Wednesday 13th May - Miriam
While I was in lock-down, I thought it was an ideal opportunity to polish the unit that contained my large collection of thimbles. Over the last 30 years I have not only bought these thimbles but also been given many of them as gifts from family and friends.
As you can imagine this is an arduous task that I was not really looking forward to, but with Charles’ help, we worked together and got on with the job.
As I began placing the thimbles back in their rightful place, what for me had been a dreaded chore, suddenly became an opportunity to recall memories of times past.
As I carefully handled these tiny ornaments I began to recall and remember the many special people I had been privileged to meet and minister to over the years, people who had made a valuable contribution to my own spiritual growth, people who had supported me with their prayers and their loving advice when I needed it; and in that mundane task of cleaning, I experienced a God moment when I silently thanked Him for everyone of those special people.
The thimbles also brought to mind the many beautiful places around the world I have been privileged to visit with family and friends.
As you can imagine this is an arduous task that I was not really looking forward to, but with Charles’ help, we worked together and got on with the job.
As I began placing the thimbles back in their rightful place, what for me had been a dreaded chore, suddenly became an opportunity to recall memories of times past.
As I carefully handled these tiny ornaments I began to recall and remember the many special people I had been privileged to meet and minister to over the years, people who had made a valuable contribution to my own spiritual growth, people who had supported me with their prayers and their loving advice when I needed it; and in that mundane task of cleaning, I experienced a God moment when I silently thanked Him for everyone of those special people.
The thimbles also brought to mind the many beautiful places around the world I have been privileged to visit with family and friends.
|
|
One such visit that especially stands out for me is when Charles and I were over in the United States visiting family, we had the privilege of being taken to see Mount St Helens in Washington State, a Mountain completed devastated by a powerful volcanic eruption in 1980. Nothing was left only ash and silt, all trees and flowers and vegetation gone, the force of nature had done its worst.
When we visited in 2003, we noticed that small plants were beginning to push their way through the scorched earth, it was for us a very special moment because we became aware that God was lovingly working to allow nature to reclaim its rightful place in creation. Click on the "Play" button to automatically scroll through these images of Mt. St. Helens |
In these difficult times we are all going through when we have to isolate ourselves from family and friends, when we experience feelings of loneliness and alone-ness; it is good to find in some ordinary, mundane task that God presents Himself to us and reminds us that we are never outside of His loving care and concern.
May each of us be encouraged by the awareness of the Lord’s continual Presence with us and realise that Someone Cares deeply for us and always works for our good.
‘How precious it is Lord to realise you are thinking about me constantly, I can’t even begin to count how many times a day your thoughts turn towards me and when I awake in the morning you are still thinking of me’
(Psalm 139 verses 17/18 – Living Bible Paraphrase)
May each of us be encouraged by the awareness of the Lord’s continual Presence with us and realise that Someone Cares deeply for us and always works for our good.
‘How precious it is Lord to realise you are thinking about me constantly, I can’t even begin to count how many times a day your thoughts turn towards me and when I awake in the morning you are still thinking of me’
(Psalm 139 verses 17/18 – Living Bible Paraphrase)
Salvation Army Songbook # 10 Someone Cares
|
|
|
|
Click on the world to hear Jonathan Viera bring this song to us. Thanks to Charles for the PowerPoint which was used to create this video.
|