem.

     That was a silent night, once the sheep were all settled for the night. Oh, maybe an occasional bleating from a suckling lamb searching for its mother’s milk.

     Silence doesn’t mean God is not there. You may not expect it—but if you seek Him, you will find Him.

     BOOM!

     A meteor shower of Hope to the world!

     God With Us! 

     Emmanuel! 

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n!

So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav’n.

No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

 

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

 

(from O Little Town of Bethlehem by Phillips Brooks, 1868, public domain)

 

#Godsilent400years #Christmas #ZachariahElizabeth #Hashem #MaryJoseph

#JesusSavior #EmmanuelGodWithUs #shepherds

 

 

*”The Name”—the Hebrew word that devout/orthodox Jews use when mentioning God,

   believing Him too holy to even be called “God/Yahweh/Jehovah” also writing “G-d” or “Hashem” in reverence

**the one known as John the Baptist, sent by God and anointed to “prepare the way of the Lord”

***Jewish ceremony when 8-day-old baby boys are circumcised and their names announced

 

Photo Credit: freeBibleimages.org 

World Turned Upside Down

       Just prior to Thanksgiving I managed to break out with shingles. I learned from the doctor (who diagnosed this itching, stabbing, burning rash) I was contagious. Oh bother.

        This changed plans a bit, but I must admit gladly so. You see, I was supposed to go Walmart grocery shopping and take our son who absolutely loves exploring that store repeatedly. I am not, however, a great fan of shopping—anywhere!

        I didn’t want to let Min down, so we decided I’d use the Pick-Up option to get groceries we needed so he could have his moments of wonder and excitement inside the store.

        I went over the change in our regular routine, as our son needs this each and every time we do just about anything. “This time I’m going to pull up and let you out to go in the store on your own.”

        “Okay,” Min said with a smile (as much of a smile as he wears as he isn’t a huge smiler), “and I’ll be responsible and grown-up, and I will call you when I’m done. Right?

        “Yes,” I said. “Do that because I’m going to park further down the lot after I pick up our groceries.”

        So, plan in place, I got the food then pulled into an empty space further down the parking lot than usual. I whistled tunes a while then found myself daydreaming, when I spotted something that made me smile.

        Across the way stood a cart return. There are many of those in the lot, all with a grocery cart logo on top. The sign on this particular bay, however, had slipped, leaving the shopping cart logo upside-down.

        I chuckled. Didn’t the shoppers get the message? They all put their carts in there right-side up. I laughed again. Such rebellion! Then my phone rang.

        “I’m done,” our son said on the other end. “I’m coming out the food-end door.”

        “Okay! I’ll be there in a minute.” I started the car, pulled out, and went to picked up Min.

        He loaded his bags in back then climbed into the car.

        “Do you know how to take pictures on a phone?” I asked, thinking we’d done this a time or two before but not remembering how. (I’m seriously techno-challenged.)

        “Yeah.”

        “Well, can you take one for me please? I saw something I thought was funny.”

        “Yeah.”

        I drove back to where the rebellious shoppers parked their carts right-side up and pulled the car sideways so Min could take the picture.

        Min gave me a blank look.

        “I know. I’ve lost my mind, but I thought it was funny that no one put their cart in the bay upside down.

        “Oh,” Min said. “It should match, right?”

        “Exactly!”

        Then Min smiled big. He took the picture then passed me the phone. “Can I go over there and turn a cart upside down?” He asked. “That’s funny.”

        “Okay. Then I’ll take your picture.”

        Min got out, flipped the cart upside down, and gave me a thumbs up.

        I indicated when the task was completed, and he turned the cart upright and parked it in the bay.

        “Rebel!” I yelled out the window.

        He came over to the car, got in and buckled his seatbelt. “What are you going to do with the pictures?”

        “Oooh, I dunno. Maybe nothing. Maybe get some idea for a blog post.”

        “Maybe we should use carts upside down,” Min said.

        “Cheaper that way! And shop on our heads!”

        “Can we do that?” he asked.

        “I hardly think so.”

        Okay! Insane moments! I admit it. (What else is new?) But, if you think about it, my ridicu-litis could be credible. After all, the Walmart rebels? Some shop in pajamas, ya know. So, who’s to say there’s not an actual rebellion going on!

        I did come up with a reason to use this experience in my blog, which you’ve already discovered if you read this far, you who don’t park your shopping carts upside down.

