REFLECTIONS
Featured writer, Patty Deen
Matthew
$7.24
As I passed
by the jewelry counter in a department store, a wave of sadness washed
over me. Memories of my wedding day… words spoken, promises made…
the feeling of a ring being placed on my finger. Who would have guessed
that soon after this perfect day, our lives would be turned upside down?
Like being on one of those crazy rides at an amusement park… the haunted
house kind, where you’re sitting in a chair that turns you quickly to the
left, then jerks you to the right and pushes you in darkness through a
door… never knowing what will be on the other side. In our marriage,
we were pushed through doors of bad luck, disappointment, job losses, and
financial pressure… this time we were certain our marriage wouldn’t make
it. In fact, our divorce was already in the process. After some counseling,
we decided to remain married and try once more to make it work.
Our separation
had added another dimension to our financial difficulties. At present
the mortgage needed to be paid and there wasn’t enough income to cover
it. But, here I was with a valuable diamond ring still on my finger.
It seemed like a reasonable solution to a big problem. The ring was
sold and the payment made. Yet, I felt strangely naked without my
wedding ring. So standing at the jewelry counter I was drawn to the
display of rings marked for clearance. One in particular caught my
eye. It was a small gold plated ring, with a genuine cubic zirconia.
When I put it on, I felt an odd sense of relief. It wasn’t my diamond
ring, but perhaps I’d get used to it. Best of all, it was on sale
for only $7.24. Besides, who needs a real diamond anyway? I
just wanted something on my finger to make me feel a little more “married.”
That
evening I went to bed and quickly fell asleep. At about 2:00 a.m.
I woke up with a burden to pray. I didn’t know what I was supposed
to be praying for, I just knew I needed to pray and to spend time with
God. As I neared the end of my prayer time I felt God say to me,
“There is significance in the numbers $7.24 – go upstairs and find the
answer.” I went upstairs and began to shuffle through papers on my
desk. I didn’t have a clue what I was looking for. I was looking
for anything with those three numbers in the same order. I nearly
gave up when I found a slip of paper with Matthew 7:24 written on it.
I went back downstairs and sat on the couch with my Bible to read this
verse. “Therefore everyone who hears
these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who
built his house on rock.”
I decided
to find out more about this house on the rock and continued reading the
rest of the chapter. “The rain came down,
the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it
did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone
who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like
a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the
streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell
with a great crash.” When Jesus had
finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because
he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Was this
what I was supposed to find? “God,
is this what you wanted me to read? Is this the significance in the
numbers $7.24? I don’t get it.” Then I prayed,
“Father
God, if this is what you wanted me to understand, please let this be one
of the verses read tomorrow at church.”
I went to bed feeling somewhat confused.
The next
morning I sat down at church and opened my order of service. The
New Testament reading for this Sunday was… Matthew 7:24-27 and the sermon
was a message based on… Matthew 7:24-27. It was as if God said, “Patty
– not only have I given you these verses to prove that you heard me correctly,
but I’ve also given you an entire sermon on these verses. This is
one lesson I want you to learn.”
On that
day I heard Him loud and clear… but many days, weeks and months passed
and His words faded into a distant memory. The year that followed
brought rain… lots of rain. The streams rose and the winds blew and
beat against our house. Sadly our marriage did not survive the storm
and it fell with a great crash. But Jesus the rock, my mighty fortress,
stood beside me. He brushed the sand from my face, helped me to my
feet and guided me to solid ground.
The other
day I retrieved something from my old jewelry box and came across my Matthew
$7.24 ring. I held it tightly in my hand and closed my eyes, thinking
about how awesome God is. I thought about the way He tried to warn
me of the approaching storm and how I forgot to cling to the rock in the
midst of it. I hope I never forget again, but if I do, I can find
peace in the knowledge that He hasn’t forgotten me.
Patty
