Following the loss of a loved one, we got a large shoebox full of cards sending expressions of sympathy and good wishes.  I looked through them today.  It was a lengthy job.

Perusing the messages, I noticed cards with printed sentiments in them. Others came with handwritten messages.  Many expressed sadness and offered comforting words about the end of suffering and a place in heaven for the one who had passed on. Those personal words of sadness and comfort were very much appreciated.

But those cards that recounted memories “stole the show”.  Speaking or reading of the lost loved one comforts those left behind.  Comfort comes from reviewing the memories. Some cards and letters spoke of the loved one’s kindness, talents, hospitality and even of a memorable snowmobile ride.  I found those notes to be most encouraging and enlightening.

The Lord Jesus knew that He would be leaving His loved ones soon.  Aware that they would need comfort, He told them of the provision of a Comforter who was coming for them.

In John 14:16 & 18, Jesus says, “And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter that He may abide with you forever…I will not leave you comfortless;”

How wise and loving of Jesus, to not only send a card, but a real Comforter.

As you express sympathy to those who have suffered a great loss, send those cards.  If you have memories of the lost one, share them.  Be present when you can.  Your presence can cushion some of the pain.  And like Jesus, pray the Father that His Comforter would do his work in the lives of those who are grieving.
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Being that I spent much of my day spring cleaning, I am tired and ready to rest.

I put a lot of my attention to deep-cleaning places that normally are not done on a regular basis.  Even places that have been tied up for a long time with clutter have been freed up to be used in a more useful way.  Some things I can give away.  Others have been consolidated and stored or filed into more practical places.  It felt good to sort and discard items that have not been needed for a long time.

One might say that I have worked to redeem the spaces that have been cluttered for so long.  The spaces have been mine all along, but they were “off limits” to me because the clutter was dominating it.  This reduction of clutter has been so freeing!

This reminds me of how Jesus worked to redeem His people as it says in Titus 2:13b, 14 NASB.
“…Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works.”

• He did not just work, as I did.    He gave Himself.
• He did not redeem some space as I did.   He redeemed us.
• He did not free from clutter.   He freed from every  lawless deed.
• He did not just clean space for my use.   He purified for Himself  a people for His own possession, people zealous for doing good works.

My cleaning was good, but not perfect.  My cleaning was partial and not complete.  I am sure glad that when the Lord cleans, He knows how to do it deeply and thoroughly.  He is the ultimate deep cleaner.

A conviction, according to Webster’s Seventh International Collegiate Dictionary, is “a strong persuasion or belief: the state of being convinced.”  Let me share one of my strong persuasions with you.

Psalm 127:3 states, “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.”

I say, “Amen to that!”  Our children are a gift.  They are our precious reward.

Children have grown up in our home.  We have provided for them.  We have taught them and loved them. It may sound like all of the benefits came from us and our efforts and went to them.

Yes, we worked hard.  We denied ourselves some things, but we received much in the process.  My husband and I shared a common goal to work toward.  In our teaching, we learned all the more.  In our loving, we have been loved.

We raised them to expect to go to school after high school.  They applied themselves academically and have honored us by doing just that.

The Holy Bible, in Exodus 20:12, commands children to “Honor your father and your mother.”(NASB)

I was once a child.  According to Psalm 127, I was someone’s gift and precious reward.  I still am.  Although my dear father has passed away, I can still honor him by living my life for the Lord and honoring Dad’s wife, my lovely Mother.

If you are a child, you can still live knowing that you are a gift and a reward and can still honor your parents.  It can be the integrity with which you live your life and how much you treasure the true things in life, like God and His Word.  It may be providing for them and living for Jesus.  I hope you realize that you are very precious.
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I mowed the lawn today.   Our yard is large and hilly so it takes real effort to complete it.  One might ask, “Why do you mow so much grass?”  Frankly, I used to think it was a cosmetic job.  But on the farm most things have a practical purpose.

Short, mowed grass discourages snakes and other critters from making our space their own.  So, though mowing is a sweaty, 8-hour job for me—I will do it.

So how is mowing done?  As in the farm field, mowing starts on the outside edges of a piece of ground.  These are the lines we follow to make a circuit till the entire surface is clipped.

A farmer does not want to work up his neighbor’s land, he wants to work on his own land.  So he uses the lines to guide his work.  The surveyors’ lines put up ages ago still guide mankind today.

Isn’t it great that we have lines to follow that guide us in our work?  How grateful we can be for those who have gone on before us and established those lines.

In our computer age, many youth have technical knowledge which leaves a lot of the older folks in the dust.  One might dare to think that the youngsters know more than their elders.   Ah, but do they really?

Have you ever heard the mystery-type questions like, “How were the pyramids made?”  Evidently, the ancients knew something that we don’t know, wouldn’t you say?  It is too bad that that knowledge did not get passed down to the youths by their elders—or maybe the youths did not care to learn it when they had the chance.

Whatever the reason, it is worth learning from those who have gone on before…our ancestors and the ancients.

The real ancients’ stories are written in the pages of the Holy Bible. 

Returning to our discussion of lines, let us consider the misuse of them.  If one oversteps the lines that have been established, he becomes a trespasser.  He takes on to himself the privilege of using land that is not his to use, which is against the law.

God has put up lines for us to follow which are also written in the Holy Bible.  Those lines show us God’s dominion.  Man tends to step over those lines and assume authority where he ought to not be.  Man does trespass against God.

That reminds me of a special request in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Even if you cannot retrace your ancestry to find the lines they left for you, you can resort to the Holy Bible to find the lines that God has set up for you.

Mowing takes time and is useful for giving me moments to ponder on things that God has done.  During that time even simple things like lines can point to Him.

As the psalmist says in Psalm 16:6, “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.”(RSV)

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