Thursday, April 12, 2018

UPSIDE DOWN

In Psalm 68:5 & Psalm 146:9, we read: “A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation. The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.”

“Pass the pepper, please.”

“Oh, you'd like the pepper?”

“Yes, please.” Six-year-old Annie reached for the pepper shaker.

“Allow me.” Bubba, sitting at her right, shook a generous amount on her grits.

“Here. Let me add some.” George, on her left, took the pepper shaker, gave it a hard shake. The top fell, pepper covering her food.

“Annie. Something wrong?” Head bowed, her bottom lip trembling, she sat still. Uncle looked at his sons, then Annie’s plate.

“Pass me Annie’s plate, Bubba.” He divided the grits. “Bubba, this half's for your supper, and James, the other is yours. Eat all of it.” Then he served Annie a fresh plate.

“Thank you, Uncle.” She swiped at the unbidden tears with her napkin.

“Wait, Grandfather, why were the boys so mean to Annie? Hadn’t she just come to live with them?”

“She had, due to the death of her mother, Timmy. But I assure you, the boys treated their new sister with kindness after that.”

“How do you know?” Timmy tilted his head.

“Because I learned the lesson well. Remember what the family called me?”

“Bubba. You’re that Bubba?” Grandfather nodded. “Uh, were you turned upside down?”

“Better believe it and I’ll never forget it. The Lord takes care of widows and orphans. Woe to them that take advantage of them. I’m proof of that!”

Kingdom Thinking. In this upside down world, the Lord, indeed, takes care of widows and orphans. My mother told this story many times. Her aunt and uncle adopted her after she lost her mother, welcomed her into their family. Our Lord does the same. He adopted me, promises never to leave nor forsake me. He loves me with an everlasting love. He offers the same to you. Won’t you come to Him?