November 17, 2014

Reflections

I was a 20-year-old Atlantic Union College student visiting my aunt Nell and uncle Joe, along with another favorite aunt, my parents, and my fiancé. Since I was in the presence of loved ones I cherished most, I sought ways to be as helpful as I could. With that purpose in mind, I went into the kitchen to help Aunt Nell prepare for dinner.

I wandered over to the stove and was attracted by something I had never seen before. It was a very heavy kettle with a matching heavy lid fastened tight on it. I wondered if it could be that brand-new invention everyone had been talking about lately, a pressure cooker. It was said to be capable of cooking vegetables in an incredibly short time.

My curiosity was aroused. The kettle had a little inch-wide cap on top of the lid, and I stood watching it for a few minutes. The cap kept wobbling rhythmically back and forth, letting valuable steam escape. I could clearly see, in my 20-year-old opinion, that something was just not quite right. Shouldn’t the steam stay contained?

My pride told me this was my chance to be helpful. I would try to correct the problem and steady that wobbling little cap. So, cautiously, and very gently, I reached out and touched it ever so lightly. In an instant the cap shot skyward, followed by a sudden burst of steam. Horrified, my unbelieving eyes watched a brilliant two-foot-wide spot of beet juice appear on Aunt Nell’s white ceiling.31 1 5 3

Speechless and frozen, I stood staring at the ceiling. I wished for the floor to open up and swallow me. I had stained my aunt’s kitchen beyond belief, and I was helpless. I prayed a ridiculous momentary prayer that the spot would just disappear. I knew my dear aunt Nell, whom I loved so much, would be furious! Then, from the corner of my eye, I saw her coming toward me.

In a moment her comforting arms were around me.

“Don’t feel bad,” she assured me. “Tomorrow morning the painters are scheduled to come and repaint all our rooms, and that spot will just disappear.”

Did I hear her right? I couldn’t believe it. God had indeed answered my ridiculous prayer!

I thought of Isaiah 65:24: “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.”

While they are still speaking! That’s how close my wonderful Father keeps me in His care. Tears flowed down my face, and gratitude flowed from my thankful heart.

Later, in the quiet of my dormitory room, I opened my Bible to the text “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18, KJV). But Scripture also includes a promise—even for a beet juice misdeed: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:18, KJV).

How like Jesus my dear aunt Nell was to me. Her forgiveness has been an object lesson I have remembered for more than 70 years. Throughout my lifetime my loving Savior has forgiven me over and over, promising me that by staying close to Him, even my proud, self-centered heart will someday be forever made as white as snow.

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