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Listen while you read: "Just As I Am Without One Plea"1 (Lyrics) |
I was a Valentine's Day baby. Thus, every year, my father brought home two boxes of chocolates in heart-shaped boxes, one for my mother, and one for me. How my child's heart loved him for that heart filled with sweets!
Fast forward to the twenty-first century, and I'm a widow sitting home alone on my birthday. I was feeling a wee bit sorry for myself, so I tooled out to the local convenience store and bought a bag of Hershey's Kisses Brand Milk Chocolates. I tore back home and took out an old Valentine's heart-shaped box that my son had given me the previous year. Then, I filled the thing with candy kisses, but not until I'd eaten one. I sang, "Happy Birthday to me." My half-and-half Golden Retriever/chow crossbreed sat at my feet salivating. I turned to her and said, "No chocolates for you, Princess. You'll be sick." I gave her a doggie treat, instead.
The next day was Sunday. I hopped in the car and left for church. Princess was sleeping in her bed. When I returned, the heart-shaped box was on the floor with bits of foil wrapper scattered everywhere and not a single chocolate in sight. I finally found Princess hiding beneath my bed looking none too well. I called the veterinarian who told me how to help her.
As I thought back on these two very different Valentine's Days, I could remember how loved I felt when my father gave me that heartfelt candy. On the other hand, Princess eating candy kisses brought the Genesis account of Adam and Eve hiding in the Garden of Eden to mind. God's love gave them every fruit tree to eat except the sin-poisoned one. We all know what happened. Like my dog, they ate what was poison for them with the same result. They didn't feel so good afterward. Thank God, the story didn't end there. God took measures in order to fix the situation.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)
God's love wouldn't allow sin to win. Instead, God came in Christ Jesus to abolish sin for everyone who believes in Him. You may have heard this passage before, but for me, those words made my heart sing.
Prayer: Loving God, "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength" (Psalm 18:1), for You have done great things and have saved us from the poison of sin, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Thank you for your devotional today. I hope you had a great birthday and Valentine’s Day!
I hope Princess is doing well.
God bless your work.
Happy birthday!
Thank you for sharing your story. A beautiful analogy indeed; God really speaks to us in very personal ways.
Glad Princess recuperated from her delicious “transgression” too.
May you enjoy your special day today knowing that you are much loved by family, friends, and your heavenly Father.
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday!!!! You and your witness are wonderful gifts. Thank you for sharing.
Well written Cass. As a child, my grandmother kept me quiet in big church with the very same candy. I still love them.
Happy birthday, to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Cassandra, happy birthday to you!!!!!
And may God bless you today and always.
Thank you for writing, please keep it up.
Waterdown, Ontario
Thank you for the devotion.
I too miss my hubby. He loved getting cards for me and our family.
Today, I am remembering again that I will be reunited with him at Jesus’ feet.
Have a great day!
Another interesting devotional, Cass.
I enjoyed how you likened your account to Genesis.
It came alive.
Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for your blessing, Cass, Jesus is so close to you.
Be blessed.
Thank you, Cass. Happy birthday……with an imaginary, calorie-free, guilt-free box of chocolates to go with this wish!
God bless and be with you.
Thank you once again, Cassandra, for yet another meaningful devotional.
Happy birthday and happy Valentine’s Day, Cassandra.
You bring honour and glory to our Lord and Saviour through your writings.
Hi Cassandra, I am babysitting with four of our grandchildren, ages 9 to 16. The 16-year-old and two dogs stayed up later than I. When I came downstairs this morning, there were candy wrappers, etc. by the dog beds….similar story but dogs seem fine! Thank you for the devotional.
Cassandra, this is lovely “food for thought”. Thanks for sharing! (Barrie,Ontario)
Hi Cassandra: Just wanted you to know that I was truly blessed by your devotional. Thank you so much for writing it, and I wish you a very happy birthday my sister and may our great God bless you with many more.
(Dalhousie, New Brunswick, Canada)
I don’t know what to say to you — but I had a surprise laugh at your dog.
Anyway, you knew where to go.
I was alone on my birthday too — until my brother and sister-in-law came and took me out to a restaurant for supper.
May God bless you richly and continually give you his grace for writing devotionals.
Excellently written story and inspirational.
Happy birthday. (North Hills, CA, USA)
Cass – this was a cute story with a good teaching behind it. I can’t help wondering – what was the remedy for your dog? I can picture the whole scene of Princess coming out from under the bed with her head bowed and and tail between her legs :0) A sweet Valentine’s Day message.
What a dear, sweet father you had. We spoiled girls often find life quite lonely after those who loved us and spoiled us are gone from our lives, to be with the Lord, forever. However you did “good” on your birthday celebrating it alone with your dog and the delicious Hershey’s kisses.
I really enjoyed your illustration concerning the actions of your dog. It was an illustration that made me realize how soon we can be lured into doing something we will regret when we think there is no one around to see us. Too soon we forget God sees and hears all.
Satan seems to be an expert at deceiving us and making bad look good. As you basically stated, it is only by the grace of God through the marvellous work of the cross, we are able to escape His hands and be assured of eternal life through the life, death and resurrection of His Son even when we do slip and give in to the “poison of sin”.
A great Valentines message.
Good Valentine’s Day, Sandy,
…and a happy birthday to you. Thinking of you often since we worked together in the North.
Happy birthday and Happy Valentine’s Day, Cassandra!
What a poignant example you’ve given us in your devotional today! Many blessings to you for such clarity…I’ve never heard a “preacher” do better! Thanks for sharing!
I hope you have a God-filled and blessing-filled day and know the peace of God’s presence and His great love surrounding you today and every day!
Hey Cassandra, what a beautiful heartfelt devotional and a very appropriate comparison to who were are and how our choices affect our lives.
God bless you on this Valentines Day.
(Chatham, Ontario, Canada)
Wonderful devotional, thank you for sharing.