April 29, 2020
There’s
an old oak in our front yard with a swing hanging from one of its limbs. Many
children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have swung on that swing over
the last 50 years. Cousins, neighbor kids, and quite a few adults have also
pushed and pulled that old rope with a board balanced at its vertex. But in the
last 5-6 years the old tree and its partner, the swing, have been pretty
lonely. Not used much. Just leaning there. Just hangin’ there. Waiting for a
new kid to come along. I’ve prayed for that tree and in particular that limb
with the swing on it through several hurricanes. (Don’t laugh! My sister goes
out in the yard and hugs her favorite tree while she prays for it before a
hurricane.) The old tree and its limb with the swing have always been spared,
even when others were not. But because it’s been through everything from high
winds and floods to droughts in the last several years, I’ve lost some
confidence in the limb and, actually, even the old tree itself. I am not too
sure about the rope but it at least looks sturdy. It’s harder to tell about a
limb and a tree. Then the other day came the moment the old tree and swing had
been waiting for. My grandson showed some interest in the swing. The old oak’s
leaves perked up a little as the swing danced around at the end of the rope. Of
course, my son-in-law, being the awesome dad that he is, was happy to satisfy
Lane’s curiosity. My reaction as Jeff started to sit down on the swing was
quick and from my gut. “No! Don’t sit on that! The limb could break!” He was
sure it would hold him. I was not so sure that it wouldn’t crash down on his
head and knock him out cold, or worse. He had to find out. I couldn’t watch. I
wanted to grab my grandson and run away from the scene. Instead I just turned
my back and waited. No loud crash. No screams. I turned back around to see my
six foot two inch tall son-in-law safely swinging back and forth and, of
course, grinning from ear to ear. What a relief! The limb was strong enough!
The rope didn’t break! Then Jeff said, “Come here, Lane. Let’s swing!” And I
had to turn my back again. Of course everything turned out fine and Lane loved
swinging but I’m pretty sure I have some new gray hairs from the experience. I
recently read these words somewhere: “Faith that cannot be tested cannot be
trusted.” Sometimes we think our faith is big and strong and then something
comes along and “pulls on it” and it snaps like a twig. Maybe it got weak from
too much stress. Maybe it got brittle from too little use. Either way, perfect
healing and strengthening of our faith is just one prayer away. Just one
sincere utterance of the name Jesus and we can restore our peace and calm
assurance that everything will be ok. And the best part is that every test of
our rope of faith and our limb of trust makes them both stronger. When we are
leaving our fears and worries with God we are never “going out on a limb”. It
is not the strength of God that is unreliable it is the strength of our faith
in Him that wavers. The tree, the limb and the swing were all strong enough. It
was my faith that was lacking. Luckily, someone came along and tested it, or I would have missed out on some precious moments. James 1:2-3 says
this: “ Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you
face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your
faith produces perseverance.” And in 2 Corinthians 12:9 we find this: “But he
said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect
in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” Be strong in your faith!
Smile and be joyful!
I love it!
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