Human life is like grass. We grow like a flower in the field. After the wind blows, the flower is gone, and there is no sign of where it was. But the Lord's love for those who respect Him continues forever and ever, and His goodness continues to their grandchildren, and to those who keep His agreement and who remember to obey His orders. (Verses 15-18)
On April 10, 1979, we closed escrow on our new home in Wichita Falls, Texas. We were moving back to Texas from California and were staying in a motel in downtown Wichita Falls. I was unfamiliar with the town, so my daughters and I spent the morning discovering where the local bank was located, and the grocery store, the Jo-Ann's Fabric store (I made all our clothes back then), the dry cleaners...every place I knew we'd be needing in the coming weeks. We visited our new home once more before we headed back to have dinner at the Wendy's restaurant (term used loosely) near the motel. The dark green storm clouds were whirling even then, curling into tiny funnels. By the time we got downtown, the tornado sirens were blaring and we were forced into the meat locker at Wendy's while an F-4 tornado ripped our side of town to shreds. In the morning light of the next day, as we traveled back to our house, the devastation was absolute and seemingly random. Like an enormous monster movie giant had crashed through the southwest side of town stomping it down with his weight and bulk. Our home was still standing. Only lost a few shingles. While others a block away had been carried completely away by the storm. Gone as if they'd never been there. As were the grocery store, the bank (except for the vault the brick structure was simply gone), and every other landmark my children and I had discovered the day before. Vanished in the wind. Bricks and semis. Homes and office buildings. Taken up into the sky and deposited in desultory fierceness somewhere else. There one moment and gone the next. With no sign, save the cleared foundations, that anything had been there.
Our lives are like that. Bill and I were speaking last night of deaths of his sister and her husband. He was near death from pancreatic cancer. Had days left. Everyone wondering what his sister would do without her husband of forty years. Pati got up on a Monday morning and staggered out of her bedroom, needing help. Fell against the hallway wall. Asked for her phone which by then she couldn't see. And then she was gone. Just like that. Tom left this world ten days later. And it was over. There isn't a trace of them now. Home sold. Belongings dispersed. Only the memory of who they were. Flowers taken by the wind. Uprooted.
We are evanescent. Built to die. But the love of God continues into forever from forever and is lavished on Earth and into eternity upon those who love Him. A simple promise filled with unbelievable hope. When I'm gone, I can be assured that His love for me does and will extend to my grandchildren. I love and obey Christ and He is so thrilled by that, He will bless my kids and their kids. Nothing can blow that love away. It's indestructible and sure. And here's what I think. If we love the Lord now with all our hearts, bless Him with our whole beings, we are reflecting to our children God's glory, which is His goodness. Our obedience doesn't necessarily assure our children of salvation, as they come to Christ themselves, but it does give them a world rich with the cream obedience out of love for Christ brings to the top. Our children should live in the sweet overflow of our faith and joy. They should feel alienated and strange in a different world. Like paupers when they are princes and princesses. And they should come running home if they do stray. Because obedience and love for Christ has benefits! Remember? Forgiveness of sins, healing of diseases, salvation from our pit dwelling, crowns because of love and mercy, renewed strength for this life and satisfaction loaded with good things. Lavish love. Unbridled mercy. Protection, peace and joy. The ice cream of life fed to us by the hand of God. If we are living life to the fullest, which can't be done without obedience to our benevolent Father, our kids should be basking in the Sonshine every day. And want that for themselves.
And we don't vanish forever. We transition. Unlike the flower, forgotten and replaced by its seeds, we live on to enjoy, face to face, our Father and His kingdom. Hanging fruit, a mighty rushing river, a city glistening with colored jewels, massive choirs of angels, breathtaking vistas and quiet oases and, in the middle of it all, Jesus, waiting with open arms to show us our new home. A home that winds can't blow away. A life now safe with Him. And joy unspeakable and full of glory. We obeyed because He died. We follow His rules because we love Him. We live forever because He lives forever. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits!
On April 10, 1979, we closed escrow on our new home in Wichita Falls, Texas. We were moving back to Texas from California and were staying in a motel in downtown Wichita Falls. I was unfamiliar with the town, so my daughters and I spent the morning discovering where the local bank was located, and the grocery store, the Jo-Ann's Fabric store (I made all our clothes back then), the dry cleaners...every place I knew we'd be needing in the coming weeks. We visited our new home once more before we headed back to have dinner at the Wendy's restaurant (term used loosely) near the motel. The dark green storm clouds were whirling even then, curling into tiny funnels. By the time we got downtown, the tornado sirens were blaring and we were forced into the meat locker at Wendy's while an F-4 tornado ripped our side of town to shreds. In the morning light of the next day, as we traveled back to our house, the devastation was absolute and seemingly random. Like an enormous monster movie giant had crashed through the southwest side of town stomping it down with his weight and bulk. Our home was still standing. Only lost a few shingles. While others a block away had been carried completely away by the storm. Gone as if they'd never been there. As were the grocery store, the bank (except for the vault the brick structure was simply gone), and every other landmark my children and I had discovered the day before. Vanished in the wind. Bricks and semis. Homes and office buildings. Taken up into the sky and deposited in desultory fierceness somewhere else. There one moment and gone the next. With no sign, save the cleared foundations, that anything had been there.
Our lives are like that. Bill and I were speaking last night of deaths of his sister and her husband. He was near death from pancreatic cancer. Had days left. Everyone wondering what his sister would do without her husband of forty years. Pati got up on a Monday morning and staggered out of her bedroom, needing help. Fell against the hallway wall. Asked for her phone which by then she couldn't see. And then she was gone. Just like that. Tom left this world ten days later. And it was over. There isn't a trace of them now. Home sold. Belongings dispersed. Only the memory of who they were. Flowers taken by the wind. Uprooted.
We are evanescent. Built to die. But the love of God continues into forever from forever and is lavished on Earth and into eternity upon those who love Him. A simple promise filled with unbelievable hope. When I'm gone, I can be assured that His love for me does and will extend to my grandchildren. I love and obey Christ and He is so thrilled by that, He will bless my kids and their kids. Nothing can blow that love away. It's indestructible and sure. And here's what I think. If we love the Lord now with all our hearts, bless Him with our whole beings, we are reflecting to our children God's glory, which is His goodness. Our obedience doesn't necessarily assure our children of salvation, as they come to Christ themselves, but it does give them a world rich with the cream obedience out of love for Christ brings to the top. Our children should live in the sweet overflow of our faith and joy. They should feel alienated and strange in a different world. Like paupers when they are princes and princesses. And they should come running home if they do stray. Because obedience and love for Christ has benefits! Remember? Forgiveness of sins, healing of diseases, salvation from our pit dwelling, crowns because of love and mercy, renewed strength for this life and satisfaction loaded with good things. Lavish love. Unbridled mercy. Protection, peace and joy. The ice cream of life fed to us by the hand of God. If we are living life to the fullest, which can't be done without obedience to our benevolent Father, our kids should be basking in the Sonshine every day. And want that for themselves.
And we don't vanish forever. We transition. Unlike the flower, forgotten and replaced by its seeds, we live on to enjoy, face to face, our Father and His kingdom. Hanging fruit, a mighty rushing river, a city glistening with colored jewels, massive choirs of angels, breathtaking vistas and quiet oases and, in the middle of it all, Jesus, waiting with open arms to show us our new home. A home that winds can't blow away. A life now safe with Him. And joy unspeakable and full of glory. We obeyed because He died. We follow His rules because we love Him. We live forever because He lives forever. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits!
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