More Insight

Insight

(Dragonfly Ministries President, Mary Hamrick)

December 2006

"God's Words "

In October of this year, our church called an Associate Pastor to work with our youth – their big youth time is on Wednesday nights (Teen Time). On occasion, our sons would carry their Kids Adventure Bible to church with them on Sunday morning and Wednesday night, and every single time, I was embarrassed that I hadn’t yet taken the time to buy them a more age appropriate Bible. They are, after all, teenagers. These days, time is a priceless commodity and there seems to be so little of it, so stopping by a Bible Bookstore to purchase a Bible just never seemed to be a priority to work into the schedule of the day.

One Wednesday night in November while headed home from work to pick up the boys and drive them to Teen Time, I remembered their Kids Adventure Bibles and, determined that they would not take those children’s Bibles to one more church event, I made a detour to purchase two Student Study Bibles for them. As always, I was running behind schedule, but on this night, the Bibles hit the top of the priority list, so I calmed myself by saying, “we can be late just this once”.

The bookstore only had two student study Bibles on the shelves – one black leather and one blue leather. The perfect selection for the boys. As I went to the checkout, the store owner said, “I can put their names on their Bibles, it will only take a few minutes.” So I agreed. Wouldn’t you know it … at that moment, several people came into the store and every one of them needed some kind of help or attention from the store owner, and at that time, she was the only person working in the store. I paced back and forth trying to occupy myself with ‘shopping’, but all the while, I was looking at my watch, pacing, worrying that we would never make it to church before Teen Time was over.

After about 20 minutes, the store owner and I were alone and she quickly put the boys names on the Bibles. As she worked, she shared with me about when she got her first Bible with her name on it and how much it meant to her. I thought to myself, “I don’t think that the boys will care one bit if their name is on the Bible; they probably won’t even notice.” In hindsight. I think I was buying these Bibles more for my own reputation than for their use. I admit it. I was embarrassed every time they carried those kid Bibles into church, and I wanted them to look the part of the good Baptist church member. That hurts to admit. But thanks be to God, His ways are higher than our ways, and though I didn’t think the boys would even appreciate their Bibles, He had other plans.

When I pulled into our driveway, the boys piled into the car and as they got situated, I handed their Bibles to them. As they opened the boxes, I heard exclamations, “Wow, my name is on it.” “Mine is black.” “My Bible is blue with my name”. “Wow, it’s leather – it’s a real Bible”. Much to my amazement, their words were spoken with great appreciation. But that wasn’t the only thing. I said, “Your lesson tonight is from Philippians 2. Why don’t you go ahead and mark that place in your Bible so you’ll be prepared at Teen Time (still trying to make sure we look the part, being able to find scripture quickly). Both boys found the scripture passage and then, while in the car during our 12 minute ride to church, to my further amazement and surprise, they began to read…
from their new Bible; God’s Word; out loud; to their mother; to ME!

Hearing God’s word from the mouth of my children was like hearing the angels sing. As I drove in darkness, hearing the words of God spoken from the mouths of my children, the tears flowed with thanksgiving to God for that holy moment in the car with the boys, their Bibles, and His word. How precious is the sound of my Father’s word being read to me by my children. How precious that they understood how priceless and precious is the Word of God.

As they read, I was reminded of my dad and my brother, John. On January 23, 2004, John called me from Florida. He was sitting beside our dad’s bed, waiting for the Lord to carry dad home. John is a quiet man with a gentle spirit and a quiet demeanor. He had traveled to Florida to spend the last precious days with dad, but seeing dad in such poor health and in a semi- conscious state had taken John’s words away, and all he could do was sit and hold dads hand and wait. He didn’t have the words to speak. I know dad, and I know that the one thing he wanted most from John was to hear his voice. I asked, “John, have you been talking to dad?”

“No, I don’t know what to say.” When you’re sitting by the deathbed of a loved one who knows the Lord, I don’t imagine there’s anything to say that seems very important. “John, daddy needs to hear your voice, it will bring him comfort to hear the voice of his only son.” As I was talking to John, the Lord placed a thought in my mind, “John, if you don’t have the words to speak to dad, then open the Bible and give him God’s words. Read Psalm 91 and Psalm 100 to dad, read them over and over. Hearing your voice will give dad comfort and hearing God’s words will give him peace.” So John opened his Bible and he began to read… from his Bible; God’s Word; out loud; to his father.

I know that God used those holy words read by my brother to usher dad into a peaceful state and to bring comfort to my brother during a difficult time. I know that God gave me the wisdom to suggest that John read the Bible to dad. I don’t know the purpose of why those words were to be read, but God promises that His words will accomplish the purpose for which they were intended, and I know that He kept that promise. (Isaiah 55:11)

As I drove home from dropping the boys off at Teen Time, I began to understand God’s wisdom when He said, “Tell John to give your dad My words.” Oh what delight and peace that must have given dad to hear his only son reading to him the words from His beloved Father God. Like music to dad’s ears. What a way to be ushered into the kingdom of heaven, by paving the way with the Holy words of God. I don’t think I will ever forget the night that those sons of mine read to me on that twelve minute ride to the church. What a blessing to hear God’s words spoken from the lips of my children. And what a blessing to be able to somewhat understand how my father felt when he heard God’s words spoken to him from his only son.

I encourage you – when you’re by the sickbed of a loved one or when you want to speak words of comfort or encouragement to someone yet you can’t find those words … pick up God’s word and begin to read. The Psalms are a great place to start – Psalm 139 is one of my favorites. You can share your faith with another in a mighty way by sharing God’s word with one that you love.

Mary H.