09/14/2023
A dear friend read my last long winded post and responded so graciously - along with others wonderful posts: As i was finishing her post these words just flowed out of my heart…
first of all that is so sweet of you!! It would be disingenuous to say that I haven’t walked through the valley of the shadow of death…a few times in my life. Some deeper and darker than the others - for real… !
(Psalms 23:)
HOWEVER during those seasons of loss and pain i have also discovered the priceless treasures are those that can be gained are those that will never pass away… it is summed up “For you are with me. I have discovered a level of love and friendship that is beyond compare - they come with different set of eyes that sees others as He sees - which is why and how I can pray with such certainly as He has also given me His heart towards others… so how can i not believe?
How is this possibility found in such tragedy? Psalm 23:4 “for You are with me..” indeed Thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
I love this true story about a man who was visiting Israel - who was riding on a “tour” train when what he saw as he looked out the caused him to become very upset. As he looked out the window he saw a man with a rod beating a herd of sheep - forcing them for forward - the man across from him nodded his head as he understood what he must be thinking - he leaned forward and said “he is not a Shepard he is a butcher taking those sheep to be processed.
It made me think about Psalm 23 “ So if a real Shepard is so kind why does he also use a rod?” The man explained “ with a true Shepard it is a great act of love. “You see what really kills most of the sheep is not so much the wolves but the ticks! A whole tribe of small destroyers can hide in unseen in their wool - slowly draining them of blood until they die - the Shepard knowing this creates a “narrow gate” and has the sheep pass underneath the rod so he can see the ticks and remove them to save their lives - the staff gently nudges them to keep them on the path that leads to life…
“thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” and the treasure that the valley roads have produced is beyond description… let me try and say it this way…
I wrote these words after one of these valley experiences:
Now that i’ve walked down this road a mile or two i can see some things now that once blocked my view - it once seemed that my all my days were filled pain - dark cloudy skies were all I knew - then You showed me my pain and I thought You were being cruel…but NOW I SEE that You have been a loving father to me and all the while you having been setting me free!
You see My treasure… is HIM walking through the valleys with me - it is truly His promise that HE will never leave me - now read Psalms 23. Its real… these gifts will last for eternity… for i know He will always walk with me - as long as i have breath i will always say He is always knocking at your door all you have to do is open the door.