        I got to thinkin’ about our upside-down world vs. the one I grew up in scores of years ago. Your world too? Let me "splain"…

        Visualize a pyramid! The bottom wide, the top a point. A stable structure, like the pyramids in Egypt—standing firm over 1000s of years. If you were to take one of those (if you could, which you can’t, but if you could) and turn it upside down and rest it on its point. The structure would tumble and break apart. If it didn’t initially tumble, the point would shatter under the pressure.

        Now think of the pyramid as an illustration, as we were taught and believed (and still do) that man and woman are at the bottom of a pyramid with God at the top—God being the utmost as He should be represented. King of kings, Lord of lords, supreme!

        Over the years, the fall of man (caused by sin) has done a 180 to that pyramid. Now man and woman are portrayed as most import along with every form of false teaching they’ve used for building their pyramid. They are still on what had been the base of the pyramid before, but now God—Who was/is on the point now sits at the bottom tip.

        That’s what we’ve done with God. Humanism, environmental teaching that earth is our mother, cults, sexual revolution, moral fall, etc. have all played a part in the once strong pyramid being inverted. God is now portrayed as small. Weak. Man and woman—all-powerful—now are at the top. Playing God. But…

        That structure can’t stand forever. In fact, it tumbles easily. Remember. The pyramid cannot balance on its tip and will topple, becoming rubble.

        How did this happen?

        Rebellion. Real rebellion. (Not like the people who didn’t park their carts in obedience to an inverted sign.)

        We live in dangerous times. Nearly godless times.

        Oh, there are those who hold solidly to the Word of God—their foundation, and there are genuine revivals breaking out—praise the Lord. But for the most part, the grounded believers are percentage-wise smaller than the masses.

        One example of this has to do with shopping, believe it or not.

        Have you noticed, as Christmas approaches, stores and ads show more and more “things” you can buy and don’t show or mention Jesus—the Reason for the season? Have you noticed each year Jesus gets pushed further and further away from the time of year we should be coming to “let us adore Him?”

        This is a part of the inverted pyramid. Making God small. Making “things” big—“must haves.”

        I, for one, almost feel like scrapping Christmas gifts altogether. Call me a Scrooge. A Grinch. But it hurts my heart to see Jesus ignored. Kept in storage. And, if He does show up on a shelf, for example, in Walmart, He is quite alone.

        May I encourage you to keep your hearts upright? To above all put Jesus in your “cart” this Christmas? And fill your heart-cart with gifts for the Savior?

        After all, it is His Birthday!

No Room / Have You Any Room for Jesus?

Evie Tornquist - No Room - Have You Any Room For Jesus

 #shopping #rebellion #pyramid #forgettingJesusbirthday #Christmas 

Photo Credit: Nativity~pixabay.com

Devotion

          This week is our wedding anniversary. Forty-seven years ago, we made promises to each other—to love, cherish and more. The preacher who married us included that we pledge our abiding devotion.

          And we did.

          I’ve thought a lot about that part of our commitment—the abiding devotion part, and I’m brought back to the times in our marriage that were good but also the struggles. Marriage—the good, solid kind—is hard work, and that’s where abiding devotion comes into play. That commitment to be one before God no matter what happens.

          No. Matter. What.

          So, because my husband was committed to me and I to him, we weathered storms and came out the other side still thanking God for bringing us together. Why? Because I can’t imagine having done these forty-seven years alone. Not without Brian and certainly not without the Lord.

          Some of our anniversaries have found us in strange places. One even separated us by several countries’ borders. And this year, after an over-flowing year of medical challenges, we’ll “celebrate” in a surgeon’s office far from home.

          Because we’ve had some “very interesting” anniversaries, this one didn’t seem particularly odd. We’ve always managed to plan a dinner out or have a special dessert at another time. I guess we could have thought, Why don’t we get a break? We could have thought that. We might have.

          Then this happened...

          We received a wedding invitation from a girl we’ve known since she was born and her fiancé who we’ve gotten to know by mail. You see, Naomi and Nick* were engaged several years ago, but…

          …something happened. Prior to their engagement, Nick took a wrong turn and found himself sentenced to a penitentiary. This is where I came into Nick’s story because Naomi shared about him, their being apart, and how hard life was now that he was incarcerated.

