A group of us had gathered at a park after the funeral of a mutual friend - Jesse. We were telling "Jesse stories" - tales of how our 35-year-old friend had changed our lives. Some of us were doing better than others while all of us missed our friend.
It was a wonderful time. God had blessed us with a beautiful day. I was sitting at a picnic table with my friend Larry while three ladies sat at the other end, talking. It was a much-needed time of healing for all.
Then one of the ladies, Claire, got up from the table and, as she did, she looked down and saw a shiny rock lying on the ground. She stooped to pick it up because it had some writing on it. It said "HOPE".
Wow. What a perfect message to receive following a funeral! Certainly, hope is something that is in short supply these days. But someone had delivered "hope" for us before we even arrived on the scene. That hope was found and gratefully received.
"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." - Titus 2:11-14
Jesus in our blessed hope. "An ever-present help in times of trouble" - Psalm 46:1
What a blessing hope is when we are walking through a dark time in life. Hope is something the world needs right now. Hope is waiting to be found, just like that rock was. Jesus IS that hope. And interestingly enough, Jesus is also our Rock.
Look at the picture of the rock again, more closely this time. The word "hope" is actually engraved into the stone. In other words - HOPE is found IN the rock. Jesus is that rock. You CAN find hope in Him today. Look around.
Rock of Ages
Excellent Bob it was a Blessing to be there Thank You
ReplyDeleteThank you my brother. Good conversation and memories.
DeleteOh my gosh, just reading today! So glad I found this! Thanksgiving is hard without Jesse with out my mom and dad, and because of Covid half my children and grandkids! Jesse always came late, he ate at my brothers and sister in-laws house! Last year Jesse came mostly in time his dad had already passed and he was detoxed and he felt awkward being with family because he had thought we all didn’t know his life of drugs! But of course we did! I have cared for Jesse many years because of family dysfunction and he knew j knew him through and through and he sat by me and I told him how proud of him I was and we conversed with out stories and drama and was the first real connect we had for awhile! I so wish He could have stayed in that place but the struggle was real! Yes Hope Hope, Gods Hope!
ReplyDeleteHope is a wonderful thing.🙂 I look forward to seeing Jesse again one day. It will be amazing.🙂
ReplyDelete