Grandma's Letter

Proverbs 25:11 – A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. (KJV)

Today's text was a motto that hung in our home when I was a child, and although it has the obvious meaning, "Watch what comes out of your mouth," it took on a different meaning for me one year.

It was the first Christmas for the children and me without their father. I had saved since July for Christmas and the extra winter fuel bills, but there was always the nagging worry of whether or not on my lowly wages it was enough.

The older girls were putting up the tree, and the younger one and I were going through old Christmas cards, probably cutting out "To" and "From" cards or making lanterns. Among the cards, I found a letter written by my adored grandmother. She admonished me to be brave, and to remember that God was aware of my circumstances. What a lift this gave me! It was definitely the "apples of gold" that I needed.

There were two amazing things about the letter: I didn't remember ever having received it, and, afterwards, I searched everywhere, but never saw the letter again. Grandma had been gone to glory for years, and she would have had no way of knowing that I would some day be alone and need her encouragement. The only conclusion that I could come to was that my heavenly Father knew that I needed comfort, and miraculously arranged for that message to be there for those brief moments.

Psalm 119:76 – May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. (NIV)

Although miracles like that don't happen every day, we can be sure that God does know our circumstances, and has promised to give us comfort and encouragement when we need it.

Isaiah 49:13 – Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. (NIV)

Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for Your many miracles at Christmas and throughout the year. Give us Your peace in this troubled time, we pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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