Since my granny’s passing, Jeff and I have tried to spend more time with my grandpa. On a recent outing, I sat watching him eat at the pace of a snail, trying so hard not to check the time on my cell phone, or what he calls, “the small idiot box“. As he slowly brought another bite to his mouth, long after Jeff and I had finished eating, I wondered if he really ate so slowly or if it was just a ploy to spend longer time with us. I stiffled a giggle and thought, what a manipulator.
Resigned to spend as long as it would take at lunch, I started prying into grandpa’s life, asking him questions about his childhood. He told me about playing football, growing up in Fort Scott during the Depression, and being drafted into the war. I tried to picture him in uniform, handsome; glistening blue eyes peering out beneath his cap. He told me about the Frauleins he met and the girl’s window he actually climbed in one night. I threw my head back with laughter, as I could never picture straight-laced grandpa chasing skirts.
I loved hearing grandpa’s story. I imagined God pursuing him all those years, until grandpa finally responded to his Creator’s love. We all have a story, and if we could look back and peer close enough, we would see God chasing us the entire time. We would see that He walked with us through our darkest valleys and rejoiced with us on the highest mountaintops.
I recently stumbled upon Psalm 136 in my devotions, which is a reminder to give thanks to Lord who has shown his steadfast love throughout history. I decided to look back at my life, and thank God for the love he has shown each step of the way…
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever;
to him who created me in my mother’s womb, forming my large blue eyes and dimpled nose, his love endures forever;
to him who numbered all my days before they ever came to be, his love endures forever;
and showed me salvation’s leading light, his love endures forever;
to him who birthed the vision for a church in my father’s heart, his love endures forever;
to him who watched over my baptism, claiming me as his own, his love endures forever;
to him who planted a love for his word in my heart, his love endures forever;
to him who wiped childhood’s tears, granted blessing and walked beside me, his love endures forever;
and traveled before me to college, so far from home, his love endures forever;
to him who brought youth into my life and taught me how to lead; his love endures forever;
to him who guarded my purity in a world of temptation, his love endures forever;
and went before me down the aisle, his love endures forever;
to him who sent me to Africa to hold the hurting and play with those who were dying, his love endures forever;
to him who wept with me at the heartbreak of divorce, his love endures forever;
and is close to the brokenhearted, his love endures forever;
to him who met me at rock bottom, his love endures forever;
to him who comforts in affliction so I could also comfort those who were hurting, his love endures forever;
and to him who authors NEW BEGINNINGS, his love endures forever;
to him who brings all things together for good, his love endures forever;
to him who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds, his love endures forever;
to him who knew it wasn’t good to be alone and brought new love in my life, his love endures forever;
to him who let love bloom like flowers in the spring, his love endures forever;
to him who again walked with me down the aisle to pledge my heart; his love endures forever;
to him who gave me a new family to love, his love endures forever;
to him who fills my heart with joy, his love endures forever;
to him who led us to India to spread love through hugs and smiles, his love endures forever;
to him who has conquered sin and death, his love endures forever;
to him who will live with me forever, his love endures forever.
What about you? Can you trace the love of God throughout your life? Maybe it’s time for a reminder.
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