Hang on for Dear Life!
I was so excited, hardly able to finish my breakfast, just putting in time till she said the magic word!
FINALLY, I perked up my four year old ears as I heard my mom ‘Okay, you can go now.’ My brother almost six at the time was to be my trusty escort all the way down the street to the town’s single tiny general store at the end of the block. We set out on our journey, more incredible to me than THE incredible journey. I had never made this trip on my own before, that is , without my mother or a much older sibling. My ‘grocery’ list consisted of one item; a big, yellow, shiny bubble gumball.
I don’t quite recall but I believe I may have even been salivating at the thought of biting into that minty morsel!
I close my eyes now and allow myself to go back there; the smell of diesel or whatever the fuel used in trains sixty two years ago, was sharp, so sharp it stung my nose a bit. The clanging of heavy metal (no, not a rock band) followed us as we walked down the street which ran parallel to the railway track. My expense account, a penny, brought a damp itch to the sweaty palm of my right hand. The fact that it was mid April and the street was not paved, but rather a channel of sticky gumbo was of little concern as my thoughts were focused on the prize ahead! Little did I know!
The storefront popped into sight and my feet tried to move faster, but the gumbo prevented it.
And suddenly, we had arrived. It didn’t take me long to make my purchase and with my brother having made his choice as well we left the building, headed for home. I’m sure we tried to walk a little faster on the return trip and that may just be what landed us in trouble; as we were approaching our house I went to take a step...and walked right out of my little rubber boot! With my foot all covered in the sticky, brownish clay I turned around and tried to unstick my boot. As I fought to free it the other boot got caught in the same trap and now I was standing mid-calf in the gooey gumbo!
By this time my brother had gone home and alerted my mother, who came to my rescue. I suppose she was able to save my boots but I went home in muddy stockings that were now about ten inches too long at the toes! Do you want to know what was the most amazing thing about my adventure? I never once let go of my bubblegum! No siree! I hung on for dear life because I knew how good it was, in fact could already taste it. I was crying, the tears mixing with the mud and heart breaking because I thought I had lost my boots forever, and was unable to pry them out of the mud one-handedly. But by gum if anything was to stay behind it would not be my gumball!
In my Bible I read an invitation to everyone; Psalm 34:8 says ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him’ I have tasted and I have seen many times over the course of many years that nothing compares to the goodness as I let Him hide me in the middle of a storm, and I’ve been through a few. I am saddened when I see people let go of their faith or their desire to walk with God when hard times come; at a time when they need Him the most. Taste and see! That’s all He asks.
Just like a little four year old girl walked down that muddy street and lost her boots, caking her stockings with the gross, sticky stuff but never letting go of the real ‘treasure’, hang on to Jesus when things go well and when life gets hard. He promises refuge to those who trust in Him; just hang on for dear life.
One of these days I will arrive at the party and I am committed to hang onto the treasure all the way.
As for now I grip that promise and hang on for dear life on my way to the party!
FINALLY, I perked up my four year old ears as I heard my mom ‘Okay, you can go now.’ My brother almost six at the time was to be my trusty escort all the way down the street to the town’s single tiny general store at the end of the block. We set out on our journey, more incredible to me than THE incredible journey. I had never made this trip on my own before, that is , without my mother or a much older sibling. My ‘grocery’ list consisted of one item; a big, yellow, shiny bubble gumball.
I don’t quite recall but I believe I may have even been salivating at the thought of biting into that minty morsel!
I close my eyes now and allow myself to go back there; the smell of diesel or whatever the fuel used in trains sixty two years ago, was sharp, so sharp it stung my nose a bit. The clanging of heavy metal (no, not a rock band) followed us as we walked down the street which ran parallel to the railway track. My expense account, a penny, brought a damp itch to the sweaty palm of my right hand. The fact that it was mid April and the street was not paved, but rather a channel of sticky gumbo was of little concern as my thoughts were focused on the prize ahead! Little did I know!
The storefront popped into sight and my feet tried to move faster, but the gumbo prevented it.
And suddenly, we had arrived. It didn’t take me long to make my purchase and with my brother having made his choice as well we left the building, headed for home. I’m sure we tried to walk a little faster on the return trip and that may just be what landed us in trouble; as we were approaching our house I went to take a step...and walked right out of my little rubber boot! With my foot all covered in the sticky, brownish clay I turned around and tried to unstick my boot. As I fought to free it the other boot got caught in the same trap and now I was standing mid-calf in the gooey gumbo!
By this time my brother had gone home and alerted my mother, who came to my rescue. I suppose she was able to save my boots but I went home in muddy stockings that were now about ten inches too long at the toes! Do you want to know what was the most amazing thing about my adventure? I never once let go of my bubblegum! No siree! I hung on for dear life because I knew how good it was, in fact could already taste it. I was crying, the tears mixing with the mud and heart breaking because I thought I had lost my boots forever, and was unable to pry them out of the mud one-handedly. But by gum if anything was to stay behind it would not be my gumball!
In my Bible I read an invitation to everyone; Psalm 34:8 says ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him’ I have tasted and I have seen many times over the course of many years that nothing compares to the goodness as I let Him hide me in the middle of a storm, and I’ve been through a few. I am saddened when I see people let go of their faith or their desire to walk with God when hard times come; at a time when they need Him the most. Taste and see! That’s all He asks.
Just like a little four year old girl walked down that muddy street and lost her boots, caking her stockings with the gross, sticky stuff but never letting go of the real ‘treasure’, hang on to Jesus when things go well and when life gets hard. He promises refuge to those who trust in Him; just hang on for dear life.
One of these days I will arrive at the party and I am committed to hang onto the treasure all the way.
As for now I grip that promise and hang on for dear life on my way to the party!
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