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August 11, 2008 - Surely Goodness

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”  Ps. 23:6

Louise and I have enjoyed this summer and some breaks away from the work of our calling.  We seek God’s renewing spirit upon our lives and ministry as we saturate ourselves with His word and presence.

Psalms 23 reminds us of the importance to physically rest (vs. 2a), to remove ourselves to the quiet waters of life where we can drink in the peace and comfort of God (vs. 2b).  Look at the progression of the verses and note that it is only after we have rested and mediated that we can be restored and refreshed (vs. 3). 

If we have the appropriate time with God to contemplate His majesty and glory we will experience and notice His goodness and mercy.  This cute little story will help us appreciate the faith of the little child mentioned in the following story.

Timmy was a little five-year-old boy that his Mom loved very much and, being a worrier, she was concerned about him walking to school when he started Kindergarten. She walked him to school the first couple of days, but when he came home one day he told his mother that he did not want her walking him to school everyday. He wanted to be like the "big boys."

He protested loudly, so she finally got an idea of how to handle it.  She asked a neighbor, Mrs. Goodnest, if she would surreptitiously follow her son to school, at a distance behind him that he would not likely notice, but close enough to keep a watch on him.  Mrs. Goodnest said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.

The next school day, Mrs. Goodnest and her little girl Marcy set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor boy he knew.  She did this for the whole week.  As the boys walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, the little friend of Timmy noticed that this same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week.

Finally, he said to Timmy, "Have you noticed that lady following us all week? Do you know her?” Timmy nonchalantly replied, "Yea, I know who she is." The little friend said, "Well who is she?” “That’s just Shirley Goodnest," Timmy said. "Shirley Goodnest?  Who the heck is she and why is she following us?"

"Well," Timmy explained, "every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers 'cuz  she worries about me so much. And in it, the Psalmist says,‘Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life,’ so I guess I'll just have to get used to it.”

As believers we appreciate God’s protection and encouragement.  He watches over us like Mrs. Goodnest and Marcy did that little boy.  We have the assurance that nothing can or will touch us unless it first passes through the loving hands of our Heavenly Father.