"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30. (NKJV).
"Mema. What was Da's favorite Bible verse?" she texted.
His favorite Bible verse? He clung to so many but Matthew 11:28-30 popped into my mind. Now to text my granddaughter who was in Israel with her class from Joshua Wilderness Institute, Hume, California.
In his last days in his gallant fight with Alzheimer's, he was ever the encourager. One day as I wheeled him to the cafeteria, we encountered a gentleman slouched in his wheelchair. Otis held up his hand for me to stop.
"How are you today? I hope you had a good night." The man lifted his head and a smile transformed his face.
"Is he one of your friends?" I asked as we continued on our way.
"No. But he's a person and we need to be kind to everyone."
That was my Otis.
Two days after my granddaughter's first text, another popped up. "Got it! Matthew 11:28-30 in Hebrew!" And there it was. A testimony to a grandfather who adored her engraved on her ring.
Oh, my. Let's just say there are times when the Lord Jesus just fills me up with His Joy Unspeakable.
Kingdom Thinking. When I look back over my life, I realize the Lord Jesus in His gentle ways is teaching me the heavy burdens I believe I have are mere opportunities to share His kindness. He promises never to leave nor forsake me and loves me with an everlasting love. Got it! How about you?
Oh, the difference we can make in another's life when we life out God's Word in ours. Sounds like Mr. Hill demonstrated very well, as he most certainly left an imprint of Christ upon many other lives through his presence in theirs.
ReplyDeleteHe did. He loved his family and each one knew it!
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