My father died forty-four years ago today on my parent's 39th wedding anniversary I had just completed my second year of teaching and we were visiting my sister in Tennessee when my father became ill and had to be hospitalized. After emergency surgery and more than a week in the hospital with no progress toward recovery, we gradually came to understand that he wasn't going to get better. We had spent hours in the hospital's tiny chapel pleading for the Savior's healing power. This time our prayers weren't answered in the way we wished.
As a young child, I remember my mother's prayers often included the words: "Not my will, but thine be done." This was a difficult time for us because my father had seemed in good health when we embarked on our trip and was only sixty-seven years old. During this time of grief and sorrow, I turned to the words of scripture for solace. I turned to them when my mother died eleven years later at the age of sixty-nine and I was just thirty-six years old. My birthday is sandwiched between the deaths of my parents and it has taken years for me to feel something other than sadness at this time of the year. When I celebrate my next birthday, I will have outlived both of my parents.
The words of scripture continue to bring solace and peace to my heart during difficult times. I jotted down the scriptures that I shared with my children in 2001 when we had our own candlelit ceremony after 9/11 on our deck. As we faced a worldwide pandemic that brought sorrow and grief to so many, I turned to the promises and comfort found in scripture. When two siblings died in 2020, I turned once again to the words of scripture for comfort. As I consider those affected by war in our world, I pray for them to feel the Lord's peace. And now I seem to be surrounded by friends, young and old, battling difficult health situations and cancer. When I send cards, I often include the words of scripture, hoping that my friends will feel comforted as I am by the words.
Here are just a few of my favorites:
"...when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." (Psalm 61:2)
"My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according to thy word. (Psalm 118:28
"I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me..." (Psalm 118:5)
"The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation." (Psalm 118:14)
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm119:105)
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
"Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed: for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee: yea I will uphold thee with with the right hand of my righteousness.(Isaiah 41:10)
I look forward to reading your post and learning of the things that have shaped or inspired your spiritual practice.
It's Spiritual Journey Thursday, an open gathering for bloggers
who write monthly about our spiritual journeys. Karen Eastlund is our June host and invited us to look
into the past for something that has shaped or inspired our current
spiritual practice or outlook. You can read her post and find links from
fellow travelers at Karen's Got a Blog.