          I offered to write to Nick. That’s how we “got acquainted”—through our once-in-a-while exchange of letters. What I learned from Nick’s letters? He was full of information, very smart and interesting, sociable, and so in love with Naomi who wrote to him every day. He also was clinging to the Lord and hanging tight to his faith, despite the opposition behind bars.

          So, when we received Nick and Naomi’s wedding invitation, we rejoiced that the groom was now free and ready to start a new life. But…

          …then I read their invitation aloud to Brian:

“With joy in our hearts, we are excited to announce

our upcoming wedding…It won’t be a typical wedding—

no bouquet toss, no dance floor, no cake. Just heartfelt vows,

faithful commitment, and a lot of love.

Because we can only have four witnesses present,

we’re asking the rest of our family and friends to celebrate with us

in spirit on our wedding day. Pray for us…

After a long engagement, we’re thrilled to be joined in marriage,

even at the prison. Thank you for walking beside us the last seven years.

God’s faithfulness has carried us every step of the way:

through separation, struggle, and the long refining road of grace.

This marriage is a testimony to His mercy, redemption,

and the love that holds all things together.”

“I have found the one whom my soul loves.” Song of Solomon 3:4

…and to say I got through without totally choking and flooding with tears? Impossible. But here’s what struck me, and I shared this with Brian.

          “This is what marriage is all about.”

          I’m not sure our abiding devotion holds a candle to Naomi and Nick’s, even though our marriage went through so much that psychologists would’ve given us a 0% chance of survival.

          Nick and Naomi. Already a long-lived relationship while a bride-to-be sacrificed years of her life for the one she knew was God’s man for her. Waiting. Separated by distance, locks, and prison bars.

          Devotion.

          Then we took our developmentally disabled son for his annual oncology appointment. We sat waiting for some time between two appointments—one for labs and the other to see the doctor. So, we saw people come and go—all of them with their own difficult stories.

          Then this happened…

          A couple stepped out of the elevator, she shuffling and holding onto her husband’s arm. They sat facing us. The wife immediately sprawled across the couch-like seat, laid her head on her husband’s lap, and closed her eyes.

          No doubt which was the patient to be seen that day.

          The husband gently stroked her arm, kissed the palm of his other hand, and placed it on her head for a moment. He looked toward her closed eyes, dosed off, and awoke to make sure his bride was as comfortable as possible—again stroking her arm. Repeatedly. Tenderly.

          Both weary. Both sharing the burden.

          We didn’t wonder if this couple loved one another. Not for a second. What we witnessed?

          Devotion.

          And, again I turned to Brian, eyes filled with tears and voice quivering. “That’s what marriage is all about.”

          He nodded.

          I’ve learned lessons this year. From Nick and Naomi. From a couple whose names we don’t know, and from reflecting back on the day we took our vows and, amongst the other things, pledged…

          Abiding devotion.

          The following hymn—loved by so very many—may sound like a groom writing to his bride, but Rev. Matheson had no bride. He wrote it on the eve of his sister’s marriage—the one who’d helped him through his years of blindness.

          That evening Rev. Matheson fell into deep melancholy. Whether because of losing his sister as a loving aide or thinking back to when he was much younger or both.

          You see, the reverend, who’d struggled with his eyesight all his years, once was engaged to be married. His eyes had worsened to the point he was told he’d become blind. When he shared this news with his intended, she broke their engagement because she was quite sure she couldn’t cope with a blind husband.

          About penning the words to this hymn, Rev. Matheson said, “Something happened to me…which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that suffering…I had the impression rather of having it dictated to me by some inward voice…this came like a dayspring from on high…”

O Love that Will Not Let Me Go

 

Bill & Gloria Gaither - O Love That Will Not Let Me Go [Live] ft. Gaither Vocal Band

 

O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

 

O Light that follows all my way, I yield my flick’ring torch to thee,

My heart restores its borrowed ray, that in thy sunshine’s blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be.

 

O Joy that seekest me thru’ pain, I cannot close my heart to thee;

I trace the rainbow thru’ the rain and feel the promise is not vain

That morn shall tearless be.

 

O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee;

I lay in dust life’s glory dead, and from the ground there blossoms red

Like that shall endless be.

 

(from the original hymn, O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go, by George Matheson, 1882, public domain)

#devotion #marriage #anniversary #prison #cancer #lifestruggles #commitment #vows

 

*Thank you, Nick & Naomi, for permission to include your love story. You are a blessing!