What I Found In The Box

I’ve been doing much sorting out of closets and drawers in recent weeks.  Many of you will have seen the old photos I’ve posted on Facebook; memories of long ago.  It’s fun taking those walks down memory lane.

Yesterday I began going through boxes and files in what was my Dad’s office.  He went to heaven five years ago.  At that time I sorted through the office but left some boxes to sift through at a later time.  Yesterday the “later time” came.  It was no surprise to find pages of sermon notes, but suddenly, my breath stopped short.  I discovered pages of a type of journal – about me!  My Dad had made notes of conversations we had over the years; those times when together we righted all wrongs in the world, solving the most complex of problems.  Then there were comments he wrote about plays and books I had written and speaking engagements I had taken.  He wrote concerning one play, “Vickie wrote a play for our church youth,  I know it’s going to be good.”  Another time he wrote, “Vickie performed a monologue she had written about Mother Mary.  It touched many hearts.”  Still another time he made a note that a pastor had phoned him after I spoke at a conference in his church saying, “Vickie’s words captured all our attention and changed lives.”  As I read on I had to keep dabbing at the corners of my eyes to keep the tears from rolling down my face.

For just a brief moment I wondered why he had recorded all these things about me, but ever so quickly the answer came; it was because he loved me and was proud of me.  That realization brought more tears of gladness for the relationship I shared with my father, and for this reminder of how he felt about me.  As I contemplated this surprise find, I was then reminded of how our Heavenly Father also feels about each of His children.  Read the following from Psalm 139:16-18 and mediate upon just how He feels about you.

“You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life is recorded in Your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day passed.  How precious are your thoughts about me, Oh God.  They cannot be numbered!  I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!  And when I wake up, you are still with me!”

Our earthly fathers may or may not be proud of us, but Jesus never stops cheering us on as we walk our earthly paths, longing for the day when we will be able to see Him face to face and hear His words, “well done good and faithful servant.”  His thoughts toward us are always the best and most loving thoughts.  His desires for us are, without exception, to be filled with His own peace and joy and courage.  Just think, every time you succeed at anything in life, He is writing it down; not because He may forget, but only because His love for you and me is beyond measure.  Let that sink in and walk today in great blessing with the reminder of Father’s perfect love for you.